I know i speak for everyone in this room when i say we look forward to working together with the lasts federal delegation. We were honored to attend dan sullivan earlier this month. I have also spoken with senator mikulski and congressman don young. We pledged to Work Together to make the most of our godgiven resources and yes, this means at long last responsibly accessing the vast oil reserves. We can, we must, we will, is beyond time. [applause] members of this legislature. I am so honored to stand before you. I look forward to working together to overcome the challenges before us. The men and women in this room are no strangers to edgar city. Some of you have beaten cancer. Others and the end childhood poverty. And overcome tremendous challenges in life. Your fishermen, educators lawyers, farmers and veterans, contractors, health care providers, pilots, engineers, accountants, a minor in even a reindeer herds of list a few. Uva readiness dollars a share love for our state and our pe
Screeria nigeria. Environmental officials from california, indiana, wyoming, wisconsin and new york testified on the hill this week on the challenges and successes with the epas Greenhouse Gas emissions rule for power plants. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee convened the hearing. Senator jim inhofe chairs the committee while senator Barbara Boxer serves as Ranking Member. This is just shy of two hours. Good morning. Before we begin let me get clarification Senate Armed Services committee embraced by everyone but well use it that is when we hit the gavel whoever is here well go by the early bird well go by seniority. Then those who come in after the gavel well get to them after everyone is already taken care of. So with that ill make note of who is here. If you would do that. Well bring this meeting to order. Great to have the panel. Had a chance to meet each one of you. I really do think the most important thing when we get into these rules and regulations is the state
North america. Will county is crossed by six class 1 railroads, five interstate highways, several commercial water ports on our nations largest inland waterway. Last year we processed over 3 million containers containing 65 billion worth of goods that are grown, manufactured, assembled, and delivered throughout the United States and the world. Our first and last mile Infrastructure Requirements today total 3. 6 billion of new investment just in our county, and that does not include bringing our existing road infrastructure up to a state of good repair. Our needs extend far beyond roads. Increased utilization of freight by rail as weve heard is resulting in more at grade rail crossings and its impacting commerce from public safety. We need at the very local level more grade separation structures and first and last mile interstate connectors to accommodate the freight of the future. The growth of freight has been stated we believe by 2045 that increase will be about 45 putting more press
Research tract faculty. There are jobs in industry, journalist, many where needed and we want to be sure people find the right match for themselves. We have started new programs, an early independence award which im excited about which allows a talented phd to skip the post doc and go to an independent position. I go to the presentations each year and its the most exciting day of the year because of their vision and their ideas. Similarly we have this new award where you cant apply if youve previously had a grant and your valentines day has to be out of the box, a little wacky for you to be allowed to apply for that proposal mechanism. And when we look at the output it has been truly impressive. All that is great but of course it doesnt solve the main problem we have which is this loss in purchasing power for research. We can try to balance things as best we can, protect those young investigators. We can only go so far. I appreciate that. And resources are obviously key to this as well
The Wisconsin Assembly approves legislation that freezes out competition to build power lines in the state. It was passed with no discussion and on a voice vote.