Fast act provides a certainty and reforms necessary to improve our nations infrastructure and spur economic growth. The fast act was a significant bipartisan achievement showing once again the senate is back to work for the american people. This committees work, which accounted for more than half of the text of the bill, helped to enhance safety, increase transparency, reform regulatory structures and improve planning for free with reforms covering everything from railroads to cars to trucks to ports as well as research and technology, this legislation was a True Team Effort to reduce congestion, protect passengers and improve our nations multimodal supply chain. Protect lives on our nation roadways by promoting Greater Consumer awareness and Corporate Responsibility for safety. Im please that had the whistle blower act is now the law of the land. This law which i introduced with Ranking Member nelson and others incentivize to blow the whistle when manufacturers sit on important safety
Changes provided for under the fast act including processing procedures and an application dashboard. And finally something that goes hand in hand with all of the departments efforts is research and innovation. In march we began the competition for utc grants which allows students and faculty to Work Together towards innovative transportation solutions. Weve received 212 applications for the 35 grants available. Im proud of the work the department has accomplished in such a short period of time. But this is just the beginning. And it would not be possible i would like to repeat without the work of this congress on a bipartisan basis. We will continue our aggressive schedule to execute the reforms you put into place because if our nations going to have the type of Transportation System tomorrow that is better than it had today, wasted time is something none of us can afford. So with that, mr. Chairman, i want to thank you and i look forward to your questions. Thank you, mr. Secretary. A
Order, scheduling, and installation and never have to talk to a human. So were going to make a leapfrog and have already begun to do so in the way we talk and communicate and transact with our customers, and i think thats going to be a big positive as well. We are out of time but the final question to bring it back to the olympics, how do you think peoples perception of comcast is going to change after seeing that kind of experience in terms of interacting with content . Well, were obviously so proud of the storytelling, the passion of the company everywhere from the today show to the tonight show, the x1 technology, and it is our company. Maybe you think of it in one way or in the Rearview Mirror or we made a mistake and didnt fess up properly but we are looking down the road forward and were growing customers. Were innovating. Were attracting incredible talent. I would probably say my main goal, your kid coming out of school and you can go work for google or facebook or comcast nbc u
To ensuring that you can provide separation. Its one thing to watch it. But if we have no control over it, the difference between being unmanned and uncontrolled. Thank you all. I yield back, mr. Chairman. Mr. Dolan is recognized for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I have a question. And perhaps miss bristol, mr. Cameron, mr. Hampton and mr. Rinaldi, id like you all to consider it. Im perplexed the way veterans are dealt with in this employment process. You have this shortage here. If my information is correct, theres approximately 10,000 military air controllers working and operating and helping to manage our skies. Your last application period for veterans to apply was described as long term, and it was like for three months. March of december or excuse me, december 15 to march of 16. Number one question is why wouldnt you open that up for them all year long since you have a shortage and you have all these experienced, seasoned people out there . That would be question number