Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

February 11, 2021

it.

The President. Folks, thanks for coming in. I'm going to be very brief. We're going to get to

We want to talk about infrastructure, and this committee is central to everything that's going

to happen. I've been around long enoughâand Tom and Jim and all of usâthatâit used to be that infrastructure wasn't a Democrat or Republican issue. There are not many Republican or Democratic roads and bridges and so on.

So we're going to talk about infrastructure. And hearâI want to hear what's on the minds of my colleagues here, and we're going to see what we can put together. There's a number of things that are out there that the American people are looking at us to step up.

Again, it's notâI really, honest to God, never have thought of theâof infrastructure as being a partisan issue. And it's aboutâI mean, a lot of bridges in West Virginiaââ

Senator Shelley Moore Capito. That's right.

The President. ââa lot of dangerous spots along Route 9, in terms of Cancer Alley. A lot of places where we're having problems all across the country.

Senator Thomas R. Carper. The highest point of land in Delaware is a bridge, just for the record. [Laughter]

The President. Well, that's true. That's true. And it's named after Bill Roth.

Sen. Carper. My first bill.

The President. That's right. And I'll tell you whatâand Tom climbs up all the time. [Laughter]

But all kidding aside, there's a lot we have to do. And I could think of no better group of people to start off with to try to see if we can come to some kind of generic consensus about how to begin. They have a lot of jurisdiction over a significant portion of infrastructure.

Last night I was on the phone for 2 straight hours with Xi Jinping. And you all know as well as I do, these folksâand it was a good conversation. I know him well. We spent a lot of time together over the years I was Vice President. Andâbut you know, they're going toâif we don't get moving, they're going to eat our lunch. They have major, major new initiatives on rail. And they already have rail that goes 225 miles an hour with ease. They're working very hard to do what I think we're going to have to do.

And I think the automobile industry is already there, and so is labor. They're going toâ they're working very hard to try to move in a position where they end up being the source of aâ of a new way in which to power automobiles, which wouldâthey're going to invest a lot of money. They're investing billions of dollars and dealing with a whole range of issues that relate to transportation, the environment, and a whole range of other things. So we just have to step up.

And so what I'd like toâI'm going to talk to these folks about, which isâthey're the key committeeâis how we begin this. I've laid out what I think I have to doâwe should be doing. And they have a plan, as well, within their jurisdiction. But they're also very, very competent

Senators who know a lot more than beyond their jurisdiction about the things they need. So I'm looking for a wholesome conversation or a fulsome conversation.

So thank you all for coming in.

Q. Mr. President, did you have any access to the videoâ[inaudible]?

The President. I didn'tâI'm sorry, what did you say?

Senate Impeachment Trial of Former President Donald J. Trump

Q. Did you see the video yesterday during the impeachment trial? And what was your reaction, Mr. President?

The President. I told you, what I'm focused onâmy job is to deal with the promises I made.

And we all know we have to move on. Today it's about jobs and infrastructure.

I, like other Americans, watched the news. I didn't watch any of the hearing live because I was going straight through, last night, till a little after nine. But I watched some this morning. I think the Senate has a very important job to complete. And I thinkâmy guess is some minds may have been changed, but whoâI don't know.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:23 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Sen. James M. Inhofe; and President Xi Jinping of China. Secretary of Transportation Peter P.M. Buttigieg joined the meeting by videoconference.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Infrastructure, meeting with Senators; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Capito, Shelley Moore; Carper, Thomas R.; Inhofe, James M.; Xi Jinping.

Subjects: China : President; Congress : Members, meetings with President; Congress : Senate :: Impeachment trial and verdict; Employment and unemployment : Job creation and growth; Energy : Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles :: Promotion efforts; Infrastructure, national improvement efforts; Infrastructure, national, improvement efforts.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100132.