SHOCK CLASH: Kirsten Gillibrand, Sean Duffy Have Heated Exchange Over TV Show For America 250

[0:00] Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. So Mr. Secretary, you and I have talked at length [0:05] about your approach towards transportation. You want certain things [0:09] out of different states in order to fund certain things. So you and I have talked [0:15] about 2nd Avenue subway. That's finally in compliance and that is going forward. [0:19] Right now Gateway Tunnel is under review. What's the status of that review and when [0:25] do you think it will be completed? So the resources are flowing to both of [0:30] those projects and you know we we were doing a review on race-based [0:35] contracting versus merit contracting. The Supreme Court indicated projects [0:39] couldn't do that and that happened during the shutdown. I only had one staff [0:43] from the Civil Rights Office so it did take more time and then once the staff [0:47] did come back there was a backlog in the office. So but the money is flowing to [0:53] both of those projects and Gateway is the I mean I think it's probably the biggest [0:56] project in the Western Hemisphere. Correct. So when do you think the review will be [1:01] done? If not done now, shortly. Shortly. Okay. I will hold you to that shortly because [1:08] obviously it is such an important economic project for the entire eastern seaboard [1:13] and the entire nation and we don't want more delays because we know that when you [1:17] have delays costs increase. But it's not delayed now. Money is going to the project. [1:21] Okay. So now I want to talk to you about something that is less easy. I saw your ad. [1:29] You want to go fast. I saw that. But I did not like the fact that you bragged about [1:36] cutting funding to New York. That sounded like a political argument that is not a [1:43] very nice thing to say about a state that has 20 million people that need to get to [1:48] work every day on critical infrastructure. So I don't like that quote in your ad. I [1:55] thought that was a very inappropriate thing to say. I also do not like your [2:01] great American road trip. And I get you have experience in that. I get you want to [2:08] promote American how beautiful and amazing it is. I get all the good reasons why you [2:13] wanted to do that. And I get it's time with your family. All those things. I don't like [2:19] it. Because right now in New York, people are suffering. They are extremely stressed [2:24] out. They're stressed out about the cost of gas, which has gone up by 50% under [2:28] this administration. They're upset about the cost of everyday household goods. [2:34] They're upset about the cost of groceries and housing and health care. So there's [2:38] stresses. I don't think they're going to get to go on that great American vacation [2:41] that they'd like to go on. I think a lot of families are not actually going on [2:46] vacation this summer. And when I went and met with a bunch of gas stations across my [2:51] state just a couple days ago, the cost of well over $4 a gallon in every gas [2:57] station, $5 a gallon, over $6 a gallon for diesel, it's extremely stressful. And I [3:04] don't like the fact that this great American vacation reality TV show took days and days of [3:11] filming. I don't like the fact that it was paid for by companies that you have to oversee companies [3:19] that you work with. And in our jobs, that would be pay for play, it would be 100% illegal, it [3:27] would be inappropriate on every level, and not tolerated. And in this era, where President [3:36] Trump spending money building a golden ballroom that we don't need that he's spending a billion [3:42] dollars a day on bombs that people would far rather he be spending on health care or housing. [3:46] This great American road trip, it doesn't smell right. It may be fast, but it's fast and loose [3:53] with the rules. I don't like it. I think it's wrong. And I think you should explain to the American [3:59] people why you should spend your time and why you should be getting a vacation that is paid [4:06] for by companies that you regulate. I think those things are highly problematic. And it makes me [4:12] extremely anxious because the American people, and New Yorkers in particular, probably can't [4:17] afford their vacation this summer at all. [4:19] So I appreciate that, Senator. First off, in the ad, you said a lot. Can I unpack some of the [4:28] allegations that you made? First, in regard to New York, we've asked for all states to revoke illegally [4:36] issued driver's licenses. Every state has complied but New York. And we have tools to pull money from New [4:41] York. And we did. California even complied. But the point is, but Mr. Duffy, Secretary Duffy, [4:47] I don't mind that you have rules and that you have a different way of doing the Department of [4:53] Transportation. What I mind is that you bragged about it and made a joke about it. It is not [4:59] appropriate for a secretary to demean an entire state by that joke. So we're going to give $8 billion [5:06] to rebuild Penn Station. Is that a joke? No, but- No, you'd welcome that, right? And I've asked for [5:12] your subways to be cleaner. Is that a joke? With our tax dollars. You got that money because we give [5:17] it to you from New Yorkers. And then we get a choice where to put it. And you give me that [5:20] discretion. We also appropriate money that then you don't grant. So we are the appropriators, [5:27] not you. No, I know you are. We appropriate the money. You're supposed to spend it. Sometimes you [5:32] choose not to. I make decisions on how to spend it. And we have to file lawsuits to get you to spend [5:34] the money. Want to make allegations? Can I respond? Do you want me to respond to or just if you want to [5:38] take all your time is up? But if you want to just sit and vent or want me to respond, you let me know. [5:43] Let's talk about the Great American Vacation. The Great American Road Trip? Yes, let's talk about that. [5:47] This was a project, Senator. And I want to encourage Americans to see their beautiful country. And as we [5:53] can see from this hearing, there's a lot of partisanship in America. This seeing your country, [5:58] experiencing your country through the window of a car is a beautiful thing. It actually unites America. [6:03] Maybe spending time with your children is a wonderful experience. It is a wonderful thing. But your vacation was [6:08] paid for by Boeing, Toyota, United Airlines, Enterprise, Shell, Royal Caribbean Group, [6:14] all organizations and companies. Do you want me to respond to you? Can I respond? [6:19] But you're responding with platitudes. And it's not. I'm telling you what the project was. [6:24] Got it. Two days, quickly in and out. And I did film the Great American Road Trip to encourage [6:29] Americans to travel. I'll answer your question. So this was officially part of America 250. [6:36] And you all sanctioned America 250. This is an official partner. No, it's an official partner [6:42] of America 250. Also, this body told me that I'm supposed to promote tourism and travel. And [6:49] that's what it does as well. Now, hold on a second. No. And you're making an analogy. [6:52] And it shouldn't be paid for by people that you have oversee, that you oversee. [6:56] Can I respond to that? Oh, sorry. I didn't realize. [6:57] So if I could respond, this was a partnership with a nonprofit. It was a nonprofit. And the [7:06] nonprofit- Funded by organizations and companies that you oversee. [7:10] Do you have jurisdiction over law firms? So you received $7 million in political contributions [7:19] from the trial bar. [7:20] Honestly, this has nothing to do with members of Congress. This has to do with the fact [7:24] that you went on a paid vacation that was paid by companies that you oversee. [7:31] You received $7 million from the trial bar. That's campaign. It's different. [7:34] You have jurisdiction. You have jurisdiction on the trial bar. $7 million. When we got on the list [7:38] of what else you received, you have jurisdiction. You actually passed an legislation to the trial bar. [7:43] So don't do that. This hearing is about you and this administration. [7:47] I didn't make any money. No, it's about you. I didn't make any money. [7:48] This hearing, you are the witness. I am not the witness. [7:51] I don't have any. Well, maybe you should be. [7:53] Well, you know what? Maybe you should answer the American people for $7 million from the trial bar. [7:56] Secretary Duffy. Secretary Duffy. $7 million. [8:00] I think you should be telling this committee why. That goes to put your ad on television. [8:06] That's all to you. You spend that money. [8:08] This is what I'm concerned about. You are political and you are using your position in political ways. [8:14] A half a million dollars paid by the trial bar to fly you on a private jet. [8:18] I've never been on a private jet. Zen Air. [8:22] Never been on a private jet. $462,000 for private jets. [8:26] We don't. We don't. Members of Congress aren't allowed. [8:28] So they pay for you to fly. Yes, senators can. [8:30] Not true. It is. [8:31] Not true. Answer to that. [8:33] You know what, Mr. Secretary? I made nothing. [8:35] Your job. They put your face on television. [8:38] Your face on television, your steak dinners, your vacations by the trial bar. [8:42] I make nothing on this. We're going to go to Senator Capito, [8:44] recognize you for your question. Thank you.