INVESTING IN AMERICA: Secretary Buttigieg Delivers Remarks in Lansing, Michigan, Highlighting Good-Paying Union Jobs Created by President Biden’s Infrastructure Law

LANSING, Mich. – Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Lansing Mayor Andy Shor, and union workers at an active construction site alongside I-496/I-127 to highlight the progress of Biden-Harris Administration investments across Michigan, including the creation of new, good-paying union jobs.  

The I-127/I-496 Project is one of hundreds of infrastructure projects in Michigan receiving funding from the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda. The project is reconstructing 3.7 miles between I-96 and I-496 in the Lansing area and is funded in part by over $36 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  

During his visit, Secretary Buttigieg also met with IBEW apprentices and with construction workers who are contributing to the project, highlighting not just the impacts of the infrastructure itself but also the good-paying union jobs created in the process. 

The full transcript of Secretary Buttigieg’s remarks: 

Thanks, Al [Payne] for being part of the program. Thanks for most importantly for what you and fellow union members across the state, across country have been doing to build America, and to make sure that these investments turn into results for everybody. We’re proud to be with you today.  

I want to thank, Mayor Andy Schor, as he mentioned, when we first got to know each other in the community of American Mayors back when I was Mayor of South Bend, Indiana—and I think in many ways, the job has only gotten tougher since I proudly wore the title. But, I will say it and I think the mayor will agree. It sure would have been nice back then when I was Mayor—If there was a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivering a trillion dollars in investments across America to cities, like South Bend, Indiana, cities like Lansing, and communities across the Midwest and across the country. 

That day has come. And as, mayors like Mayor Schor, look at their vision for a growing economy and a safer community and better transportation systems, that's no longer just, ideas on the drawing board—It's turning into reality because the funding is finally here.  

Likewise, I want to thank my friend, Representative Elissa Slotkin, as she explained so well, none of these projects happen unless there is the funding that Representative Slotkin, and others put together and voted for in this Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

It's easy to talk now like it would have happened no matter what. So let us remember that during that period of months that she was describing as she and her House colleagues were reaching across the aisle and engaging with each other, that the political obituary of this legislation was written half a dozen times by Washington commentators. It was far from certain that this infrastructure plan would become a reality—Indeed, the previous administration promised to deliver one and failed.  

So, this isn't something that just happens on its own. It happens when you have the right kind of leadership. We have the kind of leadership in Representative Slotkin, who looks across party lines and, across some of those old divisions to just get stuff done. So, thanks for everything you do, Congresswoman. 

And I know we got a lot of state leaders here. I want to recognize Governor Whitmer and her fantastic team.  

I want to thank, Greg Brunner for, both the tour, and the expert work.  

I want to thank the Chief Infrastructure Officer for Michigan, Zach [Kolodin]. I saw him out here, there you are. 

And, you know, every time I see the Governor, she teases me and just calls me the “Secretary of Fix the Damn Roads”. So, we understand what our assignment is back in Washington—to be a partner to the state of Michigan.

But I will say our federal dollars go a lot further when you have leaders who understand the importance of infrastructure, and that is exactly what you have here, in Michigan.  

So, I've had the privilege of being, literally across the entire country. I visited, every one of our 50 states just in the time that I've had this job. And in the last few months, that's really been, about visiting active construction. 

We've been visiting sites from a new rail line going in, in North Carolina; to a new bridge we're putting in in Maine; to new port facility in Wisconsin.  

But this is a particularly welcome visit, and not just because it's driving distance from home, and I'll be able to see my kids before bedtime tonight. But because this is something that will really bring safety benefits as well as convenience benefits to so many people in this region. 

We're supporting it with over $36 million to contribute toward making 127 safer and less congested.  

We're also here not just as our focus on what is being built, but on how it's being built and on who is building.  

I know LIUNA is here, the operating engineers are here, and I just had a chance to see how they're helping get 127 improve ahead of schedule—which is part of a 175,000 miles of roadway we're improving.  

They may not be here, but UAW workers are going to be benefiting from what we're doing and are benefiting as manufacturing plants are expanding and reopening and retooling, including some major facilities here, like the $500 million support for the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant to make sure they're at the forefront of the EV economy, retaining 650 jobs, creating another 50, and, bringing training for workers here too. 

IBEW, helping install and maintain a growing network of EV chargers. And I should note that the number of EV chargers in America has now doubled to 192,000 ports, it's twice as we had when President Biden took office.  

And I expect that grant that we've awarded to Lansing is going to go to very good use as Mayor Schor builds out those chargers to make sure more people here can participate in that. 

So, bottom line, we are fixing the damn roads, as Governor Whitmer would say and everything over and under and around those roads, too. And it's creating a lot of good paying jobs while we're at it.  

I'm thinking about the UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 333 building new manufacturing and facilities, airports, clean energy facilities, and now having to build their own facility up because there are so many apprentices joining that they can't fit in the current space. Creating construction jobs to construct a bigger training facility to support people in construction jobs is about as big of a full circle moment as I can imagine. And they've gone from 40 apprentices a year to 200 entering these terrific union careers.  

And it's happening across the country. UA has grown by 21,000 members just since this administration began. And the result of that is that the whole country gets stronger when more work comes to union households and families. That's putting the industrial back into the industrial Midwest. And it means presents under the tree, it means a new car or truck in the driveway. It means the chance to own a home.  

And that's the transformation that's happening across this country.

For too long, Americans we're looking at the state of our infrastructure, saying, “Why can't we have nice things?”

And the answer was, it was a choice. Because the funding just wasn't there.  

That's what we've changed with project after project from six figure projects, to fix a crosswalk or a streetlight somewhere, to projects that will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to save lives, like the one that we're celebrating today. 

In a few hours, I'm going to be with President Biden, who will make major announcement on expanding and cementing gains in measures like project labor agreements, registered apprenticeships and more to support union workers, which is a huge difference, between those who have just talked the talk and those who have walked the walk, including literally, in the case of President Biden, the first sitting President to walk a picket line in the United States in modern times. 

So, I know Labor Day is a few days ago, but I don't think it's too late to say Happy Labor Day, because it's a Labor Week, a labor season, and a season of infrastructure in the life of our country.

And I got to say, I thought the coolest part of this job would be seeing the vehicles and the technology.  

I got to kick the tires on a 747. That was pretty cool.  

But, really, the best part of this job has been moments like I had earlier today, with electrical worker apprentices. Because when I'm with the apprentices, I get a chance to see how they are not just transforming our infrastructure. They're transforming their futures. You feel that as they stand up taller and going out, knowing that they will be providing a good income for their families and also providing better infrastructure for our economy, and it's a thrill to be partnering with all of you in order to make that happen. 

So, thanks for the chance to celebrate this great project.  

No pressure, but I'm looking forward to seeing reports of it being completed on time and on budget as I know it will, and we're excited about the road ahead. 

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