earlier today by the majority leader to get the debate started with a couple of different amendments, democrats objecting both times. the senate will continue immigration debate tomorrow. they gambled in the ten and we expect a vote on moving forward to debate officially around 10:30 eastern. live coverage here on c-span2 but tonight highlight some today's immigration debate that is coming up at 8:00 eastern on c-span2. next at the white house briefing which today included transportation secretary elaine chao talking about the trump administration infrastructure proposal. >> hello. good afternoon. >> a good afternoon, everyone. many of you probably saw protective life corporations announcement this morning as a direct result of the trump tax cuts, , the alabama-based compay is raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and giving $1000

bonus to over 2000 of their workers. for those of you keeping track we now have over 350 companies that have announced wage increases, bonuses, new hiring or increase retirement benefits as a direct result of tax reform which not a single democrat supported. these announcement have affected over 4 million american workers. the president is working to build an economy that works for all americans. the tax cuts and reforms are big part of that and so was infrastructure. as you also yesterday the president unveiled legislative outline for rebuilding infrastructure in america. were committed to quickly building a safe reliable and modern infrastructure to meet the needs of the american people and a few economic growth. and help make this possible with a very special announcement today. in keeping with his campaign pledge the the president donats salary on a quarterly basis for the work being done on important projects. most recently the president

donated his third-quarter salary to help the department of health and human services combat the opioid epidemic here prior to that he donated to the department of education at the national park service. and today the president is proud to donate his fourth-quarter salary, 2017 salary to the department of transportation to support their programs to rebuild and modernize our crumbling infrastructure. secretary of transportation elaine chao issued except the czech beer like to bring up to say a few words, take a couple of questions on infrastructure and about how these funds will be used and i trust you'll stand how the content of the backed up afterwards to answer your questions on the news of the day. with that, secretary chao, thank you very much. >> thank you. we had to get this checked here, and with all of us. >> thank you. thank you, sarah. i'm accompanied here, in case you were wondering, by two

officials of the us department of transportation. i have with me derek kan, undersecretary of policy, and jim gray, this unit advisor the secretary for infrastructure. they are here because of this gift, and so let me proceed. as many of you have heard yesterday, 12 federal agencies have been working with the white house on the comprehensive infrastructure proposal that the president announced yesterday. transportation is one component. the proposal also includes energy, drinking and wastewater, broadband, and veterans hospitals, as well. the goal of the president's of s proposal is to stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment, which includes a minimum of $200 billion in direct federal funding, and a key element is to empower decision-making at the state and local level because state and local officials know

best the infrastructure needs of their communities. many of you know that the principles are behind this, and so i wanted to reiterate some of the principles. the principles behind this proposal are, one, to use federal dollars as seed money to encourage infrastructure investment by the states, localities, and the private sector. number two, provide food infrastructure needs of rural communities. three, streamline project delivery. and four, invest in transformative projects that benefit everyone. we all already are applying these principles to the department of transportations major things existing infrastructure grant program, including, for example, the infra grants and that is why

these two gentlemen to my right are here, because their offices will be among those at the department of transportation that will be taking the applications and also administering these infra grants. this quarter as mentioned the president has generously decided to donate his annual salary to the departments infra grant programs. infra directly reflects the president's proposal by providing dedicated, discretionary funding for projects that address critical issues facing our nation's highways and bridges and ports. under the infra program, , stats and localities that secure some funding or financing of their own are given higher priority access to federal funds. in addition, infra also reserves at least 25% of its funding to

be awarded to rural projects. so infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and its key to keeping our country competitive. the president's proposal will create new jobs, strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life for everyone. and so with that quick summary, i'll be more than glad to answer any questions. yes, john. >> madam secretary, some of the criticisms of the president's plan as outlined yesterday are that it puts too much of the burden on the states financially because the federal portion is about 13% of the overall and but also end up in people pay more taxes, more tolls, that sort of thing. what you say to that? >> federal money is not free. federal money comes from our communities, people, taxpayers and our communities. they take that money, send it to washington, and did we decide how to use it and send it back to the communities with a lot of

strings attached on what they need to do. so what we're trying to do is to recognize the states and localities, communities understand best what their infrastructure needs are, and to allow them to have much greater flexibility to decide their own projects, in conjunction and in partnership with the federal government. yes, sir. >> thanks, secretary chao. one of the other criticisms is that it doesn't address the highway trust fund which will hit so we years ahead of it. two to address why that was not included in the presidents broader infrastructure plan? what does the administration plan to do about that very important source of funding for infrastructure projects across the country? >> the highway trust fund does need to be addressed because every year for more money goest of it then receipts are received. this will be a huge problem in 2021. so we in conjunction with the congress have got to address

this issue. so we're not in any disagreement about that. the issue is how we look for to consulting consult with congress i have to do that. because again the clip begins in 2021. >> madam secretary, the white house doesn't have a proposal right now for that? >> we don't want to do it unilaterally. as mentioned, the president's proposal consisted of principles. we want to discuss and work in consultation on a bipartisan basis with the hill to address the infrastructure needs of our country. >> madam secretary, thank you. the crumbling infrastructure. could you talk to us about, we know what's going on with roads, bridges, highways, and what have you. but when it comes to rural america, can you give us specifics about what's crumbling, what needs to be fixed, and what jobs will be given where? >> i come from the state of kentucky. i'm a proud kentuckian and they

come from a rural state. so i'm especially concerned about the needs of rural america, and we recognize that the needs of rural america are special. that is why in the president's proposal there is actually a provision which addresses the unique needs of rural america. so it will be separate from the, there's a separate title that is addressed to rural america. similarly, there's a separate title address to transformative technology as well. so, for example, derek kan the undersecretary of policy, one f his portfolio areas is transformational technology, autonomous vehicles, automated driving systems. so that is another part of the president's infrastructure proposal that we will also be discussing with the hill. >> let's take one more question. >> yes. >> thank you, secretary chao.

the federal gas tax has remained at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993. the u.s. chamber of commerce has advocated an increase in the gas tax of 25 cents per gallon. the american trucking associations recommended a $.20 per gallon increase in the gas tax. what's your view on this subject? >> the president has not declared anything out of bounds, everything is on the table. the gas tax, like many of the other pay-fors that are being discussed, is not ideal. there are pros and cons. the gas tax has adverse impact, a very regressive impact, on the most vulnerable within our society. those who depend on jobs, who are hourly workers. so these are tough decisions which is why, once again, we need to start the dialogue with the congress, and so that we can

address these issues on this very important point. >> could you just clarify your answer to john from the first question? were you saying there are strings attached? so you're saying that taxes will increase and that tolls may increase, or they won't? >> that a decision that is up to the state and local governments. and . and also it's going to depend, you know, that gentleman mentioned about federal gas taxes. these are tough decisions. we all want better infrastructure. but, unfortunately, there's just not enough money in the world to pay for all the infrastructure, which is why the president's infrastructure also emphasizes the private sector. private-sector pension funds are a tremendous source of capital for funding public infrastructure. there are states which disallow the private sector from investing in public infrastructure. so we hope that those restrictions can be removed.

and then for those states and localities that want to work with the private sector, it's their decision as to whether they want to use private activity bonds, whether they want to use tolls, whatever. what we're saying in this proposal is that we're looking for creative ways for financing. and so tolls is one way. we are not advocating for them. we are also not endorsing them. it is really up to the local entities that are involved in trying to raise the financing. >> but as a quick follow-up, you're from kentucky so you will know the watterson expressway when it was widened in louisville, one of the things they like the best about it, there was no toll. so in rural areas if help people get to where you want to go quicker. here in the washington, d.c.

area you have an abundance of tolls and it cuts into peoples paychecks. while you're espousing that you want to help out rural america, isn't that going to impact or will not tolls for rural america? >> okay, you're mixing and i think several things here. i'm so sorry. there's actually going to be a title, as i mentioned, on rural america. so that is separate from the rest of the titles in this proposal that we're talking about. so the was a special section for rural america. and then asked her whether other urban areas want to embark upon tolls or private activity bonds or asset recycling, that is up to them. we are giving them the flexibility to do so. they are getting much greater flexibility now to be able to look at the panoply of creative financing mechanisms, and decide for themselves what they want.

>> thank you so much. >> thank you so much. i'm sure we'll be talking more. thank you. >> thank you, secretary chao. due to the fact the president has got an event here momentarily, will jump straight into the question for today. john. >> as you know, fbi director christopher wray laid out a different timeline and the white house has been telling us, or one that would seem to be in contradiction to the timeline that the white house is laid out in terms of what we knew when about rob porter. can you speak to what the director said? he seemed to indicate that the first that you would have known about this might've been in march, then in again in june, then november, then in january when the case was actually closed. >> look, we explained the process extensively last week. the white house personal security office staff by career officials receive information

last year in what they considered to be the final background investigation report in november. but did not made a final recommendation for adjudication to the white house because the process was still ongoing when rob porter did resign. in the view of personal secured office the fbi's july before record significant additional investigatory fieldwork before personnel security office could begin to evaluate the information for adjudication. as director ray said, information was still coming to the white house personal security office in february. >> the july report, was information contained in the report about proper? >> i would not have access. i would know the answer to that. >> i want to drill down a one important fact because you and raj shah just that this again that investigation was ongoing. who's telling the truth? >> both. the fbi portion was close to the

white house personal security office who is the one that makes a recommendation for adjudication had not finished the process and, therefore, not made a recommendation to the white house. >> let me clarify. you said yesterday you didn't get any paperwork from the fbi. chris gray said that he did submit paperwork and all the various months that were -- >> that would comes come to tht house personal security office which have not completed their investigation and not pass information to the white house. >> but you know what you did receive paperwork. >> again, the white house, i think you need to be very clear. there's multiple groups. the white house personal security office which is staffed by career officials may have received information but they had not completed their process and made a recommendation to the white house for adjudication. >> finally, who allowed john kelly, or rob porter rather, to stay here without a permanent security clearance? >> i can't comment on specifics of that other than what we've

already said on that matter. cecilia. >> could you answer questions about -- >> i'm going to keep moving because we got a short time fuse here today. >> is a white estimating that john kelly we had no idea about these allegations of domestic abuse until this story broke? >> i can only give you the best information that i have and that's my understanding. >> does the president believe the women? >> again, the president takes all of these accusations very seriously. he believes into process. about everything else he supports the victims of any type of violence and certainly would contain any violence against anyone. >> that we still american say that in itself. they came ashore of him today. >> the president dictated to me specifically that comment yesterday which abated you guys. >> did anyone at the white house personal security office at any communication with anyone in the west wing about prop orders clearance, between when the fbi started submitting its interim reports and --

>> i'm not aware of any communication. i can't say definitively but i'm not aware of any communication. >> secondly on capitol hill today in an 80 with the ap director coats said that those with interim security clearances should have limited access to classified information rather than access to the full gamut that a full clearance would provide. can you speak to whether the physical practice right now for the large number of officials, whether it be the west wing or the broader white house complex? .. >> to determine if that process needed to be change. >> they would be the ones who

make the determination and play will what the changes would book like. >> talked about the allegations in unofficial side until tuesday night that don't realize the extent of the allegations. would the fbi be punished for that telling them? >> be something well beyond my scope. >> they were told and everyone knew that no one in the senior staff found out? >> i haven't asked about that specifically. >> -said last week that the situation could've been handled better. yesterday jacob. today the chief of staff said it was all done right. can you explain this how can it be handled differently or to pick it was handled right?

>> i think every day will come here and the best that we can. were going to continue to strive to do the best. the humans with imperfect people in everyday we can learn from the day before and strive to do better so center team i will try to do everything we can to help serve the american people to the best of our ability. >> superstar part of the conversation that took place. i don't recall you being in the room that she's the white house communications director and is an important valuable member of the staff. she has done an important role. >> he said that the fbi in late

july the follow-up required for field work on that. is that something in response to that require my fieldwork? >> i can only refrain back to the previous statement. >> and an ipad from about porter said specifically view i expected a woman to do better. based on what you know to thank you personally misled and you have any regret? >> we do the best travel can every day. i would never presume to understand anything going on with an individual know what i think that she could presume what's going on with me what i'm responding.

but we have condemned domestic violence never possible. the president's budget offense of violence against women act. looking for ways to take action to prevent it from happening to anyone and to presume that i feel differently as a strong mischaracterization of who i am and who this white house is. >> also has confidence confidence based on last week? >> regular continue to do the best we can. >> in july when he was sent back nobody in the senior staff in the restaurant was involved in that decision.

>> again, not that i'm aware of. i cannot say with 100% certainty. >> i am looking at now is that you can change the process so that if a senior official in the white house is facing charges that the senior staff will be notified timeline is accurate? >> i think this is a process that the law-enforcement and intelligence community should million a determine. >> that would include those agencies in those departments. you cannot exclude them from a conversation about what changes should need to be made. that should involve some of the

stakeholders. >> just following up on virtually was asking you say law-enforcement should worry about your in charge, should you that william? >> a large number of the background component is run by the fbi. others are young. i said all of the stakeholders should be part of the discussi discussion. >> given that it impacts white house staff to not want to last an improved process here? >> that will go beyond my scope that. >> in light of everything going on is there an internal review of all those? >> i cannot speak rather not other staff have security

clearances. >> it is a review of those who have -- because of what's happening now? >> has been ongoing for a while. probably be made outside of what's going on. >> tell me the price of what they're trying to put it on the. >> how much is he put it in? >> it was rolled out in the budget presented yesterday. >> is the number what it has always been hard. >> what was requested was put into the president's budget

(videogame process. >> this is part of something that's been going. >> the person things in that budget that they did not tell us about yesterday. >> then you probably do not give us that information. >> i want to get clarification from you regarding this one testimony to the fbi director and laid out the timeline. according to the testimony the fbi submitted a partial report on the investigation question in march and a completed background investigation in late july. yesterday when asked about when the white house counsel learned about mr. porter, hygiene before

the report in the daily mail last week your report was the process for the background is ongoing and has had not received any specific papers regarding the background check. those two statements by the fbi director statement statement yesterday seem to be at odds with one another. something you like to clarify in terms of what i asked you today. >> my understanding is the information little got to this person a security office. they have not completed the process to make adjudication to the white house. >> there is papers with the background check. >> that's part of the process they play run by career officials will not received a

recommendation. >> the fbi director said under out that the background information was cemented in late july, so which one is it? >> white house personnel security office received information last year what they consider the final background report in november. they have not final recommendation because it was still ongoing reporter resign. the july report required significant investigatory fieldwork before the field office could evaluate the information for adjudication. final statements to be consistent. [inaudible] so if chief of staff john kelly

and what he knew and when instead of the communication staff for allowing -- in the firing of bob porter? >> were given you the best information we have. the press team is not going to be quite as -- paris relay the best and most accurate information we have. >> talk about the other staffers being dismissed for not having background checks. >> the same process was followed for all employees. the same process in previous it administrations. i cannot comment on other dismissals. >> slow going on for a week and we still don't have answers to basic questions of who knew what

when. >> i tried the best i can to walk you through that. i'd refer you back to the statements. >> he said i'm not aware or not sure. >> you said that you have to get out he said you are other partners in government to be able to do these to do these in the house. one of the house speaker disagreed with that. >> i would have to ask him specifically the question. the president would like to reduce the deficit. that's why his budget reduce the deficit by $3 trillion.

it's one of the largest in history. >> is photos from mandatory spending not discretionary spending. but the president is greater than. i know he said he doesn't agree with that approach. >> i need to ask the specifics. >> majority leader mcconnell said that that before negotiations have to be done by this week. did he give democrats a head up and does that reflective view from the white house for example they didn't balancing sure cities today. >> is said to congress to set the timeline. the president has laid out the priorities and will only support the legislation that deals with those four priorities.

we hope democrats can come to a consensus. [inaudible] [inaudible] >> assistance "washington journal", five with news and policy issues that impact two. hundreds morning rob discusses the trump administration's 2019 budget and infrastructure plan. then john garamendi will million on president trumps budget. leslie college professor catherine moon will discuss the

u.s. goal of using the olympics to highlight issues with north korea. watch "washington journal", live at 7:00 a.m. eastern on wednesday morning. >> sunday night and afterwards, former u.s. trade negotiator and senior senate staffer. he's interviewed by by tom daschle. >> politics were supposed to be about finding a way to overcome some of the differences through extended discussion in the real legislative process through principle compromise. it was not supposed to be about one party winning on their own. the times in history when one party has been able to do this on your are very few, maybe 1933 and 34, ftr dealing with the

depression, lbj and 64 and 65. fdr had republican support the first two years. >> watch afterwards on sunday night about tv. >> now former officials from the george w. bush and obama administrations discuss the current risks in the security sector. this conversation is part of the day long for hosted by the center for strategic and international studies. >> we are ready to get started with the third and final installment of today's event on accountability