“Who Paid for This?: Patty Murray Grills Sean Duffy Over Sponsored Road Trip

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]Uh, Mr. Secretary, you know how important the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project is across the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon.

[00:00:09]It's important for the entire West Coast, and it is really critical, as we have talked about many times, to keep this project moving and on track. And we know that delays mean higher costs. So, I wanted to ask you, when you're in front of us today, will you commit to publishing the record of decision for the IBR project no later than July 1st?

[00:00:27]>> I I don't know that I I got to take a look at that, but I But to to the issue of uh of the I-5, I have been wildly, aggressively involved in the process >> Yeah.

[00:00:38]>> for the last year and a half. Um it's probably the project I know more about.

[00:00:42]Um now I I I think we have to work together. I think the the initial estimate was $14 billion for that project. I think we have to work together to get to a number that's going to be >> Yes.

[00:00:51]>> uh >> That is true, but today I just wanted to ask you about the record of decision, cuz delaying that is going to make it cost even more.

[00:00:57]>> I'll look and I'll look and see on the timeline. I don't know that I can commit to you by July 1st. Let me look, and I can circle back with you on that timeline.

[00:01:03]>> you. Um I want to ask you about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As you know, it expires September 30th, and communities across our country are immediately going to lose access to about $37 billion in transportation funding, along with tens of billions in other critical funds in other agencies.

[00:01:22]I heard um Senator Gillibrand mention these facts earlier, but the American Society of Civil Engineers gives our infrastructure a C grade. Roads and aviation, D plus. Transit gets a D. And these grades tell us, really, that we have a lot more work to do. And if we don't, ASCE estimates that American families will pay $700 more a year, 344,000 jobs lost, and our economy is going to take a hit as well.

[00:01:50]So, we have to address this infrastructure cliff in our 27 funding bills, or our cities, our airports, our transit systems are not going to have the funding that they need for vital projects and in actually every one of our states.

[00:02:03]Meanwhile, we have a budget from the president and he is proposing a half a trillion dollars more for the war budget. But his budget proposal does virtually nothing to prevent a $37 billion cut to this transportation funding. So, I'll just be blunt. Is it the position of this administration that we should stop fixing our roads and bridges to fund a war abroad?

[00:02:27]>> So, Senator, I I appreciate the question. So, first when you look at the C rating and we should be A-rated in America. I agree with you. You and I are on the same page.

[00:02:37]>> asking you about the >> I'll ask that question. I'm just talking about what I'm talking about.

[00:02:40]>> have limited time.

[00:02:41]>> Okay, so I I have pulled out a lot of the green requirements that you all didn't put in the legislation, IIJA, and I pulled out a lot of the DEI from the last administration to make us build faster and build >> I know what you've been doing, but >> Just you know, we we >> The budget proposes a flat funding funding for transportation. It It proposes a huge funding for war. So, to all of us looking like at this budget, it's fewer bridges and more bombs. I just got to say that as a committee, we have to address this infrastructure cliff in our funding bills. We cannot let this funding expire and leave our communities dry.

[00:03:17]>> I think it's important to run No, I take your point, but can we be on the same page?

[00:03:22]Um you all do the advance appropriations and you're melding together the budget with the advance appropriations.

[00:03:28]>> Correct and that's what we've been doing for a number of years and all I'm saying is that there's going to be a huge cliff and instead of giving us a budget that helps us address that cliff, we did not get one.

[00:03:39]>> administration didn't give you a budget that included advance appropriations and I didn't either. So, we've actually in increased the money in the base budget.

[00:03:46]>> that is why it's critical.

[00:03:48]>> I never you if I came in and told you you what to do with with advance appropriations, you'd be offended by that.

[00:03:52]>> No, but I I am offended by a budget that comes in for with one and a half trillion dollars more for war and no increases for infrastructure when we all know that in October there's going to be a huge funding cliff on transportation that was not addressed in the budget.

[00:04:07]>> I have I have 114 billion dollars, the biggest base budget in transportation ever submitted to Congress.

[00:04:15]But the advanced appropriations is not what I do. You all do the advanced appropriations.

[00:04:19]>> is a problem we're all going to face.

[00:04:20]But But let me move on because I I do want to address this um issue because over 39 million Americans are expected to hit the road for Memorial Day weekend.

[00:04:32]And you are encouraging Americans to spend the summer road tripping across the country. But let me just ask you, how much did you rack up on gas during your Great American Road Trip?

[00:04:44]I understand that was paid for by groups and sponsors. Is that correct?

[00:04:47]>> a nonprofit uh funded the Great American Road Trip.

[00:04:51]>> The nonprofit actually solicited funding from private organizations.

[00:04:55]>> right.

[00:04:55]>> Okay, do you know how much gas >> No, I don't.

[00:04:57]>> You don't.

[00:04:58]>> But I know I know it's not as much as it was under Biden, which was $5 a gallon.

[00:05:01]>> cow. Okay, so let's just listen.

[00:05:04]Americans don't have corporate sponsors to pay for their gas. And for families that are hitting the road this weekend, the national average gas price is now $4.50 per gallon. That is more than 50% higher than before Trump's war in Iran, when gas was less than $3 a gallon. Um so the And And I just want to make the point that families are seeing this at the gas pump, but they're also seeing it costing more for airline trips. The cost of a domestic flight is up 31% over last year. And they, by the way, are stuck paying ridiculous junk fees. Why?

[00:05:39]Because you decided to rip up some basic protections that gave people automatic refunds and hotels when their flight was delayed or canceled. So, here's the problem.

[00:05:50]Here's how Americans see this and who are talking to me. You've been recording a promo of yourself and not working to lower the cost.

[00:05:57]>> Sure, Senator.

[00:05:57]>> So, I just It just This show is incredibly out of touch with where Americans are and I echo Senator Gillibrand's concerns that it really raises some serious ethics concerns about who you answer to because the people organizing your show solicited corporate sponsors and promised rewards at each level of funding.

[00:06:19]>> Senator, to be honest, to be I be honest, that's not true.

[00:06:21]>> I'm looking at your thing. What you did from being a plat- >> I There was a memo of understanding that says no one gets any benefit for anything they do to participate.

[00:06:31]>> Maybe you can answer it.

[00:06:33]>> Sure.

[00:06:33]>> If I'm an airline executive and I paid a million dollars for this Great American Road Trip, what would I get out of that?

[00:06:39]>> With from me, nothing.

[00:06:41]>> Well, look, as I said, the deck that is out there says that if you >> So, >> give a million dollars, you get six VIP invitations to receptions, you get to go to roundtables, you get to networking events.

[00:06:55]>> from Someone from the healthcare industry gives you $2 million, what do they get for it?

[00:07:00]>> The The I do not oversee the I do not >> you You have jurisdiction.

[00:07:04]>> I do not regulate >> $2 million to put your face on TV, to buy steak dinners.

[00:07:10]>> Secretary, listen. Listen to my point here.

[00:07:13]>> That's what you do.

[00:07:13]>> Mr. >> Welcome to MAGA. Welcome to drill, baby, drill. Are you going to drill? Do you Do you want to support lower gas prices?

[00:07:20]>> Americans I ask you a question, please.

[00:07:23]I ask you a question. Mr. Secretary, you You have not been supportive of that.

[00:07:29]You have not been supportive of that.

[00:07:30]Instead of answering our questions, you could attack.

[00:07:34]You are I You have done everything you can to increase gas prices for Americans and make us buy easy to >> Mr. Secretary, this is my time. Donald Trump is lowering the cost of >> my time. You're responding with a book of claims that you have come at us with.

[00:07:48]>> Do you deny that you got $2 million from health care? I can go down the list here.

[00:07:52]>> Mr. Secretary, that is not Mr. Secretary, it is my time.

[00:07:56]>> gave you $102,000.

[00:07:57]>> I'm asking to be able to ask a question here. I do not want to be interrupted by a secretary who is the witness at this table that is out of order.

[00:08:05]>> What did the What did big pharma get for the the 1.1 million that big pharma gave you? What did they get for it?

[00:08:10]>> Mr. Secretary, seriously.

[00:08:12]>> Seriously.

[00:08:13]>> Seriously.

[00:08:14]>> I want to know. I think America wants to know.

[00:08:16]>> I got nothing from anybody.

[00:08:18]>> I find it astonishing.

[00:08:19]>> I do, too.

[00:08:20]>> That you are so angry at a question that I asked.

[00:08:23]>> I'm surprised that you are, Senator.

[00:08:25]>> I am not I'm sitting here trying to ask a question. I'm being interrupted rudely by a secretary who's here.

[00:08:30]>> No.

[00:08:31]>> Mr. Secretary, let me just say this.

[00:08:33]Toyota, United Airlines, Shell, Boeing, Royal Caribbean, and Enterprise has all sponsored your show. It is literally your job to make sure each of those companies are playing by the rule. So, >> Can I answer a question?

[00:08:48]>> is sponsoring a show starring you, and it is your department, Mr. Secretary, that >> You hate America. Don't you want to celebrate America?

[00:08:55]>> Mr. Secretary, it is your department that decides whether Toyota's next recall is voluntary or mandatory.

[00:09:02]>> No one gets anything from me.

[00:09:03]>> You can understand You're not even going to acknowledge that this is a bad look in America.

[00:09:08]>> It's a bad It's a bad look that you take >> I have done over and over time. I find your answers out of touch and irresponsible.

[00:09:14]>> I I There is There is no benefit that anyone gets if I'm going to celebrate America 250. You gave me the ability to partner with America 250, and I did. You told me this body did said celebrate tourism and travel, and that's what I'm doing. All I'm saying is America, go see your country.

[00:09:30]>> Mr. Secretary, you really good at talking about yourself.

[00:09:32]>> Families are beautiful, and and businesses around this country to sorry.

[00:09:40]>> But American businesses want to celebrate America's birthday. I'm sorry.

[00:09:44]>> Senator Britt, you're recognized for your question.

[00:09:47]>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um Secretary Duffy, thank you so much for appearing before