Thank you, Sean, for that introduction. It’s an honor to be joining you today.

And thank you to my friend Terry O’Sullivan and all of the union heads gathered here today. I’m so glad to see you.

I’d like to give a special shoutout to Armand Sabitoni for his work for our country. And also to Michael Sabitoni and all my friends in Rhode Island for the amazing work they do back home.

And I want to thank all of you for your work to train and support building and construction workers across the country.

While our nation grappled with the pandemic, the Building Trades stayed hard at work building America’s future.

In Rhode Island, I was known as the Building Trades governor. I hope you’ll come to know me as the Building Trades Secretary too.

At the Commerce Department, we have one overarching goal: to improve America’s competitiveness so that our workers and companies succeed in the global economy.

That’s why we share your excitement about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition to hundreds of billions of dollars to improve and revitalize our roads and bridges, the law includes nearly $50 billion in funding for the Commerce Department to achieve the goal of universal broadband.

And the Building Trades will be crucial to that work. We think we're going to create around 200,000 jobs as we lay the fiber and build out the networks. That work should be done using good union labor.

When we rolled out our broadband programs last year, we required applicants to tell us how they would incorporate strong labor standards and adopt high-road labor practices, including project labor agreements. 

We made clear that strong labor standards promote effective delivery of high-quality infrastructure projects and avoid disruptions to the work, including those associated with labor disputes and workplace injuries. And we expect to continue to promote strong labor standards when we roll out our new broadband programs next month.

In addition to broadband, we’re taking action on climate change.

As many of you know, when I was Governor, we made Rhode Island the home of the nation’s first offshore wind farm, and established a new source of clean, renewable energy.

I was proud to do that in total partnership with the Building Trades, including a PLA to ensure that the Block Island Wind Farm created good union jobs in Rhode Island.

Last year, the Departments of Commerce, Interior, and Energy announced a shared goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the US by 2030.

Meeting this target will trigger more than $12 billion per year in capital investment in projects on both coasts, and create tens of thousands of good-paying, union jobs, with more than 44,000 workers employed in offshore wind by 2030 and nearly 33,000 additional jobs in communities supported by offshore wind activity.

We’re also working to supercharge domestic semiconductor production.

America created the semiconductor industry. 20 years ago, we produced nearly 40% of all chips. But since 1990, American chip production has declined from 37% of global supply to just 12% today. 90% of the world’s leading-edge semiconductors are made in Taiwan.

We have to get back into the business of making things in America.

That’s why we’ve been urging Congress to pass the Bipartisan Innovation Act, which will create a $52 billion fund for production here in America.

Companies like Samsung and Intel have indicated that their recent investments in American semiconductor manufacturing could expand with passage of this CHIPS funding. Intel has been very clear that their $20 billion investment in a new fab in Ohio – which is expected to create at least 7,000 construction jobs – could turn into investments of $100 billion.

These companies are going to build their fabs somewhere, and it’s on us to create the incentives so that they build on American soil with American union labor.

Both the House and Senate bills include prevailing wage requirements for the construction of these facilities.

There’s so much at stake for your members here, as this funding could create upwards of 50,000 construction jobs.

And I know you’re pushing to get the bill over the finish line – we are too.

The House version of the bill also includes the National Apprenticeship Act – which I know is a top priority for this group. These provisions expand Registered Apprenticeships, which will provide workers with paid, on the job training.

Registered Apprenticeships have been shown to be the most successful approach to growing a highly skilled workforce. This is key to growing our domestic semiconductor industry.

Currently, women account for approximately 10 percent of jobs in the semiconductor industry, while Black and Hispanic Americans account for even less. These are good paying jobs that have the potential to change lives, and part of our job is to ensure everyone has access to them.

So much of the reason that women and people of color are left behind is because they lack the necessary skills, credentials, or education.

We need better, more integrated, highly effective job training programs. It's on us – the government, unions, and the private sector – to provide that training. Our systems need to be revamped with an eye towards equity.

And training programs should include wraparound services, like childcare, transportation, and career counseling.

I want to thank NABTU for putting a special focus on recruiting and training women in your Registered Apprenticeship programs. But look around the room – we’ve got a lot of work to do.

Investing in women’s success in the economy – as workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators – is essential to our economic competitiveness, just as much as investments in roads, bridges, domestic manufacturing, and supply chain resilience. ​

The programs I just outlined represent a massive job-creating opportunity we haven’t seen in a generation. Over 200,000 jobs in broadband; over 50,000 construction jobs alone for semiconductor fabs; and over 70,0000 jobs for new offshore wind turbines.

You’re going to be front and center in these efforts. Let’s swell the ranks of your unions, and let’s do it with women and people of color. Our diversity is our competitive advantage. Let’s make use of it.

I know how important unions are to American families. When my grandpa came over from Italy, he joined the meat cutter union, which set my family on a path to financial stability in Rhode Island’s middle class.

There’s no reason we can’t replicate that success and improve it for the workers of today and the workers of the future.

If we work together to make these investments and build sustainable pipelines that lead to good jobs, we can translate short-term growth into long-term prosperity for all Americans.

So thank you again for your work to build America’s future. I’m excited to work with you in the weeks and months ahead as we bring these historic investments to reality.