As a key official of the Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, Carlos Monje is spokesperson and protagonist of one of Joe Biden's main policies. This is the Infrastructure Law, an ambitious bipartisan project passed two years ago. Biden's initiative provided for a monstrous $1.2 trillion federal investment. The amount was allocated to roads, bridges, public transportation, railways, airports, ports and navigable waterways. The series of measures, still underway, represents one of the largest public investments since the times of the Great Depression.
From his position as Undersecretary of Transportation at the White House, Monje vindicates the Infrastructure Law that, two years after its enactment, became one of Biden's campaign flags in search of re-election. Although Monje was born in New Orleans, he has a huge connection with Argentina. Why? Because his parents were born in that South American country. The Undersecretary of Transportation is the son of a woman from San Juan and a man from Santa Fe. He also has relatives in Lomas de Zamora, in the Buenos Aires Province, and is a Boca Juniors fan. "My whole family are Boca Juniors fans," Monje explains proudly.
How important is the Infrastructure Law in the Transportation area?
It has been 2 years since the president signed that bipartisan law that represents a historic investment to improve the infrastructure and competitiveness of the United States. The Law has allowed initial investment in projects for the reconstruction of roads and bridges; to improve the environment and expand Internet access. And to build a clean and sustainable energy economy. And during this two years, the administration has invested almost $400 billion in funding for the law, including more than 40,000 projects in more than 4,500 communities in every state in our country.
EnergÃa y Cambio Climático, las prioridades de la delegación que envÃa Biden
Looking forward, what's missing?
There is still a lot of money to spend. These projects take years to come to fruition and every week a program emerges and we announce new funds for it. So, we have a project in every corner of this country. And our contribution to the economy is increasing for a safer, cleaner, more reliable and convenient transportation system.
Biden projects that within a decade, two-thirds of private cars will be electric. Does it undermine the development of public transportation?
It is very important to do everything we can, all the necessary. Because every year the number of people who transport and travel grows. So we need to consider all fronts. And this law has more money allocated to public transportation than in the entire history of the United States. And as you said, we have 7.5 billion in funds to create vehicle charging stations, but at the same time, we have to reduce the number of trips and move more passengers. More people on trains and buses. It does not happen out of the blue. It must be achieved by making investments at different levels and designing those plans.
Although each city has its own distinctive features, there is a public transportation deficit in many areas of the United States. How does the federal government address this problem?
We are doing everything we can, and during COVID many people stayed at home or switched to cars instead of using public transport. We are trying to have this system in each location that is more reliable, more convenient and cheaper. And get people back in public transportation. At the same time, we have to replace old buses. And the trend will change with that, but not only by dedicating plans to transportation itself, but by organizing each community so that there is not so much movement to go to work, to take the children to and from school.
Are the high costs of the transition to electric cars a problem?
Well yes, but it gets cheaper every year. And the companies are making new and cheaper cars. The program of the same law also has tax considerations, that is, lowering taxes to stimulate costs to drop. For example, taxes are used to make each car cheaper if it is manufactured in the United States.
Although the US is a large importer of lithium for batteries from Argentina, the Argentine government claims an exception within the Inflation Reduction Law, with the aim of facilitating exports of that mineral. What do you think about the proposal?
These minerals are important. And the Congress has been clear with us. We must look for where to find those minerals among our friend countries. And Argentina is not only our friend, it's like our family. And there is a lot of lithium in the north of that country, and we have to find a way to transport it - even within the country, from the north of Argentina to the departure ports - using the railways. Transport it by rail to Buenos Aires, so it can be moved throughout the world and also to the United States.
Should there then be an exception for Argentine lithium?
These are topics that go beyond what I can delve into from my position. Without a doubt, we are doing all we can to find those value chains so that we can all achieve this revolution that we are experiencing.
Is there a projection on the expiration date regarding the extraction of an unlimited resource like lithium?
Those are Department of Energy issues. We are dedicated to charging stations for which we have allocated one hundred and five billion to replace the existing fuel stations and to install new ones. And we are doing our best.
"Biden le ha entregado el control de la frontera sur a los narco-cárteles mexicanos"
What do you think of Zero Tolerance on drink-driving laws?
The United States entered into crisis with the pandemic. I know that more than 40,000 people are dying on our streets every year, and I also understand, because I was in Argentina 2 years ago, that there was an increase of those problems as well. And alcohol while driving cars is not a good combination. Each place should have its laws, but in the United States that is one of the reasons for the highest incidence of accidents, people collide and there is a growing number of people who die in the place as a result.
What expectations do you have regarding Chinese investments in transportation, amid the tension and bilateral meetings between Biden and Xi Jinping?
China invests a lot in the entire system, and even in the cars. But those problems also exceed me. From my place, I hope that everything goes well in the relationship with China.
How do you assess the electoral result in Argentina, with Javier Milei similar to Donald Trump in many aspects?
America's political problems are more than enough for me... I have family in Argentina, they have their own opinions, but those are also problems for another day. I'll see what's happening though.
I imagine you follow it carefully...
Yes, of course.
Translator: Bibiana Ruiz.
Please do not cut or paste our notes on the web, you have the possibility to redistribute them using our tools.
EnergÃa y Cambio Climático, las prioridades de la delegación que envÃa Biden
