- 4 days ago
On Thursday, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) gave an announcement on a new partnership with Rhoads Industries for more investment in Pennsylvania's shipbuilding industry.
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00:00Morning. It's a great day. I lost Joe, who's supposed to start us off here. All right.
00:16Joe, you're up. Who said that? I said that. Get to work here. Come on. Governor, you're a young man,
00:22for God's sake. I'm an old man. You gotta get me coming. Welcome, everyone.
00:30What an exciting day for Roads Industry. It really is very, very exciting. And we are honored to have
00:34the governor here with us today and many other important representatives from the state and
00:39across the region. I've been asked before we get started to name some of those people that are here
00:44today. First of all, Chairman Jordan Harris, who will be one of our speakers today. We're thrilled
00:49that you're here. Greg Devins, board chair of Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. I was just
00:54sitting with you, Greg. Oh, there you are, Greg. And he'll be speaker. Ryan Boyer, business manager
01:00for the Philadelphia Building Trades. There you go. T.J. LaPera, political director for IBW Local 98.
01:08Mark Dickens, president, operating engineers, Local 542. And if you don't want to be identified,
01:15don't raise your hand. It's okay. We can do this. Sam Rhodes here from PIDC, executive vice president
01:20there. Sam's with us today. And John Reap, senior representative for the Millwright's Union for the
01:26Eastern District. Hey, how you doing? Good to see you. Wonderful to see you. I want to kick us off
01:31with a little historical perspective. I'm not going to take long, I promise, because I'm standing
01:35with you in the cool shade down the road, and so is the governor. So to begin with, we have to remember
01:41that where you're sitting today in 1871 became the nation's first public shipyard. Actually, their first
01:46one was built in 1775, but out on the Delaware River on Front Street. So the reason I mention
01:52that is the second thing that hits me is this is also where the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps
01:57began. They have their origins. And there's an event coming up in October of this year to invest.
02:02It's called Navy Marine Corps 250. Now, why do I even mention that? Here's why I mention it.
02:08Rhodes Industries started in 1896. 1872, 1896. It took Rhodes Industries over 100 years to find
02:21the Rhodes to go from Front Street to the Navy Yard. But they finally made it. They made it
02:26with a big supply. So congratulations to all of us. It's really rather wonderful. I want to mention
02:31one other thing, too, about Rhodes and our culture. One of the things that Rhodes is known to do is get
02:37things done. That is, we're an action-oriented company. If you've toured the floor and you've met
02:42our people, we want to turn out product. We want to turn it around. We want to get it done.
02:47Somebody standing on my left has the kind of same attitude. If you all remember, when he first
02:52entered office, the governor ran into a little bit of a catastrophe in that an overpass on I-95
02:58was collapsed. At that time, people thought it'll take a year or two before they reload that space.
03:04Within months, he had traffic running on there and got to know the national reputation of the get
03:10things done governor. And we really liked that. The cultures of our organization.
03:16Thanks, by the way, to the building trades.
03:18Oh, yeah, by the way. And I'll say the thing you did was muster the building trades. And they were
03:23incredible as the labor here we have here today. So what I'd like to do is kind of move on and keep
03:31the party rolling and introduce Dan Rhodes, who's going to come up and make a few remarks. Dan?
03:37Thanks so much.
03:38Thanks.
03:41Thanks, David.
03:41Hi, I'm Dan Rhodes. Mike's my son and we run the company. I'd like to say we co-CEO the company.
03:53Mike does all the work. I take all the credit. But I think we just want to thank a few people and then
04:02get over to the governor. The unions have been a big part of our success and we're glad to see a lot
04:07of the unions here. Unlike most, a lot of manufacturers fight unions coming in. We embrace the unions coming in.
04:16We're showing the non-union guys down south that productivity is the name of the game. So our mill
04:23rights are a key part of our organization. Boilermakers are a key part. The electricians
04:27have been over the years. Their part of the work starts at about another year or they'll be a key
04:31part. So we appreciate what the labor is what's key to our success. We're not confused. The people in
04:40the office aren't doing a whole lot. It's the people on the floor that are doing it. I might be a little
04:44direct about that. But we've also had a lot of support from different organizations. I think
04:51our customers have been good. Electric Boat, who's our prime customer on the submarine program.
04:55Northrop Grumman, who we team on a critical part for the submarine. And the Navy. We do a lot of work
05:00down in the Navy Yard. There's about a hundred test sites down here. We supply all the blue collar labor
05:05to those test sites. So the next thing I want to talk about is the state. The state's funding came
05:12through at a critical time. Right at the beginning of the electric boat, we needed to do a fair amount
05:17of infrastructure. And we had some grants that had accumulated from the state, from the governor.
05:21And that enabled us to get a head start on doing the development and getting the program moving.
05:26So we basically, beginning of 23, we were doing very little submarine work. Right now we have 350
05:33people on submarines. And probably about four years, we'll have a thousand people on submarines. So with
05:38that, I want to thank the governor for all his help, and then turn it over to the governor. Thank you very
05:44much. Thank you. Dan, thank you very much. It is good to be here at Rhodes, and it's great to be here
05:53with the entire team at Rhodes Industry. And I must tell you, I'm proud to be here today as the 48th
06:00governor of this great Commonwealth. I'm also proud to be here today as the son of a Navy guy who spent some
06:06time on time on a submarine. He was very excited to know that I was coming here today. And to be able to see the
06:12work you're doing, and how that connected to my dad's previous life, I think is really, really special. So thank you
06:19for giving me that opportunity. This, of course, is a place that has literally forged the tools of freedom for the last 125 years. I
06:31wanted to be here today in part because a whole bunch of people keep saying, you got to get to Rhodes Industries. But I
06:37wanted to be here today on July 3rd, for a particular meaning because tomorrow, Americans, of course, are going to pause to
06:46celebrate the birthday of this great nation, the greatest country on the face of the earth. And I think it is important when we pause
06:55tomorrow that we acknowledge we are honoring a band of patriots that came together to declare our
07:01independence and set us on a path of self determination. And they did that work just a few miles from here. The
07:10cause of real freedom, a cause that generations of Americans have dedicated themselves to started right here in
07:18the city of Philadelphia 249 years ago tomorrow. Since then, generations of Americans have fought to advance the cause. And for decades, Rhodes
07:30Industries has helped supply them with the necessary tools, equipment and warship to protect our nation's
07:38interests and ensure our national security and freedom. Thanks to the work that's been done here throughout the Navy Yard by Rhodes
07:47Industries and others, our Navy has been able to patrol the seas around the globe, ensuring freedom, navigating and securing global commerce. Thanks to the work done here, we're able to successfully wage the war on terror, bringing justice to killers who attacked innocent civilians and claimed lives in Shanksville at the Pentagon, and of course, in New York City. Thanks to the work that is being done here right now, America's Navy will continue to
08:16continue to protect American interests and advance the cause of freedom against new threats that we face at home and around the globe. Rhodes is not just helping our service members protect our freedoms on the battlefield. They're also creating real freedom right here at home for children in the city of Philadelphia, creating pathways of opportunity from their school right here to the shipyard. How about that, Mr. Chairman, a school
08:46to shipyard pipeline? That's the kind of pipeline we can all support with apprenticeship programs formed alongside Boilermakers local 19 recruit recruiting and training local high school students and young people like Boots Olson, who I met earlier who you'll hear from in a moment, the opportunity to earn a great salary building and working on military grade equipment right after graduation. That is really, really special. It's right here in Philadelphia. And that's real freedom.
08:51I want to thank Ryan Boyer and the Philadelphia Building Trades for their commitment to not just
09:13and it's right here in Philadelphia, and that's real freedom.
09:17I want to thank Ryan Boyer and the Philadelphia Building Trades
09:20for their commitment to not just the job sites
09:23and doing an amazing job, whether here at Rhodes
09:26or along that stretch of I-95.
09:29They care deeply about the next generation of laborers,
09:33boilermakers, electricians, and others.
09:36That's why this pipeline from our schools to Rhodes
09:39is so critically important.
09:42And so today, I'm proud to be here on the eve of America's birthday
09:47to announce that Rhodes Industries is investing $100 million
09:52and creating over 450 new jobs right here at the Navy Yard
09:59to ensure that the future of submarine manufacturing
10:03and shipbuilding and all things important to securing our freedom
10:06is going to run right here through the Philadelphia shipyard,
10:10Navy Yard, and through our waterfront.
10:13That's a big deal, and we want to thank Rhodes
10:15for their commitment to Philadelphia.
10:19That's 450 more opportunities for individuals
10:23to find freedom in their lives,
10:26450 more opportunities for young people
10:29to be turned on to a career in welding,
10:32turned on to a career in shipmaking,
10:35and submarine-making right here at Rhodes
10:38and giving them the opportunity to give back to their families
10:41and their communities as well.
10:44Our Commonwealth is here today to announce
10:46that we are investing $4 million in Rhodes
10:49to help them with their brand-new production facility
10:53here on this site that's going to allow them
10:55to double their capacity for the U.S. Navy's submarine program.
11:00In addition to that Commonwealth's investment,
11:03we work closely with Rhodes to speed up our permitting process
11:06and get this built as quickly as possible
11:10and get people to work as quickly as possible
11:12and secure our freedoms more quicker than ever before.
11:16That's important work that's happening
11:18as a result of the partnership
11:19between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Rhodes Industries.
11:23And by the way, that's on top of the $17 million
11:26our Commonwealth has previously invested in Rhodes' growth
11:30over the last decade.
11:32This investment that we are announcing today
11:34will expand Rhodes' footprint here,
11:37allowing them to manufacture the complex military-grade products
11:40more quickly, more efficiently.
11:43It'll give the company new access to another pier
11:45to allow for easier shipment of completed products
11:48so they can get to market more quickly
11:52and get these submarines out in the water as quick as possible.
11:56And with the Navy investing here in Philadelphia,
11:59it's going to build upon our already strong defense industry
12:03right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
12:05which contributes right now $35 billion
12:08to our state's economy every single year.
12:12I want you to know the Commonwealth is investing here
12:15because we believe it's good for our national security,
12:18it's good for our state's economy,
12:19and it's great for our local school kids.
12:22I believe in the future of the Navy Yard
12:25and the entire waterfront here in the city of Philadelphia.
12:29Greg Davins, who you're going to hear from in a moment,
12:32and the folks at the chamber,
12:34well, they have, I know, many exciting opportunities for growth
12:37that they are working on and that we are partnering with them on.
12:40From Penn's Landing, where we're building a beautiful new park,
12:43connecting Old City to the waterfront,
12:45to the port in Bellwether,
12:47where we're investing in a hub for logistics
12:49and life sciences and innovation,
12:51to the sports complex,
12:53where many of our city's most important organizations
12:56and civic leaders are now working together
13:00for the next chapter in that story,
13:03a chapter that's going to include
13:04not only great championships for our Philadelphia sports teams,
13:08including the new WNBA team that's coming to Philadelphia,
13:11but also making it a world-class district
13:16for recreation and opportunity for families and others
13:19all across this entire region.
13:22I think the entire stretch of the waterfront
13:24is poised for explosive growth,
13:27and I think it's one of the most exciting growth opportunities
13:29in the entire United States of America.
13:32Look, I'm no stranger to the Navy Yard.
13:34I think this is my third visit in just two months.
13:38One was to cheer on my wife and daughter
13:39when they ran Broad Street.
13:41The other, of course, was to be here in May
13:43when I visited the Greenway District
13:45to announce a $30 million Pennsylvania Sites grant
13:50to build out the electrical and water infrastructure
13:53to prepare for 700,000 more square feet
13:56of advanced manufacturing space
13:58right here at the Navy Yard.
14:00We are bullish on the incredible opportunities here.
14:04I want to say a special thanks
14:06to Chairman Jordan Harris, a local representative,
14:09but someone who serves as my partner
14:12and someone who serves as the chairman
14:14of the Appropriations Committee
14:15in the House of Representatives,
14:18a key player in determining where these investments go.
14:22And so we've worked together
14:23to make sure that these investments come
14:26not just to the city of Philadelphia,
14:27but to the waterfront and to the Navy Yard.
14:30So I'd ask that you put your hands together
14:31for a great partner and friend,
14:34the chairman of the Appropriations Committee,
14:35Jordan Harris.
14:38I want you to know that my administration
14:40is all in when it comes to investing in the Navy Yard.
14:45I want to thank Andrew Pitts and the team at DCED
14:47who are here doing great work
14:49to ensure that the Navy Yard continues to flourish.
14:53I want to just close by talking a little bit more
14:55about freedom and national security.
14:58Right now, I believe that there is a battle
15:00for supremacy going on
15:02when it comes to critical national security interests.
15:05Some of them are going to be addressed
15:06here at Rhodes Industries,
15:08but others are going to be addressed
15:09on other battlefields,
15:11including the battlefield of AI supremacy.
15:14And that battle is either going to be won
15:16by the United States of America or by China.
15:20Earlier this month in Berwick,
15:22which is a community in northeastern Pennsylvania,
15:25I announced a partnership with Amazon
15:27to build multiple state-of-the-art data centers
15:31across our commonwealth
15:32to power the AI infrastructure we need to compete,
15:37to power our global economy
15:38and the future of artificial intelligence.
15:42I announced that day with Amazon
15:43that they are investing an initial,
15:46and I want to stress the word initial,
15:48$20 billion in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
15:51That is by far the largest private sector investment
15:56in the history of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
15:58beating the prior record by three times.
16:02And again, this is just the initial investment.
16:05Today, we're building on the progress
16:07we announced a month or so ago
16:09by making the future of shipbuilding
16:12another critically important component
16:14of our national security,
16:16making sure that the future
16:18runs right through Pennsylvania.
16:19So as we battle these important issues
16:22on national security,
16:23whether it's dominating in AI
16:25or dominating at the seas,
16:27you should know that it is the hands
16:29of Pennsylvania workers
16:31who are going to ensure our national security,
16:34just like the hands of Pennsylvania steel makers,
16:37Pennsylvania coal miners,
16:39helped bring about the arsenal
16:40of democracy in prior generations.
16:42It is now important that we stop
16:44just focusing on the history books
16:46when we think about Pennsylvania's role
16:48and national security and start focusing
16:50on the future.
16:51The future of national security
16:53is right here in this commonwealth
16:55and a large measure of it
16:57is right here on this navy yard
17:00and it is all being done
17:02by the strong hands of organized labor
17:04and the building trades
17:05across our commonwealth.
17:07We should celebrate that
17:08as we celebrate the independence
17:10of this great nation.
17:12Pennsylvania workers are on the front lines
17:14making sure our national security is secured.
17:17So I want to say thank you to Rhodes.
17:19I want to say thank you
17:20for believing in us
17:22for more than a century.
17:24I want to say thank you
17:24to the building trades
17:25for making sure
17:26that we've got the hands
17:27of skilled labor
17:28here to be able to do this work
17:31and power our economy
17:32and strengthen our national security
17:34going forward.
17:36This is the kind of collaboration
17:37we need to continue
17:38to grow our economy
17:39in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
17:41And I'm proud to be your governor.
17:42I'm proud to be the son of a navy guy.
17:44And I'm proud to be here today
17:46at the Navy Yard
17:47to celebrate this great accomplishment
17:48with all of you.
17:49So thank you all very, very much.
17:55It is now my pleasure
17:57to bring up the hands
17:59that are going to help
18:00secure our national security.
18:01The hands of someone
18:02who decided in high school
18:04that their passion
18:06was for welding.
18:07And they found an opportunity
18:09right here in the commonwealth
18:10of Pennsylvania,
18:11right here in the city
18:12of Philadelphia
18:12to not only pursue their passion,
18:15but also to make a great wage.
18:17Someone who learned
18:18through the initiatives
18:19that we invest in
18:20and now someone
18:21who's going to give back
18:22to our community.
18:23Ladies and gentlemen,
18:24meet Boots Olson.
18:30Thank you, Governor,
18:35for the introduction.
18:36I've been asked
18:37to give a speech today
18:38about my experience,
18:39how I got here
18:40and how it's been.
18:41I'm going to go ahead
18:42and jump right into that.
18:47Sorry.
18:48One second.
18:48Take your time.
18:48You're good.
18:49Okay.
18:50The fact that you can read that
18:51is really impressive.
18:54Young, welden eyes.
18:55Give me a couple years.
18:56Might not be able to.
18:57Thank you for rubbing that in.
18:58I appreciate it, Boots.
18:59All right.
19:02Most girls that I knew
19:03growing up
19:04wanted to be ballerinas,
19:06teachers, nurses,
19:08the typically more
19:09traditional girl jobs.
19:10Sorry.
19:11No, no, you're good.
19:12Clearly, I missed the memo.
19:15Growing up,
19:16I always knew
19:16that I wanted to work
19:17with my hands.
19:18I come from
19:19a blue-collar background
19:20with my dad being
19:21a union roofer
19:22and my sisters
19:23working various
19:24hands-on jobs
19:25throughout the years.
19:27My path into welding
19:28was not predetermined.
19:30Going into high school,
19:31I knew that I didn't
19:32want to pursue
19:33a higher college education
19:34and so I started
19:36looking for other options.
19:38My senior year,
19:39I applied to VoTech
19:40for welding
19:41and got accepted in.
19:44Going in my senior year
19:45meant that I was
19:46already behind
19:47since most of the other
19:48kids in the program
19:49had already been there
19:50for two to three years.
19:51So I spent the year
19:52working my hardest
19:53to try to catch up.
19:55Fall of 2022,
19:57Rhodes Industries
19:57came to my VoTech
19:58to tell us about
19:59their apprenticeship program.
20:01I was terrified.
20:03All of the mention
20:04of the Navy
20:05and the government
20:06and the submarine programs
20:08seemed so intimidating
20:09to someone
20:10with such little experience.
20:12I was just getting ready
20:13to start life
20:14and my career
20:15and it seemed like
20:15an impossible challenge.
20:17It took some convincing
20:18from my VoTech teacher
20:20and supportive folks
20:20around me
20:21to push that fear
20:22down and apply.
20:23I was so nervous
20:25for my interview
20:25that I may have showed up
20:27three hours early
20:28and watched Theo Vaughn videos
20:29in the parking lot.
20:31But I went into my interview
20:33prepped and confident
20:34and I got the job.
20:36My first day at Rhodes
20:38was a month
20:38after high school graduation.
20:40Day one,
20:41I jumped into trying
20:42to figure out
20:43what this job was all about
20:44and how I would fit in.
20:46Right in the door,
20:47Rhodes tells you
20:48to forget everything
20:49that you know about welding.
20:50They break you down
20:52to build you back up.
20:53Absolutely everything
20:54that you do
20:54is scrutinized
20:55and rightly so
20:56because we are welding
20:57on U.S. Navy submarines.
21:00Some days,
21:01I regret not choosing
21:02a stethoscope
21:03over a welding hood,
21:04but the skills and experience
21:06that I learned
21:07along the way
21:08end up being
21:08the most rewarding
21:09part of it all.
21:10There's growth
21:11throughout the challenges
21:11and that's what
21:12this job is all about.
21:14Throughout the last two years
21:15that I've been at Rhodes Industries,
21:17I've been offered
21:18so many amazing experiences
21:19from the welding certs
21:21that I'm allowed to acquire
21:23to the events
21:23I'm invited to be a part of
21:24and all of the people
21:25I have the joy
21:26of working with
21:26along the way.
21:28In my short time welding,
21:30I've received my MIL MIG certs,
21:32my MIL stick certs,
21:33my MIL TIG pipe certs
21:34and various other certifications
21:36that allow me
21:36to be versatile and useful
21:37in almost any part
21:38of the production floor.
21:40That's all thanks
21:41to the Rhodes Training Center
21:42who teaches
21:43and emphasizes to us
21:44what this DoD work
21:45is all about.
21:47My appreciation
21:48has grown immensely
21:49since becoming a part
21:50of this program.
21:51This training program
21:52has taught me
21:54that every wood you put down
21:56represents who you are
21:58as a welder
21:58and what your workmanship
21:59looks like.
22:01It takes a lot of pride
22:02to represent the industry
22:03the way that it deserves.
22:06Don't get me wrong though,
22:07this job isn't for the weak.
22:09Nothing that they teach you
22:10will prepare you
22:11for how hard it is
22:12to get up every day
22:13and do this kind of work.
22:15But at the end of the day
22:16is one of the most rewarding
22:17careers that you can choose.
22:19Thankful to be here
22:20and I look forward
22:22to everything else to come.
22:23So thank you.
22:24Thanks, Bruce.
22:25Great job.
22:33I'd now like to bring
22:35Greg Devins up
22:36to speak next for you guys.
22:37Bruce, that was awesome.
22:38Good job.
22:39You did great.
22:41You did great.
22:41It's a tough act to follow.
22:45It's a really tough act
22:46to follow
22:46and I couldn't read it
22:48from my phone either,
22:49Governor,
22:49so you're in good company there.
22:51But, Boots,
22:52great job
22:53and I really appreciate
22:54you sharing that story
22:55with all of us.
22:57I want to just say,
22:58again, good morning
22:58to everybody.
22:59I'm really excited
23:00to be here,
23:02to Dan Rhodes
23:03and everyone
23:03at Rhodes Industries.
23:04I want to thank you
23:06for welcoming us
23:07to your great facility
23:08and also I know
23:10that it's going
23:11to be even greater
23:11with the new investment
23:12that's being made.
23:14And congratulations
23:15on a huge milestone.
23:18I'm extremely proud
23:19to represent our colleagues
23:20from across the region's
23:23business community
23:24and the 1,200 businesses
23:26that are served
23:27by the Chamber of Commerce
23:28for Greater Philadelphia.
23:30We're celebrating
23:31the success
23:31of an outstanding company
23:33with Philadelphia roots
23:35that are nearly
23:36130 years deep.
23:38Even more,
23:40we're excited
23:40to celebrate
23:41another example
23:42of what can be achieved
23:44in Philadelphia
23:45and across Pennsylvania
23:47when private
23:48and public sectors
23:49work in sync
23:50for the benefit
23:52of the communities
23:52and citizens
23:53that we serve.
23:55A $100 million investment,
23:57450 excellent new jobs,
24:00and $44 million
24:01in projected new payroll.
24:03that is a game-changing impact
24:06on our region.
24:08It's a remarkable commitment
24:09by Rhodes Industries
24:10and it's another example
24:12of the Shapiro administration's
24:15proactive
24:15and successful approach
24:17to supporting major projects
24:20that boost local economies
24:22and create new jobs.
24:24As the governor has said repeatedly,
24:26he didn't put together
24:27a 10-year economic development strategy
24:30to have it sit on the shelf.
24:32Governor Shapiro,
24:33I want to thank you
24:34and your administration
24:35for aligning your attitude
24:36with your actions
24:38in this commonwealth
24:39to make this
24:40a more competitive
24:41and attractive state
24:42for businesses
24:43and for the residents as well.
24:47The vision that I've championed
24:49as chair of the chamber
24:50is that greater Philadelphia
24:52should be known
24:53as a region
24:54with the best opportunity
24:56for upward economic mobility.
24:58And the opportunities
25:00that are being created here
25:01are really embodied
25:02in that vision.
25:04And to make that happen,
25:06we need a robust growth engine
25:08that creates better jobs
25:09with attractive wages.
25:11We also need an infrastructure
25:13that helps our workforce
25:14prepare to succeed in those jobs.
25:17So I'm especially glad to note
25:19that Rhodes Industries' commitment
25:20to apprentice
25:21and pre-apprentice programs
25:23is really important.
25:24And I want to thank Boots
25:25for sharing her perspective
25:27and her experience as well.
25:29This is a really, really big day
25:30for greater Philadelphia
25:31and for the commonwealth
25:33of Pennsylvania.
25:34I want to thank everyone
25:35for coming.
25:36I want to give another round
25:37of applause
25:38for Rhodes Industries
25:39and for the governor.
25:43This is, again,
25:44is an outstanding investment
25:45and outstanding partnership.
25:47And now it is my honor
25:49to bring to the podium
25:51our House Appropriations Chair,
25:54Jordan Harris.
26:01All right.
26:02Good morning.
26:03Good morning.
26:05Good morning.
26:06Good morning.
26:07I'm about to say,
26:08I grew up in a black church
26:09and I'm a former school teacher.
26:11So I'm used to call and response.
26:15I am State Representative Jordan Harris.
26:17I represent my neighbors
26:18as State Representative
26:20of the 186th District,
26:21which is parts of
26:22South and Southwest Philadelphia.
26:24I have the pleasure
26:25of serving my colleagues
26:27in the commonwealth
26:27as the majority chairman
26:29of the House Appropriations Committee.
26:30Let me first thank my friend
26:33Governor Shapiro
26:34for his continued leadership
26:37and making sure
26:38that we do get stuff done
26:41in Pennsylvania.
26:43You can't start cussing
26:45before 12 o'clock.
26:46It's a shipyard.
26:47Yeah, you might be able
26:48to get away with those shipyards.
26:49Let's see,
26:50my mom might see this on TV
26:51and then she'll call my pastor.
26:53So anyway,
26:54definitely grateful
26:57for the governor's leadership
26:58and what he continues to do
27:00on behalf of the folks
27:02of the commonwealth
27:03to make sure
27:03that we don't just give folks words,
27:06but we give them action.
27:08Through his tremendous leadership,
27:10we've been investing
27:11all across Pennsylvania
27:12to make sure
27:14that we're building things,
27:16to make sure
27:16that we're cutting down
27:17on the red tape
27:18and bureaucracy
27:19that often happens
27:20in government
27:20and to make sure
27:22that economic development
27:23is not just a phrase
27:24or a slogan,
27:25but it's how we work
27:26in this commonwealth.
27:27So thank you so much,
27:28Governor,
27:28for your leadership.
27:30As the appropriations chairman,
27:31I know firsthand
27:32why and how
27:34every tax dollar
27:35is spent
27:36and where it should be going
27:37and why it should be going.
27:39But I also know firsthand
27:40that dollars are more
27:41than just numbers
27:42on our spreadsheet.
27:44The dollars that we invest
27:45in Pennsylvania,
27:47they represent our values,
27:50our morals,
27:51and what we believe
27:52is important
27:53in this commonwealth.
27:54So when you see
27:55dollars from the state
27:56going here
27:58to Rhodes Industries,
27:59what you see
28:00is that we're making
28:01a continued commitment
28:02to folks like Boots
28:04and for all of the other
28:05young people
28:06who we've made a promise
28:07that if they went to school
28:10and they did what was necessary,
28:11that they could have
28:12a future for themselves,
28:13that they could go out
28:15and find employment
28:16and careers
28:16that would help them
28:17take care of their families.
28:19Well, far too often,
28:21those promises go unmet.
28:24And what we've tried to do
28:25with our budget
28:26is make sure
28:27that we're holding fast
28:28to the promise
28:29that we make to folks.
28:30This is a prime example
28:32of making the investment
28:34not only in industry,
28:36but connecting that industry
28:37to our schools
28:39and to our apprentices.
28:40We're so glad to have
28:41our friends here
28:42at the Building Trades.
28:43I see my friend Ryan Boyer
28:45of the Building Trades.
28:46I see TJ from Local 98.
28:49I know we have our friends
28:50from the Boilermakers
28:51and the Operating Engineers.
28:53This is exactly what we talk about
28:56when we make these investments,
28:58connecting what we're doing here
29:00in the shipyard
29:01to what happens in our classrooms,
29:04taking those young people
29:05and giving them a vision
29:06of what their lives
29:07could be like.
29:09See, the truth of the matter
29:10is if you want young people
29:11to put down guns
29:12help them
29:13by picking up
29:14a welding tool
29:15and giving them
29:17a future
29:17that they can be proud of
29:18that they can raise
29:19their family off of.
29:20Giving them union wages,
29:22benefits,
29:23and giving them a pension
29:24that they can retire to.
29:26That's how you solve crime
29:27in the Commonwealth
29:28of Pennsylvania
29:29by making significant investments
29:31in our young people.
29:32So this is an example
29:34of what we need
29:35to multiply
29:36all across the Commonwealth.
29:38From Philadelphia to Erie,
29:39from Erie to Allentown
29:41and everywhere in between.
29:43We need these type
29:45of investments
29:45in our businesses,
29:47but making sure
29:48that we're connecting
29:49the businesses
29:50to our schools
29:51and to our young people
29:52and to all
29:53who want to work
29:54in this Commonwealth.
29:56See, if you listen
29:57to the news,
29:57there are folks
29:58who will tell you
29:58that there are people
29:59who just don't want to work.
30:01No.
30:02There are people
30:03who haven't had opportunity.
30:05There are people
30:05who haven't had
30:06the opportunity
30:08to be exposed
30:09to things like
30:10what we see here
30:11at Rose Industries.
30:12Look, I'm a South Philly boy.
30:14Okay?
30:14I grew up
30:15and I was not
30:17the handiest of people.
30:19So I couldn't do this.
30:22I wouldn't know
30:23what to solder
30:23or what...
30:24I don't even know
30:24what half that stuff means.
30:26Only tools I knew
30:27was when I was watching
30:28Home Improvement
30:28and Tim the Tool Man Taylor.
30:30That's all I knew.
30:31And I thought he was cool.
30:34Don't laugh too hard,
30:35but I did.
30:36But what I did know
30:39what I did know
30:41is that for me,
30:43while this wasn't
30:45my pathway,
30:46my mother made sure
30:48that all pathways
30:49were exposed to me.
30:51You know,
30:51a friend of mine
30:51used to say,
30:52children are like Kodak film.
30:54All they need
30:55is a little exposure.
30:56And I promise you,
30:57when we keep exposing
30:59not just young people,
31:00but all of our citizens
31:02to opportunities like this,
31:03I promise you,
31:05they will take up
31:06the opportunity
31:07and they will be successful.
31:10So I'm glad to be here,
31:12here, down here
31:13at Rhodes Industries.
31:13I've toured the facility.
31:16We're actually in
31:17Representative Regina
31:18Young's district,
31:19so I want to definitely
31:20give a shout out
31:20to my colleague
31:21and all of the great work
31:22that she does
31:23to represent the people
31:24in the 185th district.
31:26I was very impressed
31:29when I toured Rhodes
31:30about a year ago now.
31:31And I got to tell you,
31:33we're not making
31:34an announcement today,
31:35but we're working
31:36on something
31:36to make sure
31:37that we strengthen
31:38that connection
31:39between the young people
31:41and folks who are
31:42in our schools
31:43and the work
31:44they could be doing here.
31:45So, again,
31:46thank you so much
31:47to the Rhodes family
31:49and all that you
31:49continue to do for us.
31:51And, of course,
31:51thank you to our governor
31:52for standing up
31:54and doing what is right,
31:55even in tough times,
31:56making the right decisions
31:57to continue to move
31:58Pennsylvania forward.
31:59So, thanks so much,
32:00Governor.
32:00Thanks so much,
32:01Mr. Chairman.
32:04Hey, Boots,
32:06you know what Kodak film is?
32:09You don't know.
32:10Dude, dude, dude.
32:12That was...
32:13Hey, let me...
32:17I know you've got
32:18to take a few questions
32:19from the media,
32:20but I don't want you
32:22to lose sight
32:23of the serious point
32:24that the chairman
32:25was making.
32:26I tried to make as well.
32:27When you look at Boots,
32:28when you look at...
32:29and I'm the gentleman
32:30from Glenside,
32:31I forget your...
32:32These are folks
32:34who came out of school
32:36and saw opportunity
32:39in welding,
32:40saw opportunity
32:41in joining the trades
32:43for themselves,
32:44for their families,
32:45and now we get
32:47more opportunity
32:48and freedom
32:49because they chose that.
32:51I think for a long time,
32:52we disrespected
32:54certain pathways
32:55to opportunity.
32:56Here in Pennsylvania,
32:58we respect
32:59all pathways
33:00of opportunity.
33:01You want to join the trades,
33:02you want to go to college,
33:03you want to go to the military,
33:03whatever you choose to do,
33:05we respect that.
33:06And thanks to the work
33:07of the chairman
33:08and his colleagues
33:09and my administration,
33:10we're investing
33:11in all pathways
33:12to opportunity.
33:13And I think Rhodes
33:14is a great,
33:15shining example
33:17of how you give opportunity
33:18to so many different people
33:19from so many different
33:20walks of life.
33:21And I really appreciate that
33:22and respect that.
33:24Every Pennsylvanian
33:25should have the freedom
33:26to chart their own course
33:27and the opportunity
33:28to succeed.
33:29And here at Rhodes Industry,
33:30they do.
33:31So thank you very,
33:32very much.
33:32Appreciate that.
33:34With that,
33:35if there's any questions
33:37from the media,
33:38we'll take a few.
33:41We've just been asked
33:43to ask you
33:43about the DC-33 strong.
33:45You don't ask
33:45to ask me question?
33:48Who's asking you?
33:49CBS 3.
33:49What's the question?
33:52What's your take
33:52on the DC-33 strike
33:55and how does Philadelphia
33:56move forward?
33:57Look,
33:57first off,
33:58you should know
33:59that the mediators
33:59from the state,
34:00mediators from the Commonwealth
34:01of Pennsylvania
34:02are involved in this,
34:03trying to find a resolution.
34:05I've communicated
34:06with the mayor
34:06multiple times.
34:08I know she has put
34:09an aggressive package
34:11on the table.
34:11I believe
34:12the best package
34:14that's been put
34:14on the table
34:15in decades.
34:17I have confidence
34:18in Mayor Parker
34:19to see this
34:19through
34:20and to find
34:21a way
34:21to resolve
34:22these differences,
34:23to pay a fair wage
34:25and to ensure
34:26that the good people
34:27of Philadelphia
34:28get the benefits
34:29of the great work
34:30that DC-33 members
34:32provide for our city
34:33every day.
34:34So we're going
34:34to continue to moderate,
34:36continue to communicate
34:36with all parties
34:38and I'm confident
34:39in the mayor's ability
34:40to work this through.
34:41I have one for you.
34:43JR Speth,
34:43NBC10.
34:45We'll follow up
34:45with that.
34:46With all the 4th
34:47of July festivities,
34:48do you foresee
34:49any issues
34:50with related...
34:52Look, I think
34:52that's a question
34:53for the Parker
34:54administration.
34:55I know they have
34:55been working
34:56on alternatives
34:57for trash.
34:58I know they've
34:58been working
34:59on alternatives
34:59for a whole host
35:01of things.
35:01I don't want to get
35:02ahead of the mayor's
35:02administration.
35:03She can brief you
35:04on all the different
35:05steps they're taking
35:06to make sure
35:07everybody has a safe
35:08and enjoyable
35:09July 4th.
35:10And obviously,
35:11Commissioner Bethel,
35:12I think he's
35:12the best of the best
35:13and he's working
35:14very hard
35:14to ensure everybody's
35:16safety and welfare
35:16in the city.
35:18Anything else?
35:19Can we ask about
35:20SEPTA?
35:20Oh, I have a follow-up
35:21on that before we change
35:22this subject.
35:23Has the city asked
35:24for any state resources
35:26to help with that?
35:26Not at this time.
35:28And we communicate
35:29very regularly
35:30on a whole host
35:31of issues with the city
35:32and we won't hesitate
35:34to step up
35:35if they ask for our help.
35:36The mayor's got this
35:37under control.
35:38Is there progress
35:39when it comes to SEPTA
35:40in Harrisburg?
35:41Yeah, we're working
35:41hard on it.
35:42I mean, Chairman Harris
35:43is one of the key players.
35:44Look, I think it's important
35:45to note I'm one of the only
35:46governors in the country
35:47with a divided legislature.
35:49Got a Senate led
35:50by Republicans,
35:50a House led by Chairman Harris
35:52and the Democrats.
35:53So the name of the game
35:54is compromise.
35:55I think what we have
35:57is a level of trust
35:58for one another.
35:59We're working well together.
36:00We understand
36:01everyone's priorities.
36:03We understand the issues
36:04on the table.
36:04I'm not suggesting
36:05we've got all the answers yet,
36:07but we're working through it.
36:08I had the leaders
36:08in my office just yesterday.
36:09There are several
36:11meetings occurring today,
36:13literally right now.
36:14I'll be involved
36:15in some of them as well,
36:16so the chairman.
36:18And we're going
36:18to keep working through it.
36:19We want to get
36:20a good budget
36:21that invests in education
36:22and public safety
36:23and transportation
36:24and a whole host
36:25of other issues.
36:26And the way we do that
36:27is by talking,
36:28working things through
36:29and compromising.
36:31Here's what I can guarantee
36:32you about our state budget.
36:34It will be a package
36:35of compromises.
36:36And I'm working very,
36:38very hard to make sure
36:39that funding for mass transit
36:40is part of that compromise package.
36:43All right.
36:44Thanks, everybody.
36:45Thanks, everybody.
36:45Thanks, everybody.
36:45Thanks, everybody.