Senator Peters Pushes Nominee On Cuts To DoT Agency Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles

Senator Peters Pushes Nominee On Cuts To DoT Agency Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Elon Musk
Podcast. This is a show where we discuss
the critical crossroads, the Shape, SpaceX, Tesla X, The
Boring Company, and Neurolink. I'm your host, Will Walden.
Morrison, congratulations on your nomination to serve as the
administrator of the top auto safety regulator here in the

(00:23):
country. As a as a center from Michigan
and the chair of the ranking member of the Surface
Transportation Subcommittee, 2 of my top priorities are saving
lives on our roadways and makingsure the automotive industry has
the regulatory certainty that itneeds to continue to innovate
and to compete on a global scale, helping us to reach those

(00:44):
security goals. So my question for you Sir is
NITSA as you know plays a key role in ensuring that NITSA
certified vehicles are recognized and accepted in other
markets, which is critical to the American auto
competitiveness of our industry.So my question is, if confirmed,
will you ensure that NITSA strongly supports the mission

(01:06):
including harmonization efforts and leadership in global
regulatory bodies to prevent nontariff barriers on American
autos? Yeah, it's, it's an important
part of this is missions workingwith the other countries on, on
trying to create global technical regulations and
they're very active in that. And that is something I look
forward to continue to work. On very good, I was encouraged

(01:28):
to see Nitsa's recent announcement that it will pursue
A regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles that
includes objective testing standards and rulemaking.
However, I'm concerned by the reports that as much as over
half of the Office of AutomationSafety, which I push the fund,
has been terminated in has been terminated in staffing cuts.

(01:51):
Basically at NITSA, this office will be responsible for carrying
out rulemaking efforts related to autonomous vehicles and other
safety technologies, which experts tell us.
We'll take a high level of technicality and expertise, not
to mention manpower to figure all of this out.
So I have a couple questions foryou.
First off, can you commit to fully staffing offices like the

(02:13):
Office of Automation Safety to ensure that they can competently
and successfully carry out rulemakings relative to a VS and
other cutting edge technologies?I've seen media reports, I'm I'm
not in the building now, but have seen media reports about
staffing. I think a lot of people may have
left pursuant to a deferred resignation program, but I know

(02:36):
Secretary Duffy has mentioned a number of times that where there
are gaps that need to be filled,particularly to achieve
priorities, we will fill. Those so you will be committed
to fully staffing. You're giving me that?
Commitment, yeah, I will be committed to looking to higher
up to make sure that we can achieve those goals.
Based on your experience at NIPSA, do you believe the agency
can carry out multiple rulemakings related to

(02:56):
autonomous vehicles and make needed progress on the over one
dozen overdue rulemakings mandated by Congress if it faces
significant personnel cuts? I, I again, I'm, I'm not there
now, I don't know how the staffing is allocated, but I
will commit to looking to make sure that we have adequate

(03:17):
manpower to complete our mission.
What what actions do you believeare necessary to ensure
deployment of autonomous vehicles is safe, transparent,
while also ensuring that the United States is at the
forefront of innovation? Please tell me kind of your
thoughts about what we need to do.
I, I think first and foremost, we need federal leadership in
this space. And, and that involves, I think

(03:40):
in, in large part using the convening authority of the
federal government, meeting withthe developers, meeting with
technical safety experts to understand the, the state of the
technology now, the development pathways that various entities
have been pursuing and making sure that the industry
understands what the agency believes are the appropriate

(04:00):
paths forward. I think getting that
understanding with industry, having the industry, gaining an
understanding of the agency's perspective, I think that's
something I may have been lacking.
And that's, that's a major gap Ilook to fill.
And that's going to involve guidance.
And as I mentioned in my testimony, yes, it will involve
regulation once that's ready. What specific risk do you see to

(04:23):
the United States if we do not remain at the forefront of AV
innovation, especially with China's major strides in this
area? As you're probably well aware,
they're investing massive amounts of money and believe
this is the future of transportation.
What are your concerns related to the?
My concerns is that we have a, a, a foreign adversary of, of

(04:46):
this country who is investing incredible amounts of resources
into this industry and they're looking to push things forward.
From what I've heard, I'm not over there.
I've heard that some of the developmental pathways that
they're approaching are not as robust as the industry is used
to. That's something that gives me
positive to be concerned. But if they win that
technological race, they will bethe ones that are sending

(05:09):
setting these global standards and their technology would be
that that's deployed around the world and that's something we
can't have. Sir Robert, the the Commerce
Committee is now actively working on a pipeline safety
reauthorization effort. As you know, in the a little
over time, but perhaps as quickly as you can, if you could
just give the committee what's, what's kind of top of mind to

(05:31):
you as the top issues that this bill needs to address.
Well, certainly from the last three authorizations, there is a
number number of outstanding mandates.
I think that's a high priority to complete mandates.
Looking forward, you know, not being at the agency yet, I hope
to engage with your Staffs and your offices to come to some

(05:56):
conclusions on what would be best in that authorization.
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(06:16):
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