Policy Debate on Harnessing America’s Potential

On Monday, Breitbart News hosted a debate focused on “Harness the Power of America.” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) attended the discussion. McCormick emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts across various sectors—government, energy, artificial intelligence, capital markets, and labor—in light of America’s competition with China.

Matthew Boyle, the Washington Bureau Chief, inquired about a Pennsylvania event McCormick organized last year that raised over $90 billion. He sought to understand what those investments could mean for the state’s future.

McCormick noted that the Pennsylvania event attracted notable figures such as former President Donald Trump, much of his Cabinet, Governor Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.), Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), along with leaders from energy, AI, finance, and labor.

He then shared two key takeaways from that event. “First of all, I think this is the first time we’ve had this caliber of individuals in one room, not just from the Cabinet but also from key sectors like energy and AI,” he stated. “That’s exactly what we need.”

He continued, “And it was a bipartisan effort. This is a team sport. To win this critical battle against China, we have to unite now. We can’t tackle the challenges posed by AI and energy on our own. Integration is essential. Think of it like winning World War II. It’s that kind of collaboration that will make a difference across America.”

McCormick also discussed the scale and focus of the investments, pointing out that more than half of the total was allocated to energy infrastructure.

“Out of the $92 billion in investments, $50 billion went to energy infrastructure, which we desperately need to meet rising demand. Additionally, $40 billion was earmarked for data centers,” he explained.

He further elaborated on energy infrastructure, indicating that it encompasses both new production capabilities and transmission needs. “I want to highlight some incredible developments happening in that area. There’s a pressing need for transmission, particularly as we address growing demand,” he said.

According to McCormick, energy demand is expected to triple within the next 15 years, making it crucial for power transmission and associated infrastructure to keep pace.

“I believe we’re headed in the right direction under President Trump’s leadership, but it’s not something we can achieve through executive orders alone,” he stated. “It will require significant congressional action to implement comprehensive reforms and turn those plans into reality.”