washington donald trump choice run u.s. transportation department elaine chao defend president-elect trillion infrastructure plan bold vision wednesday overwhelmingly friendly senate confirmation hear criticism chao particular environmental issue significant opposition nomination expect confirm serve labor secretary president george w. bush 2001 2009 first asian-american woman hold cabinet position deputy secretary transportation president george h. w. bush introduce husband senate majority leader mitch mcconnell top-ranking democrat committee florida bill nelson note wife friendship chao chao take lead role trump plan rebuild crumble u.s. roads bridge trillion fund would offer private investors put money project 82 percent tax credit critics say unclear could recoup investments project without sharply increase cost users roads bridge chao describe plan senate committee commerce science transportation bold vision acknowledge need work issue pay investors back partnerships truly effective need revenue stream need assure add know government resources all chao nominate head department wide-ranging responsibilities oversight nation airports highways fuel-economy rule autos probe auto makers safety recall key part like airbags decline take position issue like whether job air traffic control privatize concern safety shipments crude oil rail foreign airlines like norwegian air shuttle push move u.s. market regulation develop technology like autonomous vehicles drone chao face question memberships corporate board chao board well fargo co struggle since september agree regulators pay 190 million fin restitution settle charge employees wrongly create many million account without customer authorization chao immigrant taiwan arrive unite state age 8. father jam s.c. chao founder foremost group international ship company u.s. transportation nominee chao hit roadblocks confirmation hear