[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2022
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met at 2:00 p.m., in room SD-124, Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Hon. Jeanne Shaheen (Chairwoman)
presiding.
Present: Senators Shaheen, Reed, Van Hollen, Moran,
Murkowski, Collins, and Braun.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN
Senator Shaheen. Thank you very much. Our new Commerce
Secretary is here today to talk about the Department of
Commerce and their budget. And I also want to thank you again
for coming to New Hampshire. I understand it was your first
official visit, and so it was very nice to have you in New
England, close to home, in the Granite State.
The Department of Commerce promotes job creation and
economic growth by ensuring fair trade, providing the data
necessary to support commerce, and fostering innovation by
setting standards and conducting foundational research and
development. To achieve these important goals the Department
employees nearly 50,000 people located in all 50 States and
every U.S. territory, and actually dozens of countries around
the world.
Among these employees are Nobel Prize winners,
statisticians, trade experts, and patent attorneys. This year,
the President's fiscal year 2022 budget request for the
Department is $11.4 billion.
And that is a 28 percent increase compared to the fiscal
year 2021 enacted level for the Department. This top line
proposal builds off of the Department's ongoing work to spur
American job growth in the wake of a devastating pandemic and
economic recession.
To do so this budget includes a proposal to increase
funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
NIST, by at least $400 million, an investment that would be a
shot in the arm to bolster advanced manufacturing research, and
manufacturing assistance programs to create good-paying
American jobs.
The budget also proposes a historic investment in the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to expand
investments in climate research and improve community
resilience to counter the effects of climate change. They also
come at an inflection point for our planning.
Last month, for the first time in recorded history, the
concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide was measured at
more than 420 parts per million, which is the halfway point on
our path toward doubling preindustrial levels of carbon
dioxide. And we know this milestone has been reached because of
the work of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratories, which
are the world's gold standard in climate research.
I am also pleased that this budget request guarantees the
Department's trade bureaus are sufficiently resourced and
staffed to ensure a fair trade and U.S. competitiveness.
And on a lighter note, I want to thank you and Ambassador
Tai for announcing the start of discussions with the European
Commission to address global steel and aluminum tariffs. The
Section 232 Tariffs have overwhelmed many New Hampshire
businesses that are already reeling from the pandemic. So we
were really pleased to see this move. And I look forward to
hearing more about what the Department's strategy is regarding
the tariffs.
On a separate topic, I want to congratulate the Census
Bureau and its employees on executing the 2020 Decennial Census
under unprecedented conditions. I am interested in hearing
about the Department's plans for processing the redistricting
data and whether the Department has any lessons learned from
the 2020 census.
And finally, turning to the Economic Development
Administration, businesses in New Hampshire and around the
country are very eager to hear about the Department's plans for
releasing the $3 billion provided under the American Rescue
Plan. In New Hampshire, especially, the $750 million designated
to assist community suffering from job losses in the travel and
tourism and outdoor recreation industries.
So it is no exaggeration to say that the Department's
responsibilities affect every facet of American life. And I
look forward, very much, to your testimony today. Thank you for
your willingness to appear before us.
I have a full statement that I will submit for the record.
[The statement follows:]
statement of senator jeanne shaheen
The Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
will come to order.
Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today's hearing to review
the President's fiscal year 2022 funding request for the Department of
Commerce. Our witness today is Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Secretary Raimondo, it's great to see you again. I want thank you
for visiting New Hampshire last month. I hope your first official visit
as secretary was the first of many you'll make to the Granite State.
The Department of Commerce promotes job creation and economic
growth by ensuring fair trade, providing the data necessary to support
commerce and fostering innovation by setting standards and conducting
foundational research and development. To achieve these important
goals, the department employs nearly 50,000 people located in all 50
States, every U.S. Territory, and dozens of countries around the world.
Among these employees are Nobel Prize winners, statisticians, trade
experts, and patent attorneys.
In order for the Department to carry out its critical missions,
Congress--and in particular, this subcommittee--must ensure that it has
sufficient resources.
To that end, the fiscal year 2021 omnibus spending bill included
$8.9 billion for the Department of Commerce. I'd like to thank Senator
Moran and his staff for working in a bipartisan fashion to get that
funding across the finish line.
This year, the President's fiscal year 2022 budget request for the
Department of Commerce is $11.4 billion, a 28 percent increase compared
to the fiscal year 2021 enacted level for the Department. While we
await the release of the President's full budget request this Friday,
it is clear that after 4 years of inadequate requests, this bold
topline proposal builds off of the Department's ongoing work to spur
American job growth in the wake of a devastating pandemic and economic
recession.
To do so, this budget includes a proposal to increase funding for
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by at least
$400 million.
This investment would be a shot in the arm for the U.S. economy,
bolstering advanced manufacturing research and manufacturing assistance
programs to create good-paying American jobs. These programs support
small- and medium-sized manufacturers in New Hampshire and throughout
the country, boosting American competitiveness and strengthening
domestic supply chains.
The budget also proposes a historic investment in the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand investments in
climate research and improve community resilience to counter the
effects of climate change. These investments are crucial to support New
Hampshire's seacoast and fisheries.
They also come at an inflection point for our planet: last month,
for the first time in recorded history, the concentration of
atmospheric carbon dioxide was measured at more than 420 parts per
million.
This grim milestone marks the halfway point on our path toward
doubling pre-industrial levels of carbon dioxide.
How do we know this milestone has been reached? Because of the work
of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratories, which are the world's
gold standard in climate research. NOAA truly represents the tip of the
spear in our fight against climate change, and this budget supports
their mission.
New Hampshire is an exporting State, and the Department plays a
crucial role in opening up new markets for my State's small businesses,
so I am pleased that this budget request guarantees the Department's
trade bureaus are sufficiently resourced and staffed to ensure fair
trade and U.S. competitiveness.
On a related note, I am also pleased that, last week, you joined
Ambassador Tai in announcing the start of discussions with the European
Commission to address global steel and aluminum capacity. The Section
232 tariffs have overwhelmed many New Hampshire businesses already
reeling from the pandemic, so this move is encouraging. Today we look
forward to learning more about the Department's strategy regarding the
tariffs.
Now, on a separate topic, I want to congratulate the Census Bureau
and its employees on executing the 2020 Decennial Census under
unprecedented conditions. The constitutionally-required decennial count
has outsized implications for towns, cities, counties, and States
across our country, directing apportionment and more than $675 billion
in Federal formula funding every year.
I am interested in hearing about the Department's plans for
processing the redistricting data and whether the Department has any
``lessons learned'' from the 2020 Census.
Finally, turning to the Economic Development Administration, just
last week, EDA announced a $300,000 CARES Act grant to help promote the
Monadnock Region and facilitate economic growth--part of the $1.5
billion provided to EDA in the CARES Act. Businesses in New Hampshire
and around the country are also eager to hear about the Department's
plans for releasing the $3 billion provided under the American Rescue
Plan, particularly the $750 million designated to assist communities
suffering from job losses in the travel, tourism, and outdoor
recreation industries.
Secretary Raimondo, I have only scratched the surface of the many
matters we have to discuss. It's no exaggeration to say that the
Department's responsibilities affect every facet of American life, so I
very much look forward to your testimony here today. Thank you for your
willingness to appear before us.
With that, I now would like to recognize the CJS Subcommittee
Ranking Member, Senator Moran, for his opening remarks.
Senator Shaheen. And now I would like to recognize the
subcommittee Ranking Member, Senator Moran, for his opening
remarks.
OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JERRY MORAN
Senator Moran. Chair Shaheen, Thank you.
And Secretary Raimondo, I welcome you to the CJS
Subcommittee. I appreciate the relationship, the conversations
that we have had since--before your confirmation and look
forward to working with you.
As we continue to recover from this pandemic and look to
continue rebuilding the economy, the Department of Commerce has
a direct impact on the strength and sustainability of our
communities and our local businesses.
For example, I recently announced a nearly $4 million
Economic Development Administration award to the City of
Salina, Kansas, that will support infrastructure improvements
to allow for the expansion of a nearby manufacturing facility.
EDA is hugely important to economic activities in Kansas and
across the country.
Certainly, the work- and school-from-home model driven by
the pandemic has created renewed emphasis on the Commerce
Department's role in closing the digital divide and ensuring
that all people in all communities have access to high-speed
connectivity on the Internet. It is these types of core
programs that I believe should be prioritized in this year's
budget.
The budget request before us today proposes $11.4 billion
for the Commerce Department, which is $2.5 billion, or 28
percent above the enacted amount. This is a significant
increase.
I was pleased to see the initial details of the 2020
budget. When I saw those I noticed that there would be an
increase in support for--and I am pleased by this--cutting-edge
research and development that will help maintain U.S.
leadership in technology, manufacturing, and science, an
accurate and timely weather prediction and forecasting that
will help better protect life and property.
However, I do have questions about how the budget proposal
balances new investments in operations versus the investments
in support programs and infrastructure.
For example, the budget proposes for--proposal calls for
large, target investments in scientific research in both NOAA
and NIST, something which I generally support. However, the
proposal makes no mention of any matching investments in
scientific facilities or related infrastructure.
Madam Secretary, we talked during your confirmation hearing
about the need to invest in the Department's scientific
infrastructure. And I look forward to working with you on this,
what I think is a very important issue.
Similarly, trade policy and trade enforcement has never
been more important, but the Departments trade-related agencies
seem to me to have been more or less an afterthought in the
budget request. Status quo trade promotion and trade
enforcement is insufficient. Trade is a priority, and I hope
the Biden administration will begin to prioritize it as such.
In the last few months, the Department of Commerce's
cybersecurity shortcomings have been on display. We must make
the necessary investments to protect our digital
infrastructure. And I am interested to hear how the
administration proposed investment in cybersecurity will
address the Department of Commerce's needs.
I thank you again for being here. And I look forward to
hearing your views on these matters, and others, during today's
hearing.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you very much, Senator Moran.
I will now turn it over to you, Secretary Raimondo.
STATEMENT OF HON. GINA RAIMONDO, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. Good afternoon. Thank you all for
your time. And it is nice to see you, albeit very far away.
So thank you Chair Shaheen, and Ranking Member Moran, and
Members of the subcommittee, and thank you for this opportunity
to talk about the President's proposed fiscal year 2022
Discretionary Request for the Department of Commerce.
President Biden's discretionary request includes, as you
have both just said, $11.4 billion for the Department of
Commerce, a 28 percent increase above the 2021 enacted level.
And with these funds we will maintain existing programs and
activities, and also make critical investments necessary to
boost the Nation's ability to address the crises we face today.
This year's appropriations process arrives during one of
the most difficult periods in the Nation's history. And as the
Chairwoman said, the Commerce Department has an impact across
all of these crises, and indeed impacts every American family.
We, in the Biden administration, believe America faces four
simultaneous crises of unprecedented scope. First, a once-in-a-
generation pandemic that has already claimed more than a-half-
a-million American lives. Second, a punishing economic crisis
that has left nearly 10 million Americans out of work. Third, a
National reckoning on racial inequity; and this week, of
course, we are particularly focused on that with the 1-year
anniversary of George Floyd's passing. And fourth, the growing
threat of climate change to the American people and economy.
As we have said, the Department of Commerce is playing an
integral role in addressing each of these crises. At NIST
researchers developed a way to increase the sensitivity and
accuracy of the common swab test for COVID-19. EDA has already
awarded more than a billion dollars in grants to help
communities and businesses across the country recover from the
economic crisis. MBDA enabled technical assistance programs
that help minority business enterprises execute more than $7.9
billion in transactions in 2020.
And NOAA continues to save lives and property by providing
early-warning systems and decision support tools to avoid the
most devastating impacts of extreme weather events, which we
all know are becoming more and more frequent.
I am proud of the work the Department's doing to address
these crises. But I think, like all of you, I am very cognizant
of the work and challenges that remain.
President Biden's discretionary request puts forward
investments to do just that, to enable us to meet the needs of
these simultaneous crises.
And I look forward to working with each and every one of
you in the coming year to fund Commerce's programs with the
appropriate level investment in the following key initiatives:
First, as the Chairwoman said, to support American
manufacturing by funding for the Department's most effective
manufacturing programs, which are the MEP program, and the
Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and to spur research and
technological innovation by expanding scientific and
technological research at NIST, which the Ranking Member
mentioned.
Revitalizing former energy communities by supporting the
EDA's locally driven economic development projects in
communities across the Nation, including its assistance to
the--Assistance to Coal Communities Program.
Improving weather and climate forecasting by investing in
the next generation of NOAA's satellites, investing in climate
science and research by ensuring NOAA has the tools it needs to
expand climate observation, forecasting, and research.
And strengthening American competitiveness and security by
ensuring Commerce's International Trade Administration has the
staff and resources it needs to defend the United States'
businesses and workers by addressing unfair trade practices and
barriers, strengthening enforcement of U.S. trade laws, and
enhancing oversight of foreign government compliance with trade
agreements.
So we clearly have our work cut out for us at the Commerce
Department. And I look forward to working collaboratively with
each of you and the other Members of this subcommittee to stand
the economy back up, and make sure that we have an economy that
works for all by creating jobs and growth that support American
businesses and workers now and into the future.
So thank you for having me. And of course, I welcome your
questions.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
Chair Shaheen, Ranking Member Moran, and Members of the
subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity to discuss President
Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 Discretionary Request for the U.S. Department
of Commerce. These priorities build upon the important investments you
enacted in 2021 and I am grateful for your steadfast support of the
Department.
As you know, the Department of Commerce is responsible for
promoting job creation, supporting and overseeing international trade,
and providing economic, environmental, and scientific information
needed by businesses, citizens, and governments. President Biden's
Discretionary Request includes $11.4 billion for the Department of
Commerce, a 28 percent increase above the 2021 enacted level. With
these funds we will maintain existing programs and activities and make
critical investments necessary to boost the Nation's ability to address
the crises we face today.
This year's appropriations process arrives during one of the most
difficult periods in the Nation's history. America faces four
simultaneous crises of unprecedented scope: a once-in-a-century
pandemic that has already claimed more than half a million American
lives; a punishing economic crisis that has left nearly 10 million out
of work; a national reckoning on racial inequity; and the increasing
threat of climate change to the American people and economy. The
Department of Commerce has been providing critical assistance to
confront and address each of these crises. For example:
--The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST,
researchers developed a way to increase the sensitivity and
accuracy of the common swab test for COVID-19, improving our
understanding of the pandemic;
--The Economic Development Administration, or EDA, has already
awarded more than $1 billion in grants to help communities and
businesses across the country recover from the economic crisis
and has another $3 billion in the pipeline;
--The Minority Business Development Agency, or MBDA, enabled
technical assistance programs that helped minority business
enterprises execute more than $7.9 billion in transactions in
2020 and has additional programs in the works this year; and
--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA,
continues to save lives and property by providing early warning
systems and decision-support tools to avoid the most
devastating impacts of extreme weather events, many of which
are increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate
change.
I am very proud of the work the dedicated career employees at the
Department do every day to address these crises. At the same time, I am
also cognizant of the immense challenges that remain. To fully address
these challenges, we must boost strategic investments to support
American manufacturing, spur research and technological innovation,
advance economic recovery in underserved communities, invest in climate
science and research, improve weather and climate forecasting, and
strengthen American competitiveness and security.
President Biden's Discretionary Request puts forward investments
that do just that. I am confident that the request will address today's
crises and help American businesses create well-paying jobs for
American workers, allow American businesses of all sizes to compete on
an equal playing field, and empower a more equitable economy.
I recognize that none of these investments or goals are possible
without the support of the Congress and especially the Members of this
Committee. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year to
fund all of Commerce's programs, and increase investments in the
following key initiatives:
Support American Manufacturing
Manufacturing has long been the backbone of our country and we must
strengthen our manufacturing to move America forward. To ensure robust
resurgence of American manufacturing and increase the security and
resilience of our supply chain, the Discretionary Request more than
doubles funding for the Department's most effective manufacturing
programs: the Manufacturing Innovation Institutes Program (MII) and the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).
A Manufacturing Innovation Institute is a public-private
partnership of companies, academia, state and local governments, and
Federal agencies that co-invest in developing world-leading
technologies and capabilities. The Discretionary Request calls for an
additional $150 million for two new MIIs, one of which will help
restore the United States as the global leader in the design and
manufacture of semiconductors. It also calls for an additional $125
million for MEP. The MEP National Network consists of 51 MEP Centers
located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The additional funds will
enable them to strengthen domestic supply chains and help small and
medium manufacturers improve their competitiveness.
Spur Research and Technological Innovation
Public investments in research and development lay the foundation
for future breakthroughs that generate new businesses, jobs, and
exportable goods. The Discretionary Request calls for $916 million, an
increase of $128 million over the 2021 enacted level, to expand
scientific and technological research at NIST. With this investment,
NIST will spur research advances in climate-resilient building codes,
computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum information
science, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing.
U.S. leadership in advanced communications requires commercial
operators to have access to a full array of spectrum bands to share
with Federal agencies. This Discretionary Request includes $39 million
for advanced communications research at the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration, or NTIA, to support the development and
deployment of broadband and 5G technologies, by identifying innovative
approaches to spectrum sharing, including research using the Federal
Advanced Communications Test Site (FACTS) at NTIA's Table Mountain
field site in Boulder, Colorado.
Advance Economic Recovery in Underserved Communities
Every American should have an equal chance to pursue their
potential. Yet, for far too many Americans, this has never been within
reach. The President's 2022 Discretionary Request calls for $70 million
for MBDA to expand opportunities for minority-owned businesses and help
eliminate barriers for minority-owned firms. The request also will
elevate MBDA's position within the Department of Commerce and establish
an Assistant Secretary for MBDA.
The Discretionary Request also will prioritize creating good jobs
by revitalizing former energy communities. To spur economic
revitalization and support energy workers, the request includes $84
million, an increase of $50 million over the 2021 enacted level, for
EDA's Assistance to Coal Communities Program. These funds will help
ensure that communities most impacted by the transition to clean energy
are not left behind. EDA's efforts are part of the POWER+ Initiative
and complement other targeted investments across the Federal
Government.
The Discretionary Request also includes $300 million for EDA to
support locally driven economic development projects in communities
across the Nation. These investments will enable local communities to
establish a foundation for sustainable job growth, and build durable
regional economies by funding projects that advance equity, support
workforce education and skills training, enable business expansion and
technology updates, support growth in exports and foreign direct
investment, and address the climate crisis.
Invest in Climate Science and Research
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Yet
it is also an opportunity for economic growth and innovation. In the
Discretionary Request, the Administration proposes a whole of
government approach to address this challenge and harness this
opportunity. NOAA climate science provides the data, tools, and
information that are the foundation for both efforts. The Discretionary
Request therefore includes $800 million for NOAA to expand climate
observation, forecasting, and research so that NOAA can provide better
data, information and tools to Federal agencies, States, Tribes,
communities, and businesses across America to enable smart policy and
decisionmaking. This investment will also improve community and coastal
resilience by investing in modern infrastructure and funding
competitive grants to help protect communities from the costly economic
and environmental impacts of severe weather events and climate change.
The increased resources will also support an expanded and improved
drought early warning system.
Improve Weather and Climate Forecasting
Families, businesses, and State and local governments rely on
NOAA's weather satellites and forecasts every day. When severe weather
strikes, these forecasts can literally mean the difference between life
and death in impacted communities. The Discretionary Request invests $2
billion, approximately $500 million more than the 2021 enacted level,
in the next generation of satellites. With these additional resources,
NOAA will be able to enhance its world-leading satellite observing
systems by incorporating a diverse array of new technologies to improve
data for weather and climate forecasts and provide critical information
to the public. This data will allow for more informed decisionmaking
that protects life and property, safeguards the economy, and supports
the fight against climate change.
Strengthen American Competitiveness and Security
American businesses and workers can compete if we all play by the
same rules. The 2022 Discretionary Request ensures Commerce's
International Trade Administration has staff and resources it needs to
defend U.S. workers by addressing unfair foreign trade practices and
barriers, strengthening enforcement of U.S. trade laws, and enhancing
oversight of foreign government compliance with trade agreements. It
also provides additional staff and resources for the Bureau of Industry
and Security to analyze export control and Entity List proposals,
enforce related actions, and implement export controls.
* * *
I look forward to working with you to create an economy that works
for all by creating jobs and growth that support American communities,
businesses, and workers--now and in the future. I am happy to take your
questions.
ITMS DISCUSSION
Senator Shaheen. Thank you very much, Madam Secretary.
I am going to begin by asking you about a Washington Post
story that was reported on Monday morning, about the Department
of Commerce Investigations and Threat Management Service, also
called ITMS, which appears to have been acting outside of its
legal authority.
They allegedly covertly searched Commerce employees'
offices at night, ran broad keyboard searches of employees'
emails, flagged the social media posts of private citizens, and
a whole variety of other things. I was particularly
flabbergasted to see the investigative kit that was described
that was used by that agency.
These allegations are very troubling, and it is my
understanding that shortly after you were sworn in, ITMS was
ordered to pause all criminal investigations, and on May 13 was
ordered to suspend all activities after preliminary results of
an ongoing review.
Can you talk about other steps that the Department has
taken to address the problems at ITMS, and what you think the
long-term outcome ought to be for that agency?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. Well, first let me say, Senator Shaheen,
that I share your deep disappointment, to say the least. I,
upon entering the Department there were a number of surprises
that I found, this one was the biggest and most unfortunate.
And I commit to you to, personally, give my attention to this
and make sure that we get to the bottom of what may have
happened, and make sure we hold people accountable, and make
any changes that are necessary on a go-forward basis to the way
that we handle the operations of ITMS.
First of all, we stopped all investigations. Second of all,
we have asked, we have directed that all agents turn in, to the
Department of Commerce, their weapons. Third of all, I have
directed our General Counsel to do a 90-day review, top to
bottom, of everything that may have happened; individual
actions, procedures, processes.
We are probably 30 days into that review. And what I will
tell you is that I will commit to be very transparent with you
and the other Members of this subcommittee as to what we find,
any repercussions for any individuals that there may be, and
any changes that we have to make.
But I will--I guess I would just mostly commit to you that
I won't stand for that kind of behavior under my watch.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you. I am really pleased to
hear that. And I hope that you will keep this subcommittee
informed as your investigation unfolds, and as you come up with
recommendations for how to address the situation going forward.
Thank you.
Obviously, as you talked about in your opening statement,
the Department has very--some very diverse missions that
include essential functions, like weather forecasting, patents,
trademarks, developing standards, conducting the census, and
now with proposals like the American Jobs Plan, and the U.S.
Innovation and Competition Act, which is currently on the floor
of the Senate, there will be new missions and programs added to
the Department, and the funding for these new programs are
potentially four or five times bigger than the Department's
regular discretionary appropriation.
So as you are thinking about the passage of this new U.S.
Innovation and Competition Act, how are you looking at
balancing the existing missions and the new requirements that
would be placed on the Department?
UNITED STATES INNOVATION AND COMPETITION ACT
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you for the question. In this regard, I
feel fortunate to have been a governor for 6 years, as you can
relate to, because I have some experience as an executive
managing a team and putting in place the team, and the process,
and the accountability metrics to make sure that we can meet
the mission.
Having said that, this is--this is like nothing the
Commerce Department has ever seen. And so what I can tell you
is we are already hard at work putting together our plans in
anticipation of potentially receiving $52 billion for
semiconductor supply chain, $1.5 billion for the O-RAN,
additional monies for manufacturing.
We are, you know, putting in--and I would be happy to share
any of this with all of you, it is preliminary, but I would
welcome your feedback, down to the level of: what would the org
chart look like? What is the kind of skills that we would need?
Where would we attract folks? You know, making sure that we are
able to implement, you know, as I said, in order to meet the
mission.
I will say the Department has expertise in expanding. We do
it every 10 years with the census. We have done a great job
with the money received from the Rescue package, and the CARES
Act. So it is not new to the Department to expand to meet the
mission, but I am aware of how difficult this will be, and we
are getting ready to do it.
Senator Shaheen. Well, I think we would welcome the
opportunity to give feedback on any plans that you have, if
that is helpful, and would appreciate that. Thank you very
much.
Senator Moran.
COUNTERVAILING DUTIES ON LUMBER
Senator Moran. Chairwoman, thank you.
Earlier this month, Madam Secretary, the chair and I sent
you a letter expressing our concerns over record high lumber
prices, and raised the concern about countervailing duties that
are being imposed on Canadian softwood lumber imports. Last
week the Department of Commerce increased--announced its
intention to double those duties, beginning in November.
I believe that last week's announcement threatens even
further challenges to those who are trying to figure out how to
replace the deck on their house, or build a new home, or even
find a home, already existing. Significant increases in the
price of housing--comes at a great challenge for many
Americans.
I guess my question at the moment is a simple one. In my
view, we need to find a short-term solution if the
countervailing duties are going to stay in place and are going
to be increased. We can have that debate, but I don't know that
you could change that outcome yourself anyway, but I would ask
you, would you be willing to have the Commerce Department
convene a discussion among Members of Congress, but perhaps
Senator Shaheen and I, and maybe others, but really the
industry; Senator Collins as well.
Would you be able to convene a gathering of industry and
consumer folks so that we could have a conversation about what
policy steps could be taken to try to reduce the price of
lumber and its consequences on the housing market? That is the
question.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. So, to the question, it is an easy yes.
In fact, I would be very pleased to do that, and I appreciate
the suggestion, and we will follow up on it.
I will say a couple of things. First of all, I share your
concern. I am in contact with the home builders. I talked to
them over the weekend. And I have--I have heard you talk about
it. I mean, this is a real issue. You brought it up with me
weeks ago, and I am hugely sympathetic to that. It is a real
issue.
Some of it is due to just the supply chain, which is to
say, many sawmills in America have gone out of business. And
when, now during COVID, we see a huge spike in interest, demand
for housing, we have a mismatch in our supply chain of that
lack of supply to meet the increased demand.
You put your finger on something. Last week the Commerce
Department put out a preliminary finding, I do want to
emphasize that, as part of our administrative review to
identify and quantify the amount of subsidy that the Canadian
Government may be providing to soft lumber providers. So it is
thus adding another layer of complexity to this problem.
I don't have an answer today. What I will tell you is, I am
very focused on it. The White House and administration is very
focused on it. I have been doing an enormous amount of
stakeholder engagement as has my chief economist of Commerce.
And, you know, I would be very pleased to host, as you say,
some kind of a convening to get their feedback on what more we
could do.
Senator Moran. My notes indicate that it is called a Supply
Chain Summit, which fits with exactly what you are talking
about. And I think home builders, and realtors, and others need
the opportunity to have some input, to see if we can find a
solution. And I would ask that the Department work with me to
kind of figure out what that should look like, and utilize our
input as we try to organize that kind of summit.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. We will do it.
Senator Moran. Great. I would also indicate that I have had
this conversation with the trade ambassador at USTR, which puts
us back to negotiating an agreement with Canada. And it may be
useful to have USTR in the room at the same time, perhaps, so
they can provide some education or information, but more
importantly to me. So perhaps we can create some impetus to get
something accomplished in those negotiations.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. So the bad news is, we are where we are
right now. The silver lining could be that we use this as an
opportunity to all get around the table, including USTR, to
find a long-term solution with Canada. And that I would be very
interested to dig into.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Senator Moran. I have 31 seconds left, so I will ask
quickly. The increasing prevalence of cyber attacks, in my
view, makes it imperative for the Department to better protect,
nothing here that is new, it needs to protect its digital
infrastructure and its operating systems. How does the Commerce
Department's budget fiscal year 2022 request address those
needs? And to the extent that your answer may include that
funds will be utilized through the Technology Modernization
Fund, could you speak to how you understand that might work?
Ms. Raimondo. Okay. So since we are out of time, I would be
happy to follow up further. But, listen, clearly you are right.
We were part--we were significantly impacted by Solar Winds,
and we have already started to invest in our systems to improve
our--reduce our cyber vulnerability.
One of the President's initiatives, which we will, of
course, be taking on, is that every software vendor that does
business with the Federal Government is going to have to have
enhanced cyber standards, which will benefit our department and
all departments.
And although the details of the President's budget won't be
out until, you know, later this week, it is my understanding
that there will be additional money for Commerce to do exactly
what you are talking about, which is to enhance our IT systems.
Senator Moran. I would only highlight for you, Madam
Secretary; that the Technology Modernization Fund results from
legislation that I authored, and it was designed to create
opportunities for departments and agencies to utilize resources
in advance of a problem to replace their legacy technology
systems.
And I would be interested to--I would not necessarily
expect you to have an answer today, but I would be interested
in knowing. My understanding is that that fund may be utilized,
or maybe money put into that fund for purposes that we are
talking about today. And I am interested in making sure I
understand----
Ms. Raimondo. Got it.
Senator Moran [continuing]. How the plan is intended. Thank
you.
Ms. Raimondo. Got it. I will get back to you. Thank you.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Senator Moran.
Senator Reed.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS
Senator Reed. Well, thank you very much. And welcome Madam
Secretary.
As we have discussed, we are currently considering the $50
billion CHIPS for America Fund. You will supervise that fund.
And working with Ranking Member Moran, we are proposing an
amendment that would give you discretionary authority to use
warrants as a way to recoup some of the funds that we are
extending to these companies in the future.
We have had great success with warrants. The TARP funding
of the--with respect to the banks, earned us about $10 billion,
and the CARES Act with respect to the airlines based on
yesterday's stock prices, would yield us a billion dollars. And
I think it also would give us, and give the American people a
sense that we are getting something from our investment. And,
given your experience as a venture capitalist, as well as the
treasurer of the State of Rhode Island and a governor, could
you, comment upon whether this would be useful?
Ms. Raimondo. Mm-hmm. Thank you for the question. I think
it is a very good idea. I think as one of the tools that we
would have at the Commerce Department, it could have great
utility. As you say, it was very successful in TARP, it was
very successful with the airlines. It is obviously a bit
different now than with TARP, at that time the financial
services companies were in crisis and were probably a bit more
willing to give whatever it would take than the semiconductor
businesses would now.
Having said that, we are talking about putting $50 billion
of taxpayer money to support large profitable companies, and it
is absolutely reasonable to think that we should--we the
American taxpayer--should have a share in the upside, should
there be, you know, upside.
So as a tool in the toolbox, I think it is a very good
idea. I think it is a good way to stick up for American
taxpayers, as you say, in my case, as Commerce Secretary, I am
very comfortable using that tool because I made a living doing
that for more than a decade. So, you know, I would support as
an option.
DEPLOYMENT OF NOAA SHIPS
Senator Reed. Thank you very much, Madam Secretary. I want
to thank you and NOAA for committing to create a home port
facility at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. In fact, as
you are probably aware, their new ship, Discoverer, is
currently under construction in Louisiana, and now located
there, but we have the capacity to accommodate, you know,
several NOAA ships and make the operation of NOAA more
efficient.
And I would--again, I want to thank Chairwoman Shaheen, and
Ranking Member Moran, they have supported our efforts in this
regard. But would you commit to work with us to see what we--
that we can get a full deployment of NOAA ships as they have
envisioned up at Newport?
Ms. Raimondo. Absolutely. Absolutely. And we are already--
``we'' being NOAA--is already working on the design and pre-
work that is necessary for that. I think it is $15 million
that--$15 million has already been awarded toward the total
construction costs. And they are hard at work at the design and
the permitting. And if we stay on the course that we are on,
pending appropriations, a contract for construction should be
awarded in fiscal year 2022.
COORDINATION OF FEDERAL CYBERSECURITY EFFORTS
Senator Reed. Now I hope we can stay on that track. And
just, as my colleagues have suggested, the cyber issue is
ubiquitous, it is everywhere. NIST, which is part of the
Department of Commerce, is one of the key roles. They
coordinate closely with the DHS, cybersecurity information,
security agency, but we are so disjointed in the Federal
Government, for example, the regulation of pipelines in terms
of their cyber is TSA. Now, I don't know how that happened.
But the moral of the story, I think, is we have to have a
coordinated effort of every department. And I would hope, under
the President's leadership, we could do that more effectively.
And that is a comment as much as a question. So, thank you.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. I support that.
I neglected to say with Senator Moran. The other thing that
we are doing on cyber is within NIST in the President's budget
is additional funding to study cyber. So I think advancing the
science is going to be a benefit to all of us.
Senator Reed. Thank you.
Senator Moran. Thank you, Senator Reed.
Senator Collins.
Senator Collins. Thank you, temporarily, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Why do you emphasize it?
Senator Collins. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SOFTWOOD LUMBER
Madam Secretary, welcome. It is great to have you here
before us. I want to start by associating myself with Chairman
Moran's comments about the countervailing duty and the
antidumping case that is doubling the duties imposed on
softwood lumber from Canada.
Just this morning I met with Maine homebuilders who were
telling me about the doubling of the price of lumber, and this
creates a real affordability problem. In fact, nationwide,
since April of last year, the price of an average new single-
family home increased by nearly $36,000, and that is a direct
result of the increase of materials, lumber in particular.
I wrote to you where earlier this month about the softwood
lumber agreement with Canada, it expired in 2015 and a new
agreement is really needed to provide stability and
predictability for industry on both sides of the border.
So my question is; is your team beginning to work on
developing a new softwood lumber agreement with Canada?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes, we are. So as I was saying earlier, I
share the concern. It is that this preliminary finding came at
a really difficult time. And, you know, what that finding is,
it was--it was part of an annual administrative review to
quantify the amount of subsidy. And it could not have come at a
worse time, as the homebuilders and the American people are in
the teeth of struggling with increased prices. As I said,
though, it is preliminary. The final determination will be at
the end of September or more likely the end of November.
I would like to use this opportunity, and I have already
started to talk with Ambassador Tai about: how do we seize this
moment to come to a more lasting solution to a problem that has
existed for 40-plus years.
And so I do plan to rejuvenate our efforts and see what
might be possible.
RIGHT WHALE RULEMAKING
Senator Collins. Thank you. It won't surprise you that my
next question has to do with the Right Whale Rulemaking. And
let me start by thanking you for meeting with the Maine
congressional delegation. I know, as a former coastal State
governor, that you have a deep appreciation for how important
our fisheries are to our economy and to our culture.
And Maine lobster men and women they have a long-standing
commitment, not only to protecting the sustainability of the
lobster, but also to protecting right whales. And over the
years, they have made significant changes and sacrifices, when
the science has warranted such actions in order to protect the
right whale. And the result has been that there has not been a
single right whale serious injury or mortality attributed to
the Maine lobster fishery since 2002.
But on the other hand, NOAA's data show that from 2000 to
2018, there were 13 confirmed cases of right whales entangled
in Canadian snow crab gear. And since 2017, there have been at
least seven right whales that have been killed by Canadian
vessel strikes.
Is the Department beginning to discuss, with its Canadian
fisheries counterparts and regulators, how to hold them
accountable for their outsized role that is contributing to the
population decline of the right whale? It is really unfair that
the lobster industry in Maine is at risk of having to endure
burdensome, perhaps unworkable new regulations when they are
simply not the problem.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. So, as I said to you, I really admire
your advocacy in this regard. And the thing that stuck with me
most from our conversations in this, is when you said to me,
you should consider your--you should consider the fact that
there are 5,000 small businesses that are in the lobster
fishery in Maine.
And that stuck with me, which is to say five--putting 5,000
small businesses at risk is something that we need to take with
real seriousness. And so I have engaged further after we had
our initial conversations.
The answer to your question is, yes, we have been and have
increased our interaction with our Canadian counterparts,
particularly with respect to two issues. One is to make sure
the applicable Canadian fisheries have regulations that are,
frankly, as tough as ours. So making sure that their Canadian
fisheries regulations match up with ours, and pushing them on
that.
And secondly, looking into vessel speeds, and I think
NOAA--this year NOAA Fisheries collected comments on our
assessment of the current Vessel Speed Rule, and evaluating the
need for future action. So I think--because you have also
commented that it is the vessel strikes that are a problem. And
so we are looking into the speed of the vessels.
Senator Collins. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Moran. Thank you, Senator Collins.
Senator Van Hollen.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
And, Madam Secretary, it is great to see you again. And I
know we are still waiting for the full budget, but I just want
to commend you and your team, for signaling through the
``skinny budget'', which we do have your ongoing commitment to
the Minority Business Development Agency, and not only a
commitment, but a real effort to elevate the importance of that
Agency, both in terms of an increased budget that would support
a dedicated assistant secretary, as well as a significant boost
in the funding. I look forward to working with you on that.
I have teamed up with my colleague from Maryland, Senator
Carter and others to introduce legislation, to make that agency
permanent, up, and also to provide more opportunities by
teaming up with HBCUs and the MSIs. We think there can be an
important synergy between the work done at the MBDA, and HBCUs,
and the MSI.
So I look forward to working with you on getting that
legislation through, and ask you to take a look at it. I also
want to thank you for all the input you have provided us as we
work on the Endless Frontier legislation to enhance American
competitiveness, lots of important provisions in that bill.
One I want to bring to your attention. I teamed up with
Senator Blunt, and the bill, essentially, directs you as
secretary--this is the normal procedure--to enter into a
contract with the National Academies of Sciences, and
Engineering, and Medicine, to provide us an update on key areas
of emerging science and technology that we, as the United
States, need to keep on top of.
And then there would be a regular update to that. We all
got caught behind on 5G technology, and we want to make sure
that as we make this investment in our competitiveness, that we
have a process going forward, to make sure that we keep up with
that. So I want to--I just want to bring that to your
attention.
As you know, the Department of Commerce is wide-ranging.
There are two agencies in Maryland that are important to the
country and important to our State. One is NOAA, in Silver
Spring, Maryland, and I look forward to working with you and
NOAA on their continued efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
The other is NIST, which of course plays a really important
role in standard setting, both here and around the world, and
has many important components to their budget, but quantum
computing is an area that I strongly believe we need to--we
need to strengthen going forward.
Finally, and most of my questions relate to the EDA, the
Economic Development Administration. You and I have spoken
about the importance of those funds. And there has been
bipartisan support on this subcommittee, for funding that
agency, even when previous administrations have proposed deep
cuts to that budget.
And it is because of the flexibility of the funds. And I
was just on a state-wide Zoom call with constituents in
Maryland to talk about EDA. And I want to thank members of your
team who participated in that, so people could understand how
to go about competing for those grants.
As you know, the American Rescue Plan had $3 billion in the
EDA. Can you give us an update on when you are going to be
releasing guidance on that? I know there is a real interest now
in moving forward, and I don't--if you could give us an update
on where that stands.
ENHANCING AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. By the way, I fully share your
focus on quantum computing, and the President's budget, the
``skinny budget'', as you say, does include additional funding
for AI research, and quantum computing research, and the long-
standing relationship with the University of Maryland, I think
will only continue to get stronger.
Senator Van Hollen. Good.
EDA AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS
Ms. Raimondo. So the $3 billion of EDA, the answer is very
soon, we are working night and day on it. I feel the pressure
to get it out the door, but to do it--you know, it is a
balance, right? I would love to get it out the door tomorrow,
but we have $3 billion, it is bigger than anything EDA has ever
done. So I would say very soon.
That there is $750 million specifically for travel and
tourism, we feel a particular sense of urgency on that. The
summer season is upon us. We really want to get that out the
door. So it would be helpful.
The rest of it is more, as you say, flexible. I can tell
you that our plan is to have it be broad in its application,
which is to say, and things we have talked about, allow it to
be used for infrastructure, for job training, for rebuilding
particular communities that are especially distressed. So we
really want to take the full opportunity, and I think you will
be pleased with the timeline.
Senator Van Hollen. Well, thank you. I do want to follow up
with you later about those funds.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes.
Senator Van Hollen. Because, as you say, there is a lot of
interest, and we want to make sure that, you know, those who
have not necessarily participated in a formal grant process,
and they don't know how to jump through all the hoops----
Ms. Raimondo. Yes.
Senator Van Hollen [continuing]. Are fully eligible. So we
look forward to working with your team. Just if you could make
people available in the Department----
Ms. Raimondo. Yes.
Senator Van Hollen [continuing]. To provide the technical
assistance to those who are seeking funding.
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
Senator Murkowski.
Senator Murkowski. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
And Secretary, it is good to see you, although you are a
long ways away here.
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
NOAA FISHERIES SURVEYS
Senator Murkowski. But thank you for the many conversations
that we have had. I just want to reinforce for the record
today, your commitment to monitoring the work of NOAA with
regards to our fisheries surveys. As I shared with you, last
year those stock assessments were not able to proceed, which
was a real concern to our fishermen, and all those who rely on
our sustainably managed fisheries.
I had an opportunity just yesterday to speak to the nominee
for the NOAA administrator, reinforced with him the priority
here. So I just want your commitment to ensure this full
schedule of fisheries surveys is conducted in Alaska in 2021.
And if there is--any challenges that you have in terms of
implementing this year's survey plan, would you please, make us
aware so that we can help you with that.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. You do have my commitment. Last year due
to COVID we suspend--the Department suspended the normal order.
There is no expectation that that will happen this year, and we
are on path to kind of be back to business as usual. So I don't
anticipate that there will be any issues.
Senator Murkowski. Good. Appreciate that. Another one that
I would just ask you to be monitoring and keep us apprised in
terms of updates. One of my long-term priorities has been to
return the Fairweather to Ketchikan as part of its home port.
We have worked through that; Senator Sullivan on the
authorizing side, myself on the appropriation side.
So it looks like everything is proceeding just as we had
hoped, and planned, and is on schedule. But I would just ask
that you commit to periodic updates on the project to ensure
that we are on track. The people of Ketchikan are quite
anxious. It is been a long time. But we are feeling pretty
optimistic about where we are.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes, absolutely.
EDA AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS
Senator Murkowski. Thank you. EDA, one of the--one of the
real significant impacts that we saw in Alaska due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, was a significant hit to our tourist sector,
and in a considerable way. We just passed into law, and the
President signed on Monday, legislation that will allow cruise
ships to bypass Canada, so that we can have some semblance of a
season beginning the end of July.
So it does not give as much, but it gives us a little bit
of hope. One of the things that we put into the American Rescue
Plan was support to EDA to assist communities. There was $3
billion, 25 percent of those funds go to help States and
communities that have suffered economic injury, in the areas of
travel tourism and outdoor recreation.
This is something that, within Alaska, we are looking very
critically at this because we think that this can provide a
level of support and relief. I don't know if you have more
details on the criteria that EDA will be using, as it is making
these grants. But we are starting to hear from communities
about what those might be. So I don't know if you have anything
that you can provide me and the subcommittee in terms of
criteria for these EDA grants.
Ms. Raimondo. I don't. As I was saying to Senator Van
Hollen, we expect, very soon, to be getting this money out the
door, both the--particularly the $750 million for travel and
tourism.
Senator Murkowski. Right.
Ms. Raimondo. That is our top priority. So I think, you
know, weeks away is our goal.
Senator Murkowski. Okay.
Ms. Raimondo. I will say it is very likely that the
criteria will take into account the magnitude of how much an
area depends on tourism and how affected that community was.
You know, we are trying to get the money to where it is
needed most and where people were hardest hit.
Senator Murkowski. We have got a couple of good examples,
Skagway and Haines--excuse me--Skagway and Healy, two areas
where some 80 percent of their community's revenues come from
tourism. And so they have effectively seen losses that are
breathtaking. In fact, I think both of these communities top
the list of the Top 10 Most Dramatically Impacted by economic
loss due to tourism.
So they are--I think they probably fit into your criteria.
I would certainly hope so. But again, the more detail that
these communities can have on this, it is appreciated.
Thank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you, Madam Secretary.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Senator Murkowski.
SECTION 232 TARIFFS
Senator Braun. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good to see you again, Madam Secretary. I come from
Indiana, we are the biggest steel producing State in the
country, and the industry has been kind of ravaged over time
for many reasons, in addition to what has happened most
recently. And I would not be so concerned about the future of
the steel industry other than the glut that is out there is
mostly housed within the country of China.
So they have got--in a planned economy, I guess they plan
to use that seal capacity somewhere down the world in a way
that does not, kind of, urge them to use, kind of, destructive
methods to sell their capacity. But in the meantime, we have
been going back and forth with import surges. And the Trump
administration had the Section 232 Tariffs that I think finally
gave a respite to that behavior, and keeps an industry like
steel; and for me, a guy that is a believer in free and of
course fair trade along with it, think of that is necessary.
Otherwise, I think sooner or later, if that glut was spread out
among many countries, I think it would be different when it is
within one that gives them such a disproportionate incentive to
try to dump and use it the wrong way.
Interested to know on the--I know the Biden administration
is looking at some of the Trump era policies. Are you involved
in the discussions on the Section 232 Tariffs?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes, very involved. I will say--I have said
many times, I know that these tariffs have upset our allies,
but I have said many times they have worked in so far as--if
you look at steel production after the tariffs, it is
significantly higher. And they have helped to level the playing
field, like you said, and protect American workers, but also
protect our national security, because we cannot have these
steel operations going out of business.
So yes, I am deeply involved in the thick of them. The
challenge is we have to figure out a way to protect our steel
workers and our steel industry. But also be conscious of the
fact that, you know, our allies, particularly in the EU, aren't
pleased with us for slapping them with national security
tariffs. So we have to find a balance.
Senator Braun. So where do you see China's behavior in the
long-term picture when it comes to kind of being the focal
point of why we had to do that in the first place?
Ms. Raimondo. I think we can assume that they will only get
worse. I think we can assume they are the focal point. I think
we should take as fact that they are engaged in anti-
competitive practices and dumping, and I think we need to act
accordingly and if--and we would be foolish to think any other
way.
Senator Braun. So I am guessing then, in that one
particular area, the Trump policies on, you know, Section 232
Tariffs, working pretty decently?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes.
COUNTERVAILING DUTY/ANTIDUMPING CASES
Senator Braun. Okay. Another issue, resources within your
Department, I think that we are going to have increasing
instances of dumping issues. And, you know, I know when that
happens, it has got to go through a certain analysis, cases are
created.
Do you think with your current funding stream, that you are
adequately kind of positioned, when it comes to what I would
think is going to be a constant barrage of having to deal with
those kinds of cases?
Ms. Raimondo. I do. But I think it is worth us having a
continued discussion. In 2016 we had 315 countervailing duty,
antidumping cases pending. Today it is about 600. So the fact
that they have doubled, we are keeping up, we are serious about
enforcement, Congress appropriated us a-million-dollar fund for
an anti-circumvention team, and then doubled it $2 million for
an anti-circumvention team.
So I guess what I am saying is, yes, but I want to reserve
my right to come back at a later date to ask for more
appropriations, because we have to be serious about it, and it
is a lot of work.
MANUFACTURING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Senator Braun. So I am going to shift gears to a different
topic with the time I have got remaining. Indiana is also the
biggest manufacturing State per capita. We produce the most
steel, and Indiana and Wisconsin kind of trade back and forth
with that.
I was on a school Board for 10 years in my hometown, served
on the education committee at the State level for 1 year, and a
lot of what I think ails finding people, the high-demand, high-
wage jobs is that we have, in some cases, stigmatized the
pathway of a career in technical education preparation.
I see it changing a little bit, especially among rural high
schools because, we in Indiana, I think ship out twice as many,
4-year degrees as were used, and I think that is a great
pathway, but it is not matching the needs of business and
commerce with proper training.
How much do you think not being able to align training with
high-demand, high-wage jobs is maybe because there is that
philosophy among higher ed, especially at the State level, that
the only way to be successful in life is to get a 4-year
degree? Or do you think we need to do better at actual
preparing kids for degrees that are marketable and that are not
going to put them on a pathway where they don't graduate in
many cases?
Ms. Raimondo. So, listen, I grew up as the daughter of a
guy that worked at a factory, the same factory for 30 years. So
I grew up on a steady diet of being told manufacturing is a
great job. And as governor, I increased the amount of career
and technical education programs in high schools by 40 percent,
aligned our community college with businesses to do exactly
what you say, match up skills with demand.
College is not right for everyone. Half of the kids----
people who go to college in America drop out, mostly because
they cannot afford it. And then they are stuck with debt, no
degree, and no job.
So this administration, President Biden, and all of us, are
committed to pursuing something along the lines of what you are
talking about, which is career and technical education, to line
people up with jobs that exist. And what I need to do, as the
Commerce Secretary is bring business to the table. Show up and
tell us what skills do you need, and actually commit to hiring
people.
Senator Braun. Thank you. I think there will be strong
bipartisan support for that. And I think you have got the
unique position to get the message out.
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
SEASONAL SMALL BUSINESS WORKFORCE
Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Senator Braun.
I have a couple more questions and I don't know if we will
have anybody join us but, hopefully, we can get through these
before the next vote is called.
When you were in New Hampshire one of the things that you
heard loud and clear from our--particularly our tourism
industry that was represented at that round table was the
challenge of finding workers. Our unemployment rate in New
Hampshire is back down to about 3 percent. And it is a huge
challenge, and it is magnified this year by the inability to
get visa workers, either H-2B visa workers, or J-1 one student
visa, students to come and work in our seasonal businesses.
And I was disappointed first that the administration
decided to only add 22,000 additional H-2B visas for this year,
and that it took so long to get the guidance out. It was only--
it is only yesterday that employers are actually able to apply
for those visas. And we have, as I think you heard at that
round table, we have a number of seasonal businesses that have
the same workers who come back every year. So it is not a
question of vetting them. It is just a question of making sure
that they can get in assuming that they pass a COVID test.
So do you have thoughts about how Commerce can help us work
with our seasonal small businesses to ensure that they get the
workforce that they need?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. So thank you for bringing it up. By the
way, I loved the visit, and I appreciate you inviting me. It
was my first as Commerce Secretary.
And I heard the same thing you heard, which is pretty
heartbreaking stories about small businesses that are hanging
on by their fingernails because last year they were crushed,
and this year they need to reopen, and the biggest barrier they
have is access to labor.
So I heard it, and I share your concern. The Commerce
Department--you know, this is in the Department of DHS in the
area of DHS.
Senator Shaheen. Right.
Ms. Raimondo. I will commit to you today to call Ali
Mayorkas again today and raise the concern, and to continue to
raise the concern in the administration.
I guess what the Commerce Department can do, what I will do
is just be an advocate to explain to the administration, or
reiterate--reiterate to the administration that these are the
small businesses, the heart and soul of our communities, that
is who we saw at New Hampshire.
Senator Shaheen. Right.
Ms. Raimondo. Small family-owned businesses that have been
doing the same thing for 30 years are at risk of going out of
business if we don't get them the labor they need. And this is
by and large, temporary in nature, seasonal in nature,
relatively, you know, low wage.
So you have inspired me to go at it again. And I will do
everything I can as an advocate, and if you have specific asks
that you think I could do, I am all ears.
Senator Shaheen. Well, thank you. I really appreciate that.
And actually for many of the jobs in New Hampshire, because the
labor shortage is so tight, the hourly pay--hourly wage is
pretty high.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes.
Senator Shaheen. I mean, it is much higher than the Federal
minimum wage at this point. Benefits and the long-term
stability is lacking because they are seasonal jobs, but these
are not jobs that New Hampshire workers, in general, want
because the labor force is so tight. So I would appreciate
anything that you can do.
Ms. Raimondo. Mm-hmm.
FISHERIES MONITORING COSTS
Senator Shaheen. To go to the other issue you heard about
when you were in New Hampshire, which is our fisheries and the
challenges faced by what has become a very small fishing
industry now in the State. And one of the current concerns is
the decision to require a hundred percent at-sea monitoring for
our groundfish fisheries. And one of the things that has been
really helpful over the last few years has been our ability to
work with NOAA to help pay the cost of those at-sea monitors.
Can you commit that you will help us continue to look at
that and try and help ensure that we can cover some of those
costs for the fishing industry that is really in dire straits?
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. Yes. NOAA is planning to continue to
fully fund the at-sea monitoring costs in New England, and
obviously we will have--we will continue our dialogue.
CANADIAN BORDER CLOSURE
Senator Shaheen. That would be great. And finally, one of
the real challenges that we are seeing right now, and I am
hearing from businesses in New Hampshire, about the closure of
our border with Canada. And I appreciate that this was done to
address COVID challenges on either side of the border, but as
we are having more and more people vaccinated, it has become
less of an issue in the United States. Canada is on a
trajectory to vaccinate a very high percentage of its citizens
as well.
And I would hope that you can help encourage the
administration to talk to our Canadian friends about the
importance of opening that border. We have not only a lot of
Commerce going back and forth across the border, that would
like to go back and forth across the border, but in New
Hampshire and in other--I know if Senator Collins were here,
she would talk about Maine as well.
We have families who have relatives on the other side of
the border, and they have had real challenges going back and
forth. So I think the sooner we can get that border open the
better in terms of commerce.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. I agree. And I will do that. I will say
that issue that Senator Murkowski brought up with the cruises,
I was quite involved in that.
Senator Shaheen. Good.
Ms. Raimondo. Quite involved in that, speaking with
Canadians, speaking with my Canadian counterpart, talking to
the cruise lines, talking to our own HHS. So this is an area
where I don't have any particular, you know, authority at all.
Senator Shaheen. Right? No, I understand.
Ms. Raimondo. I definitely will do what you ask and raise
the concern and talk to my Canadian counterparts.
Senator Shaheen. I think it is really helpful for all of us
who see this as a concern to raise it, both here and in Canada.
I know that the inner-parliamentary dialogue that goes on
between our Congress and the Canadians happened last week, and
that this came up as an issue for both Canadians and Americans.
So hopefully this is something we will see change very soon.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
Senator Shaheen. So that is the end of my questions. Thank
you very much for being here. We have--let me just--we have an
opportunity for questions for the record that need to be done
within--I think we have until--the end of when?
Thirty days.
Senator Shaheen. Thirty days for the Department to respond.
Don't we have a deadline for us to submit QFRs? One week. So
one week from today. And, hopefully if there are any issues,
either with those QFRs, or as you are looking at your budget
and thinking about the challenges for the Department, please
share any concerns with us, and let us know how things are
progressing.
Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
Senator Shaheen. And again, I appreciate your being here.
Ms. Raimondo. Yes. Of course, and your team has been
terrific, as have you been accessible to me. And I appreciate
it.
Senator Shaheen. Thank you.
[The following questions were not asked at the hearing, but
were submitted to the Department for response subsequent to the
hearing:]
Questions Submitted to Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
Questions Submitted by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
a review of the president's fiscal year 2022 funding request for the
u.s. department of commerce
Question 1. During the last administration, there were several
incidents where the Department allowed politics to influence scientific
communication and decisionmaking. Perhaps the most concerning was the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration releasing a statement
undermining National Weather Service meteorologists' prediction of
Hurricane Dorian's track at the behest of the White House. The
incident, which could have put property and lives at risk, was known in
the media as ``Sharpiegate.''
The Inspector General investigated the incident and found that,
``[t]he Statement undercut the NWS's forecasts and potentially undercut
public trust in NOAA's and the NWS's science and the apolitical nature
of that science.'' But Department employees who also participated are
not bound by the agency-specific Scientific Integrity Policy, exposing
a gap scientific integrity protections across the Department.
I know that this is an important issue to you and the
administration, with President Biden releasing a ``Memorandum on
Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and
Evidence-Based Policymaking'' in his first week in office.
1a. Does the Department of Commerce plan on implementing a
Department-wide scientific integrity policy? Such a policy should not
supersede an individual bureau's policy, but should serve as the
baseline requirement to protect scientific research and communication.
Answer 1a. Yes. DOC has stated it will develop its own policy. A
DOC-wide scientific integrity policy would promote a continuing culture
of scientific excellence and integrity, while informing management and
policy decisions throughout the department. The DOC policy will
establish a baseline with which all bureaus must comply and permit
bureaus to develop their own policies that would be independent of the
DOC policy as long as they are consistent with the fundamental
principles of the DOC policy (i.e., not be weaker than the DOC policy).
Mandatory training for all political appointees, as well as career
Federal employees and DOC affiliates (such as contractors, interns,
fellows, etc.), would enable proper implementation of the policy.
The recent Presidential ``Memorandum on Restoring Trust in
Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-based
Policymaking'' requires departments and agencies to have a Chief
Science Officer and Scientific Integrity Official. The Department is
working to fill these positions.
1b. If so, when can we expect to see a Department-wide scientific
integrity policy?
Answer 1b. The Department is consulting with bureaus including
NOAA, the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), and
the Census Bureau (Census) to provide inputs for a draft Department-
wide policy. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Scientific Integrity Task Force findings will also inform the
Department's policy.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Jerry Moran
Question 1. The International Trade Administration's (ITA) trade
promotion efforts are one important way that the Commerce Department
helps to support American companies overseas and keep America
competitive. However, our investments in this area and the reach of
ITA's international field is lacking in comparison to that of China and
other competitor nations. This is particularly the case in Africa,
South America, the Caribbean, and the Western Pacific.
1a. How would the fiscal year 2022 budget request help to grow
ITA's global network and better support the ability of U.S. companies
to access emerging and competitive foreign markets?
Answer 1a. The International Trade Administration (ITA) continues
to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and
investment and ensuring fairness through the rigorous enforcement of
U.S. trade laws and agreements. ITA's Global Markets (GM) and U.S. &
Foreign Commercial Service business unit helps U.S. companies export
and/or increase sales to foreign markets through its U.S. Export
Assistance Centers (USEAC) located throughout the United States, in
conjunction with its Washington, DC, based staff and overseas offices
in our U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world. The fiscal year
2022 budget request fully funds GM's current level of operations,
enabling it to sustain its existing global footprint and the hiring
gains achieved in fiscal year 2021.
1b. What does it say about how the Biden administration is
prioritizing trade that under the fiscal year 2022 budget DOC's trade-
related agencies--ITA and BIS--would receive the smallest percentage
increases of any units within the Department? Is trade-related work a
priority for the Biden administration?
Answer 1b. As a key component of the Biden administration's
objectives to promote post-pandemic economic recovery, job creation,
and to protect national security, the trade-related work of BIS and ITA
are priorities for the Department of Commerce. The administration's
first focus was on critical programs at Commerce that were most in need
of increased funding following the actions of the prior administration.
In the case of BIS, given the broadened focus, in recent years, of its
mission and the use of Commerce's export control tools, the
administration needed time to carefully evaluate BIS' resource
requirements for emerging or expanding program areas. Fully funding BIS
and its national security mission is a priority and working with
Congress on the future of BIS and necessary resources is a focal point
for the Department of Commerce. In the case of ITA, the administration
has proposed additional funding to examine exclusion requests,
objections by U.S. producers, and rebuttals/surrebuttals in connection
with Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products.
Additional funding was also proposed to support the current sample size
of the Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT) to provide
additional data required by the U.S. Government and stakeholders to
design economic programs to help the Travel and Tourism industry
recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Commerce remains
focused on working with Congress to ensure that ITA is fully funded in
order to fulfill its mission to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S.
industry, promote trade and investment, and ensure fair trade through
rigorous enforcement of U.S. trade laws and agreements.
Question 2. The fiscal year 2022 budget request includes full
funding for two new Manufacturing USA institutes, including one which
would be focused on the design and manufacturing of semiconductors. The
2020 National Defense Authorization Act included legislation that
defined a number of industry areas that future Manufacturing USA
institutes should be focused on. That list of industry areas included
semiconductors, but also other important ``Industries of the Future''
like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
2a. If congress were to provide funding for new Manufacturing USA
institutes in fiscal year 2022, is there a particular reason why both
solicitations shouldn't allow for open competition among all relevant
industry areas?
Answer 2a. The Manufacturing USA statute provides NIST the
authority to run ``open-topic'' competitions, accepting all topics
proposed by industry. Should the President's fiscal year 2022
discretionary budget request for two NIST sponsored Manufacturing USA
institutes be enacted, NIST plans a single open-topic competition from
which multiple awards may be made. The competition would be open to all
topics from all industry areas. The competition would include a
selection factor for national priority topics, as described in the
National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing. Those priorities
include semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and
quantum computing.
2b. What is the driver behind the prioritization of EDA's coal
program in the fiscal year 2022 budget over some of EDA's other
nationwide programs like ``Public Works'' or the ``Regional Innovation
Program?''
Answer 2b. As we transition toward a clean energy future, the Biden
administration is leading an all-of-government effort to help
revitalize and promote regional economic growth and diversification in
America's coal communities. This administration is committed to
ensuring that coal communities are not left behind as the energy
landscape transforms. This funding for coal communities will drive
economic diversification, aid in the scaling of new industry sectors,
and create good-paying jobs for hard-working Americans.
2c. How, if at all, would the request for increased funding for
``Restoration and Resilience'' within the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration go to supporting the resiliency needs of
non-coastal States?
Answer 2c. NOAA's increased funding for ``Restoration and
Resilience'' will provide useful lessons learned and best practices
related to risk communication and climate adaptation approaches that
can be applied by communities in both coastal and non-coastal States.
Flooding and resilience best practices and adaptation strategies
developed at the coast can inform inland areas that experience drought,
heat waves, changes in heavy precipitation or other disaster events.
NOAA and its partner programs share successful approaches at national
events, such as the National Adaptation Forum.
Natural infrastructure is just one example of a mitigation and
adaptation approach that can be applied in inland States to improve
waterways and reduce risks from floods, droughts, and fires.
Communities across the country are increasingly turning to nature-based
approaches to address climate and weather hazards because, in many
cases, these habitats are already well equipped to adapt to change and
withstand or recover from weather impacts. NOAA's investments in
coastal restoration and natural infrastructure solutions, as well as
the resilience training, engagement, and capacity building planned for
coastal communities, will provide critical information that can be
shared with other communities that are working to adapt to a changing
climate.
As we look to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure of roads,
bridges, buildings, railways, and airports, it is important to ensure
these new infrastructure investments are resilient to environmental
factors. When it comes to major infrastructure investments, resilience
requires foundational positioning data to inform decisionmaking such as
``where to build a road,'' ``how tall to build a bridge,'' ``where will
water flow once it reaches the land,'' etc.
In order to answer these questions and build resilient
infrastructure, surveyors and engineers need access to an accurate and
cohesive reference frame for the Nation. NOAA's National Spatial
Reference System (NSRS) provides a consistent coordinate system that
defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation
throughout the entire United States, not only in coastal States. A
portion of NOAA's increased funding will be dedicated to modernizing
the NSRS to further enhance data accessibility and accuracy for the
entire Nation, including for our rural and remote communities. While
captured under ``Observations and Forecasting,'' these investments also
provide critical information to build resilience to climate and weather
hazards.
The need for resilient community infrastructure extends beyond
coastal States. Farmers need an accurate reference frame to efficiently
manage their crops. All Geographic Information Systems applications
rely on an accurate reference frame. In the future, autonomous vehicles
will rely on an accurate national reference frame to travel safely at
high speed.
In Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the $10 million
Enhancing Regional and Community Resilience by Scaling Up RISA Program
and ``Climate-Smart'' Communities Initiative in the President's fiscal
year 2022 discretionary request (OAR-33) would support lasting and
equitable climate resilience across the Nation, including non-coastal
States. The proposal builds on and extends the proven capabilities of
the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program and the
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (USCRT) to advance adaptation measures
and resilience planning at regional and local scales, while
prioritizing environmental justice. If funded, this initiative would
expand the RISA program and increase support for existing RISA Regional
Teams, which include many non-coastal States. It would also support a
new public-private partnership, the Climate-Smart Communities
Initiative, to scale up and accelerate training and the pace of
resilience-building in communities across the Nation utilizing the
USCRT. Communities that engage in this initiative will be better
positioned to identify their climate information needs,
vulnerabilities, risks, and potential resiliency solutions, and thus
may turn to RISA or other activities for more in-depth analysis and
tailored support.
Question 3. Concurrent with the transmission of the answers to the
fiscal year 2022 Questions for the Record, please provide the following
information:
3a. The number of days the fiscal year 2022 Questions for the
Record were with the individual Department of Commerce Bureaus for
response and review.
3b. The number of days the fiscal year 2022 Questions for the
Record were with the Department of Commerce Office of Budget for
response and review.
3c. The number of days the fiscal year 2022 Questions for the
Record were with the Department of Commerce Office of Legislative and
Intergovernmental Affairs for response and review.
3d. The number of days the fiscal year 2022 Questions for the
Record were with the Department of Commerce Office of Policy and
Strategic Planning for response and review.
3e. The number of days the fiscal year 2022 Questions for the
Record were with the White House Office of Management and Budget for
response and review.
Answer 3a-3e. The Office of Budget (OB) received QFRs on June 15,
2021. After reviewing questions to determine Bureau assignment, OB
distributed QFRs to DOC Bureaus on June 22. All bureaus responded to OB
by July 14. After review and edits, OB forwarded QFRs to the Office of
the Secretary (OLIA, OGC, and Policy) on July 23 for staffing. The
Office of Secretary cleared all QFRs on September 1. OB forwarded QFRs
to OMB on September 8. OMB cleared the QFRs on October 8; OB finalized
all responses and forwarded them to the Office of the Secretary for
final review and clearance for Hill transmittal on October 13.
Question 4--Add On. On January 5, 2021 the Trump administration
released Executive Order 13971 to continue its strong stance against
Chinese controlled companies. Similarly, the Department of Commerce
under the previous administration released an interim final rulemaking,
``Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services
Supply Chain'' (ICTS) on January 19, 2021, to address national security
threats to information and communications technology posed by ``foreign
adversaries,'' including China. While these efforts are lauded, much of
U.S. industry has expressed concerns over the uncertainty of when and
how these executive actions will be implemented and what will be
required to comply with their restrictions.
4a. With respect to the ICTS interim final rule that became
effective on March 22, 2021, can you provide further details on how and
when the Department will implement this now-effective rule to ensure
that U.S. companies have clear guidance on how to comply? Furthermore,
what actions is the Department currently taking to enforce this rule?
Answer 4a. The Department has stood up an Information and
Communications Technology Task Force under the Office of the Secretary
that is led by the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Intelligence
and Security (I&S), and includes key stakeholders from various bureaus
and offices, such as the Bureau of Industry and Security, International
Trade Administration, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, and the Office of General Counsel. The task force is
supporting both operations and policy under Executive Order (EO) 13873
and related orders.
The Department is currently assessing comments received following
the publication of the Information and Communications Technology and
Services (ICTS) interim final rule (IFR), which will guide the
Department in any changes it deems necessary in revising the final
rule. Nonetheless, the IFR is currently in force, and will remain so.
President Biden also signed Executive Order (EO) 14034 on Protecting
Americans' Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries on June 9, 2021.
Because this EO establishes new criteria for the evaluation of
transactions involving connected software applications, the Department
plans to solicit additional input through the rulemaking process on
these criteria. This will allow for additional input from the business
community and collaboration with the Department in revising the final
rule. The Department is committed to providing guidance on the rule's
implementation.
As the Secretary announced on March 17 and April 13, 2021, the
Department has issued subpoenas supporting the review of transactions
under EO 13873.
4b. Now that the Department has collected comments on the ICTS
interim final rule, does Commerce plan to release further guidance and
direction to implement the rule? Are any additional rulemakings planned
in light of the comments received from industry, and if so, what is the
anticipated timeframe for such actions?
Answer 4b. The Department is currently assessing comments received
following the publication of the Information and Communications
Technology and Services (ICTS) interim final rule (IFR), which will
guide the Department in any changes it deems necessary in revising the
final rule. Nonetheless, the IFR is currently in force. Furthermore,
the Department also issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking
(ANPRM) for a pre-clearance/licensing program for ICTS Transactions.
This ANPRM was issued on March 29, 2021, and closed on April 28, 2021.
The Department is currently assessing comments received from the ANPRM.
Finally, as noted above, President Biden signed Executive Order
(EO) 14034 on Protecting Americans' Sensitive Data from Foreign
Adversaries on June 9, 2021. Because this EO establishes new criteria
for the evaluation of transactions involving connected software
applications, the Department plans to solicit additional input on these
criteria as it seeks to finalize implement EO 13873. This will allow
for additional input from the business community and collaboration with
the Department in revising the final rule.
4c. What considerations has the Department taken, or will it take,
in implementing the ICTS rule to help ensure it is not overbroad or
unnecessarily burdensome for U.S. companies to comply?
Answer 4c. The Department takes seriously its dual role of
encouraging United States commerce to thrive, while also addressing the
national security threat posed by the exploitation by foreign
adversaries of the Information and Communications Technology and
Services (ICTS) supply chain. The Department's implementation of the
rule will give due consideration to both of these critical interests.
As described in more detail above, the Department is undertaking
further engagement with industry through the rulemaking process and is
committed to providing guidance to industry as it implements the rule.
4d. Given the breadth of the interim final rule, does the
Department intend to provide guidance to industry on what products or
technologies are of most concern from a national security perspective?
Answer 4d. The current interim final rule contains a list of the
categories of transactions involving ICTS that are subject to
Department review in 15 CFR Part 7, Section 7.3. As it implements the
rule, the Department will consider the extent to which it can provide
further guidance to industry on the categories of ICTS transactions
that are of concern.
4e. With respect to Executive Order 13971, can you provide the
Committee with a timeline on its implementation and when we can expect
to receive further details on how it will be implemented?
Answer 4e. Executive Order (EO) 13971 was revoked upon the issuance
of EO 14034, Protecting Americans' Sensitive Data From Foreign
Adversaries, on June 9, 2021.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Christopher A. Coons
Question 1. Legislation under Senate consideration would direct the
Department of Commerce to implement Section 9902 of the Fiscal Year
2021 National Defense Authorization Act (the CHIPS Act), to incentivize
investments in a more secure and resilient semiconductor supply chain.
Under your direction, would the scope of this program include new and
expanded facilities to produce equipment and materials used to produce
semiconductors?
Answer 1. The Department is developing plans for the implementation
of the CHIPS Act funding requested as part of the American Jobs Plan
and included in the United States Innovation and Competition Act passed
by the Senate. The Department is designing the program to incentivize
the construction and expansion of facilities to restore U.S. leadership
in semiconductor manufacturing.
Under the statute, eligible entities include private entities,
consortia of private entities, or consortia of public and private
entities with a demonstrated ability to substantially finance,
construct, expand, or modernize a facility relating to fabrication,
assembly, testing, advanced packaging, or research and development of
semiconductors.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Lisa Murkowski
Question 1. In Alaska, 144 ``environmentally threatened''
communities need an estimated $4.3 billion to address climate change
impacts on infrastructure. For example, decades of planning and
millions of dollars were required to relocate one village, the
Southwest Alaska village of Newtok, to an all-new village called
Mertarvik. This is a testament to the enormous climate-related
difficulties facing any coastal or river village or small town in
America. The Newtok Village Council navigated multiple Federal and
State agencies to obtain funding and implement design, engineering, and
construction. This is just one example of how Alaska is on the front
lines of climate change; it is also experiencing substantial climate-
related impacts to fisheries due to warm water blobs in the Gulf of
Alaska and stock migrations into colder waters.
1a. The Department of Commerce plays a critical role in preparing
our Nation for the impacts of climate change through the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) science and research
projects. We cannot adapt and Congress cannot make informed decisions
without reliable information. I see that the discretionary request
includes $800 million for NOAA to expand climate observation,
forecasting, and research. How would NOAA utilize those funds to better
prepare a State like Alaska that is ground-zero for climate change in
the Arctic?
Answer 1a. Within NOAA's National Ocean Service, fiscal year 2022
spending will support Alaska observations and forecasting, as requested
within the Modernizing NOAA's Foundational Geospatial Positioning
Framework and Water Level Observations for Climate Decision Support
request. Specifically, this includes funding to ensure that National
Water Level Observation Network stations in Alaska continue to provide
valuable real-time water level data to Alaskan communities, and to
support airborne gravity data collection along the Aleutian Island
chain.
NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) has several programs
that focus on the Arctic region, including Alaska, which would expand
activities related to climate observation, forecasting, and research
using the funds.
NOAA's Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program
increases regional capacity to adapt to climate change. RISA's Regional
Teams, including the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy
(ACCAP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, build sustained
relationships between decision makers and researchers that support
collaborative and equitable adaptation to climate risks. ACCAP has been
funded since 2006 and has applied for another competitively selected
award to continue work 2021-2026.
A portion of the $10 million Enhancing Regional and Community
Resilience by Scaling Up RISA Program and ``Climate-Smart'' Communities
Initiative in the President's fiscal year 2022 discretionary request
(OAR-33) would increase the RISA Program's funding. If this initiative
is funded, it would enable the ACCAP RISA to extend their work across
and into more communities to directly aid decision maker efforts with
climate change impacts. For example, this request includes funds for
small grants to facilitate the inclusion of non-profit Alaska Native
social services organizations in the ACCAP RISA's capacity building
efforts. ACCAP RISA will expand Alaska's regional capacity to adapt to
climate change in partnership with NOAA research and services by: (1)
conducting decision-relevant climate analysis and engaging in knowledge
to action partnerships that meet local and regional climate science
needs related to extreme events and impacts; (2) supporting Tribal
resilience; (3) advancing climate change related outreach, science
communication, engagement, and networking in Alaska among diverse
groups; and (4) evaluating how well ACCAP's science is informing
societal outcomes.
NOAA Sea Grant provides critical engagement with coastal and Tribal
communities in Alaska and around the country, providing locally
relevant research, technical assistance, and extension expertise to
improve economic and environmental resilience in these communities,
including addressing climate impacts. A portion of the $35 million
increase for Sea Grant Builds Resilient Coasts: Expanding Local and
Regional Coastal Resilience Capacity and Community Assistance in the
President's fiscal year 2022 request (OAR-89) will expand Sea Grant's
research and engagement efforts to make coastal communities, including
those in Alaska, more resilient to natural hazards and changing
conditions. Sea Grant represents long-standing, embedded, and trusted
networks that harness the depth, reach, and voices of university,
State, and local expertise, including traditional knowledge. Sea Grant
also focuses on critical partnerships, like those with RISA above, that
provide essential complementary resources and services needed to more
fully support communities.
Additionally, through initiatives like the request $23 million
Advancing Global Ocean Observing System increase (OAR-98) in the
President's fiscal year 2022 request, NOAA's Global Ocean Monitoring
and Observing (GOMO) Arctic Research Program will make investments in
new observational, modeling, and forecasting capacity to improve NOAA's
sea ice forecasts, which are directly related to Alaskan coastal
resilience, subsistence activities, and safe over-ice travel. The
Coupled Arctic Forecast System (CAFS) is a NOAA experimental model that
is currently outperforming a number of operational forecast center sea-
ice models when compared to observations. Further development of this
model supported by fiscal year 2022 appropriations would include
working with Alaskan communities, navigators, search and rescue
personnel, and fisheries management organizations to gather
requirements and develop new tailored modeling products to provide
specific services for these users. Other investments focus on gathering
higher resolution observations of sea ice and ocean heat content to
enhance NOAA operational sea ice and marine forecasts. These
improvements will make a meaningful impact on the information the State
of Alaska needs to make informed decisions regarding the impacts of
climate change and rapidly diminishing sea ice.
GOMO's Arctic Research Program will also invest in observations
that improve spatial coverage and understanding of harmful algal bloom
species that are emerging in the Northern Bering and Chukchi Seas.
Studies show that recent warming of Chukchi Sea waters has reached
levels that now support the development of toxic blooms in that region,
representing a significant and recurrent threat to human and ecosystem
health, particularly given the heavy dependence on subsistence
harvesting for food. The Arctic Research Program will work with
partners at the Alaska Ocean Observing System, NOAA Fisheries, and the
NOAA Ocean Service to continue monitoring this emerging threat to
Alaskan communities. Additionally, the President's budget request would
allow for improved observational coverage and investment in the
development of a model of ocean acidification (OA) in the Chukchi Sea,
as well as enhanced modeling of OA in the Bering Sea.
Also, within OAR, NOAA has two initiatives specifically targeting
underserved coastal communities, including a $3 million increase for
Tribal Drought Resilience Initiative (OAR-38) and a $5 million increase
for Sea Grant's Service Equity: Assessing and Integrating Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Actions to Support Underserved Communities (OAR-
94), in the President's fiscal year 2022 request. These requests
support actions such as cutting-edge climate forecasting and service
delivery and a robust approach to diversity, equity and inclusion to
position NOAA as a leader in support of vulnerable communities to
prepare for, adapt to, and become more resilient.
The National Weather Service (NWS) will execute a much-needed
recapitalization of the long-standing Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO)
buoy array, which provides vital data on sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S)
and year-to-year climatic variations related to El Nino and the
Southern Oscillation that can have tremendous impact on the Nation's
weather. These data are used to produce NWS' seasonal outlooks. Like
shorter-term forecasting, the study of this variability enables more
rapid prediction of climate anomalies that would impact the United
States, including Alaska and the Arctic regions of the globe.
The NOAA/NWS fiscal year 2022 budget request includes $15 million
to establish a Seasonal Forecast System (SFS) forecast capability to
improve the skill, lead time, and breadth of climate, seasonal and
extended range weather and environmental prediction. The SFS will
enable NWS to provide enhanced critical long-range monthly and sub-
season to seasonal predictions for Alaska. The combination of the
Global Forecast system for weeks 1 and 2 and the SFS can be used for
managing water resources and also include predictions for flood and
drought; storm severity and frequency; extreme heat or cold waves;
extreme winds; fire severity and danger; coastal storm surge and
erosion, and other environmental factors. Through our $5.3 million Sub-
Seasonal to Seasonal Decision Support Services request, the NWS will
leverage social science to engage stakeholders across multiple sectors
(e.g., agricultural, water resources, public health, emergency
management, marine resources, and energy sectors), including decision
makers in underserved communities such as Tribal governments,
economically disadvantaged rural regions, and other vulnerable
populations, in the development of requirements for actionable data/
services. This information will be used to co-develop decision support
services that meet those stakeholder needs using an iterative approach.
We will continue to engage and listen to key decision makers in Alaska
such as Native Alaskan water managers, emergency managers, energy
producers, and other sectors to insure that these model prediction
capabilities address their needs and include providing the necessary
information to make informed long lead time decisions which have
significant impact on the Alaskan economic vitality and domestic
security, that communities are ready for and respond to impending
impactful weather, water and climate events.
In the United States, floods account for more loss of life and
property than any other type of severe weather-related event. To
mitigate flooding impacts to the U.S. population and economy, the NOAA/
NWS fiscal year 2022 budget request includes a $5 million initiative to
operationalize a Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) capability nationwide.
This FIM capability has been successfully demonstrated in Texas and the
northeast United States as part of NOAA's only DOC Agency Priority
Goal. This initiative will enable the NWS to complete the development,
operational implementation, and distribution of FIMs nationwide.
Implementation of FIM in Alaska would be provided for inland
waterways wherever there are appropriate terrain and hydrography
datasets. Initially, this includes Alaska locations where NWS produces
official river forecasts. In fiscal year 2023, after National Water
Model (NWM) v3.0 is deployed, high-resolution NWM-based streamflow
guidance will also be used to generate real time FIM for rivers flowing
into the Cook Inlet and the Copper River and its tributaries. These
watershed domains include about 65 percent of the Alaska population.
1b. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) recently acquired
nearly 100 real-time seismic and weather stations that were installed
across Alaska as part of the National Science Foundation USArray
Transportable Array. This network provides crucial seismic and
atmospheric data to the U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA, the Department of
Defense, and other agencies. In fiscal year 2021, UAF joined the
National Weather Service's National Mesonet Program with the intention
of incorporating 70 of these stations (mostly in northern and western
Alaska) into the National Mesonet and supplementing their weather and
atmospheric monitoring capabilities. Will the northern set of these
weather and atmospheric sensors be helpful as NOAA works to better
understand climate and weather patterns in Alaska?
Answer 1b. Yes, these stations will be very helpful to NWS through
the National Mesonet Program. Roughly 10-15 are installed over northern
Alaska in the Brooks Range and the North Slope. All the stations are in
the interior of Alaska, and mostly in areas with no other observation
sources, so these remote stations provide valuable data that fill gaps
in our observing capabilities, enhancing the NWS forecast and warning
mission for Alaska, as well as supporting research to improve the
understanding of weather patterns and pattern evolution.
The ability to use these observations for climate monitoring will
be dependent upon the long-term sustainment of the observation stations
to be able to develop a climatology of the observations and to detect
longer term trends.
Question 2. On May 6, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture,
and Commerce, NOAA, and the Council on Environmental Quality released a
preliminary report titled ``Conserving and Restoring America the
Beautiful'' in response to President Biden's Executive Order (EO) on
``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.'' The EO included
direction for the above agencies to create a plan to conserve 30
percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. They recommended a ``10-year,
locally-led campaign to conserve and restore the lands and waters upon
which we all depend.'' The report recommends the creation of an
American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas that collects baseline
information on the amount and types of lands and waters that are being
managed for conservation and restoration purposes. The Council
Coordination Committee of the U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils
has formed a subcommittee to work on an atlas of waters already managed
for conservation under the Regional Fishery Management Council
processes.
2a. As you know, there is a complex suite of existing laws
providing the government authority to protect and allow sustainable use
of our marine resources. In implementing this order from the President,
how will you consider the input of Alaska's resource-dependent
communities and prioritize the livelihoods of people who depend on
fishing and resource development?
Answer 2a. The America the Beautiful report to the Task Force is
the first step in designing a process to solicit public and stakeholder
input on a strategy for achieving ``30x30.'' Section 216(a)(i) of EO
14008 directs NOAA, among other Federal agencies, to ``solicit input
from State, local, Tribal, and Territorial officials, agricultural and
forest landowners, fishermen, and other key stakeholders in identifying
strategies that will encourage broad participation in the goal of
conserving 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.'' Guided by the
principles in the report, NOAA will continue to seek input from ocean
and coastal stakeholders about how to implement and measure additional
conservation.
2b. How does the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act's
(ANILCA) ``no more'' clause factor into the administration's decision
to consider designations in Alaska?
Answer 2b. NOAA defers to DOI on this question, as that is under
their jurisdiction.
2c. How will you incorporate input from the Regional Fishery
Management Councils in the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas?
Answer 2c. The America the Beautiful report acknowledges the great
work of the regional fishery management councils, in collaboration with
NOAA and U.S. fishermen, to transparently manage sustainable U.S.
fisheries. NOAA Fisheries is currently briefing and taking input from
all the Councils. In addition, in response to this effort, the Council
Coordination Committee has developed a sub-committee to develop a
report on area-based measures for marine fisheries in the United
States. We look forward to that report and will continue to work with
the Councils as we move forward in this process.
Question 3. In the COVID-19 relief funding that was part of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Congress provided the
Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) $1 billion directed to Tribal governments for
broadband deployment.
3a. There are 231 federally recognized Tribes in Alaska, out of
574 federally recognized Tribes in the United States. The $1 billion
provided to NTIA for a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program could be
incredibly beneficial to Alaska, which suffers from a severe broadband
deficit across the State. I know that NTIA has been conducting very
important Tribal consultations over the last several months, and I
thank you for meeting with them and incorporating their input. I would
like to hope that the unique situations in Alaska are being considered
and will be included in the final grant program. Could you please
provide an update on the stage the Program is in and what you expect
next?
Answer 3a. As you noted above and recognizing the special nature of
the Nation-to-Nation relationship, early in the grant program
development process, NTIA held three virtual Tribal Consultation
sessions to hear from Tribal Leaders, which formed the design of the
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). NTIA published the TBCP
Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
The application window will close on September 1, 2021.
NTIA is committed to continuing a respectful and productive
dialogue as the grant program is implemented. To date, NTIA has held a
total of four Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program-specific webinars
with a cumulative total of 1,415 registrants to help prospective
applicants understand the grant program and to assist applicants in the
preparation of high-quality grant applications. In addition, NTIA also
intends to hold six more webinars for all interested applicants before
the application window closes and release multiple rounds of Frequently
Asked Questions based on questions received from interested applicants.
NTIA will also conduct focused outreach and communications with Tribal
leaders and Tribal stakeholder organizations. On June 30, 2021, NTIA
presented the TBCP at the Alaska Regional Tribal Broadband Meeting
hosted by the Denali Commission.
Another significant part of NTIA's grant program development and
execution is NTIA's work with the State Broadband Leaders Network on
all three NTIA grant programs. Alaska's Senior Development Executive in
the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development has
been involved in these meetings and discussions. NTIA has worked with
him to ensure that both the Broadband Infrastructure Program and the
TBCP will meet the State's broadband needs. In addition, the State of
Alaska has signed a Joint Project Agreement with NTIA to access the
data in the National Broadband Availability Map.
Further, NTIA recognizes that there may be instances where a
proposed technological solution may not directly meet all aspects of
the definition of broadband as stipulated in the funding rules, in
particular for latency. For example, in proposed service areas with
challenging geography and topography, the only viable technology
solution option may have higher latency than what is specified in the
definition of qualifying broadband. Given these specific topographical
and geographical challenges, which are certainly present in Alaska,
NTIA will take that into consideration in its application review
process.
As a part of the application review process, NTIA will coordinate
with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of
Agriculture (USDA), as required by the statute, and will also consult
the National Broadband Availability Map, to understand whether past or
current Federal broadband investments made in a particular area are
already providing qualifying broadband service under the statutory
definition. This will help NTIA to focus its grant investments on
proposed projects for which qualifying broadband service is unavailable
in proposed grant funded service areas, which would therefore be
eligible for grant funding. NTIA is working with other Federal agencies
to coordinate and to ensure that the most current information about the
status of an awarded area is taken into consideration before making
grant awards. On June 25, 2021, NTIA, USDA and the FCC announced that
the three agencies had signed an interagency agreement committing to
data-sharing and coordination. The agencies are meeting regularly to
develop the processes required to implement the agreement.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Chris Van Hollen
Question 1. Oysters are an essential part of the Chesapeake Bay
habitat and economy. However, as a result of disease, overfishing, and
degraded water quality, amongst other problems, just 1-2 percent of the
historic native oyster population remains. Maryland has had success
with shellfish aquaculture in the Bay, where it provides water
filtering benefits and has helped in our efforts to increase the oyster
population.
The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, as part of the Chesapeake Bay
Program, is working towards a goal to restore oysters to 10 Chesapeake
tributaries by 2025. As of mid-2020, more than 800 acres have been
restored around the Bay under this initiative, and to date, 98 percent
of the reefs monitored 3 years after restoration meet the standards for
a restored reef--an outstanding success rate. A number of recent
studies have identified marine aquaculture as a climate-friendly method
of producing animal protein for a growing population. Do you support
the work NOAA is doing to increase sustainable U.S. aquaculture
production as a way to support the administration's plans to mitigate
climate change and restore devastated populations and habitats?
Answer 1. I do support NOAA's work, in partnership with USDA and
others, to encourage sustainable aquaculture. Marine aquaculture is
among the most ``climate-smart'' forms of food production, for example
producing significantly less greenhouse gas emissions and requiring
less (or no) fresh water compared to other farming methods. In
addition, shellfish and seaweed, whether farmed or wild, provide a
range of ecosystem services that can help mitigate the impacts of
climate change. In addition to producing healthy seafood, aquaculture
is a key part of NOAA's strategy for habitat restoration and for the
recovery of some depleted species.
NOAA has pioneered research to characterize and operationalize the
restorative benefits of shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. Through a
broader effort to develop Ecosystem-Based Aquaculture Management, NOAA
and partners led a recent global-scale analysis to identify where
restorative aquaculture opportunities are greatest, indicating
substantial potential for growth of bivalve shellfish and seaweed
aquaculture along all coasts of the United States to provide
restorative environmental and socioeconomic benefits. NOAA is currently
serving on a working group led by The Nature Conservancy to define the
``Principles of Restorative Aquaculture'' alongside representatives
from The World Bank, Global Environment Facility, World Wildlife Fund,
WorldFish, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and other
multinational institutions. This includes research by the National
Ocean Service and NOAA Fisheries to quantify the nutrient removal
capabilities of oyster aquaculture, which has recently been used by the
State of Maryland to develop a shellfish nutrient credit trading
program to monetize nutrient removal services from farmed oysters.
Further, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center has led cutting-edge
research to understand potential wildlife habitat benefits of shellfish
aquaculture for native and commercially important wild species.
NOAA is a world leader in environmental modeling and marine field
research to support sustainable aquaculture practices. We have
developed a range of powerful science-based tools to support
sustainable development of shellfish, seaweed, and finfish operations.
We have developed tools to predict and avoid potential genetic impacts
from escaped fish, and through grant funding have helped to develop
stronger cage designs that reduce the likelihood of escapes. We work
with the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and use predictive
models to avoid impacts of finfish farming on water quality. We have
developed spatial planning tools to inform siting and minimize user
conflicts. We work with Naval Academy engineers to develop structural
engineering guidelines for finfish cages and to explore engineering
solutions to avoid entanglement risk. Our work with USDA and other
partners to develop alternative ingredients has led to a dramatic
reduction in the amount of forage fish in commercial fish feeds.
NOAA's aquaculture research program supported through the NMFS
Office of Aquaculture and Science Centers, OAR's National Sea Grant
College Program, and NOS's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science,
provide robust scientific information to support confident regulatory
decisions that ensure potential negative impacts from marine
aquaculture are minimized. As marine aquaculture grows in the United
States, there will be a need for additional research and development to
further develop and deploy these and other science-based tools to
inform the sustainable development of the sector.
Question 2. NOAA is a vital partner in our efforts to restore our
Nation's marine sanctuaries and habitats. I've recently learned that
NOAA is planning on reprogramming and imposing additional corporate
costs that would utilize funding intended for the Office of National
Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) programs. This will have detrimental effects
on the newly designated Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine
Sanctuary that will impact community programs, mission critical
operations and initiatives, and reduce the sanctuary programs ability
to respond to community and resource management needs.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provides $56.5 million
in NOAA's Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) funds and $4
million in Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction (PAC) for
sanctuaries budget--an increase of nearly $1 million in fiscal year
2020. However, according to directives from the NOAA Office of the CFO,
the ONMS funds will be levied with $1.2 million in reprogramming costs
to cover other aspects of the NOAA budget. Will you work to protect the
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries budget from these administrative
costs, which will add to the nearly 20 percent of ONMS funding
currently supporting other NOAA costs?
Answer 2. NOAA does not take reprogrammings lightly and only seeks
to reprogram funds from a program when there is an unanticipated,
critical need elsewhere. These reprogrammed funds were used to support
two mission-critical NOAA acquisition projects and prevent noticeable
and significant impacts to both weather forecast and watch operations
and the operations of the entire commercial weather enterprise. NOAA's
mission would have been significantly compromised had no action been
taken to address the emergent need. Although reprogrammings of that
size are unusual, it is not uncommon for unanticipated costs to arise
during the course of the fiscal year. To the greatest extent possible,
NOAA seeks to mitigate such issues without imposing additional
administrative burdens. In this case, savings from reduced travel in
fiscal year 2020 due to COVID helped to offset the impact of these
reprogrammings.
Question 3. NOAA's Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response
Program (MMHSRP) coordinates emergency responses to sick, injured,
distressed, or dead marine mammals on a national scale. Organizations
that make up the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) are
facing increasing demands to respond and rehabilitate federally
protected sea turtles, and there is inadequate funding to support this
work. Many of the institutions involved in sea turtle recovery do so on
a voluntary basis, despite their participation in Marine Mammal
Stranding Networks and eligibility for direct support via NOAA's
Prescott Grant Program. Unfortunately, due to insufficient funding and
the highly competitive nature of the grant, the STSSN is often left
without sufficient resources to support response to and care for these
federally protected marine species.
An informal survey of eight of the largest sea turtle stranding and
response programs on the eastern seaboard found a median annual cost
for sea turtle stranding rehabilitation of more than $400,000 per
institution. This level of ``voluntary'' contribution to Federal
efforts to protect ESA-covered species is not sustainable. Will you
support the creation of a pilot program to provide direct support to
institutions who provide sea turtle stranding response and
rehabilitation services in support of NOAA's stewardship
responsibilities to these federally-protected endangered species?
Answer 3. I would like to clarify that the Prescott Grant Program
is authorized solely under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and
administered by the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
(MMHSRP), which only covers marine mammals and not sea turtles (since
sea turtles are reptiles). Therefore, the Prescott Grant Program would
not be the appropriate way to provide funds for sea turtle emergency
response. NOAA Fisheries coordinates the Sea Turtle Stranding and
Salvage Network (STSSN) under the authority of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA), separate and distinct from the MMHSRP. The STSSN includes
permitted partners in States from Maine through Texas, Puerto Rico and
the USVI, the U.S. west coast, and Hawaii. The STSSN responds to and
documents both live and dead sea turtles that strand in coastal areas.
Live stranded sea turtles are placed in permitted rehabilitation
facilities for short and/or long-term care depending on their
condition. NOAA Fisheries depends on these partners to care for these
turtles and release them back to the wild when they are determined
healthy. Should funds be appropriated to NOAA for such ESA programs as
the STSSN, they could be administered similarly to how the MMHSRP
administers the Prescott Grant Program, via a competitive process.
Question 4. MBDA Business Centers, like the Baltimore and Capital
Region Business Centers, are responsible for providing MBEs with access
to procurement opportunities during the program year. We understand
that while the Minority Business Development Agency once provided
Business Centers with procurement research software, these software
contracts weren't renewed with the service providers and Business
Centers have not received an alternative resource in researching
procurement opportunities for their clients. This has impacted the
Business Centers' ability to identify procurement opportunities for
MBEs.
We appreciate that the President's fiscal year 2022 budget request
calls for a 46 percent increase to MBDA's funding relative to the
fiscal year 2021 enacted level (and note that the Fiscal Year 2022
Congressional Bureau Justification for the Minority Business
Development Agency has not yet been provided). Will you work to ensure
that MBDA Business Centers have access to the procurement research
software that they need to effectively serve their clients and carry
out their missions?
Answer 4. In fiscal year 2022, MBDA is committed to exploring
options for deploying the latest technology and digital engagement
tools that will allow the Business Centers to have access to public and
private sector contracting opportunities.
Question 5. We also understand that MBDA Business Centers used to
have engagement with the Office of Business Development and the Capital
Access Team with assigned MBDA staff, which they found to provide
helpful engagement and guidance. Unfortunately, this practice has been
removed and the Business Centers only have a light touch point of
contact with the agency once a month during the national MBDA
Stakeholders call. Does the MBDA have plans to provide Business Centers
with additional staff outreach and engagement on a regular basis? If
so, what types of additional engagement are contemplated going forward?
Answer 5. Currently, MBDA's Office of Business Development (OBD)
staff engages with the Business Centers on various business development
and programmatic efforts including access to capital. MBDA has
proposed, in its fiscal year 2022 President's budget submission, a $22
million increase over its fiscal year 2021 budget appropriation and a
staffing increase of 22 positions that will allow the Agency to improve
and increase staff outreach and engagement with Business Centers on
regular basis.
With the proposed funding and staff increase in fiscal year 2022,
OBD will develop, implement, and support partnerships that help
Business Center clients grow in size and scale. OBD staff will also
support business development initiatives offered by the Business
Centers focused on contracting, financing, and exporting.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS
This hearing is now adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 3:08 p.m., Wednesday, May 26, the
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of
the Chair.]