    [Senate Hearing 117-702]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                            S. Hrg. 117-702

                      NOMINATION OF HON. GINA M. RAIMONDO,
                            NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY,
                          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

    =======================================================================

                                    HEARING

                                   before the

                             COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
                          SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                        ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                                JANUARY 26, 2021

                                   __________

        Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
                                 Transportation

       [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                    Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov

                         ______

                 U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
     53-058 PDF        WASHINGTON : 2023

           SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                        ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                       MARIA CANTWELL, Washington, Chair
    AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota             ROGER WICKER, Mississippi, Ranking
    RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut      JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
    BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii                 ROY BLUNT, Missouri
    EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts         TED CRUZ, Texas
    GARY PETERS, Michigan                DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
    TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin             JERRY MORAN, Kansas
    TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois            DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
    JON TESTER, Montana                  MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee
    KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona              TODD YOUNG, Indiana
    JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  MIKE LEE, Utah
    BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico            RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
    JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado          SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West
    RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia                 Virginia
                                         RICK SCOTT, Florida
                                         CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming
                        David Strickland, Staff Director
                     Melissa Porter, Deputy Staff Director
           George Greenwell, Policy Coordinator and Security Manager
                     John Keast, Republican Staff Director
                Crystal Tully, Republican Deputy Staff Director
                          Steven Wall, General Counsel
                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page
    Hearing held on January 26, 2021.................................     1
    Statement of Senator Wicker......................................     1
        Article dated January 25, 2021 in The Wall Street Journal by
          Robert St. John entitled, ``Closing Time for Bars and
          Restaurants''..............................................    23
    Statement of Senator Cantwell....................................     2
    Statement of Senator Thune.......................................    26
    Statement of Senator Klobuchar...................................    28
    Statement of Senator Blunt.......................................    30
    Statement of Senator Blumenthal..................................    31
    Statement of Senator Fischer.....................................    32
    Statement of Senator Schatz......................................    34
    Statement of Senator Cruz........................................    35
    Statement of Senator Markey......................................    37
    Statement of Senator Moran.......................................    39
    Statement of Senator Baldwin.....................................    40
    Statement of Senator Sullivan....................................    41
    Statement of Senator Peters......................................    43
    Statement of Senator Blackburn...................................    45
    Statement of Senator Duckworth...................................    46
    Statement of Senator Capito......................................    48
    Statement of Senator Tester......................................    49
    Statement of Senator Johnson.....................................    51
        Article dated January 25, 2021 in The Wall Street Journal by
          Andy Kessler entitled, ``Online Speech Wars Are Here to
          Stay''.....................................................    53
    Statement of Senator Sinema......................................    55
    Statement of Senator Scott.......................................    56
    Statement of Senator Rosen.......................................    58
    Statement of Senator Young.......................................    60

                                   Witnesses

    Hon. Jack Reed, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island...................     4
    Hon. Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island..........     6
    Hon. Gina M. Raimondo, Nominee to be Secretary, U.S. Department
      of Commerce....................................................     7
        Prepared statement...........................................     8
        Biographical information.....................................     9

                                    Appendix

    Letter dated January 21, 2021 to Hon. Maria Cantwell and Hon.
      Roger Wicker from Timothy J. DelGiudice, Chairman, SENEDIA
      Board of Directors.............................................    62
    Letter dated January 22, 2021 to Hon. Roger Wicker and Hon. Maria
      Cantwell from Tim Walz, Governor, State of Minnesota...........    63
    Letter dated January 25, 2021 to Hon. Maria Cantwell and Hon.
      Roger Wicker from David M. Chenevert, Executive Director, Rhode
      Island Manufacturers Association...............................    65
    Letter dated January 25, 2021 to Hon. Roger Wicker and Hon. Maria
      Cantwell from Charles D. Baker, Governor, Commonwealth of
      Massachusetts..................................................    66
    Letter dated January 25, 2021 to Hon. Roger Wicker and Hon. Maria
      Cantwell from Roger J. Dow, President and CEO, U.S. Travel
      Association....................................................    68
    Letter dated January 25, 2021 to Hon. Maria Cantwell and Hon.
      Roger Wicker from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR)......    70
    Letter dated January 26, 2021 to Hon. Maria Cantwell and Hon.
      Roger Wicker from Dennis Slater, President, Association of
      Equipment Manufacturers........................................    72
    Response to written questions submitted to Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
      by:
        Hon. Maria Cantwell..........................................    73
        Hon. Amy Klobuchar...........................................    74
        Hon. Richard Blumenthal......................................    75
        Hon. Edward Markey...........................................    75
        Hon. Gary Peters.............................................    76
        Hon. Tammy Baldwin...........................................    77
        Hon. Tammy Duckworth.........................................    78
        Hon. Kyrsten Sinema..........................................    79
        Hon. Jacky Rosen.............................................    81
        Hon. Roger Wicker............................................    81
        Hon. John Thune..............................................    84
        Hon. Roy Blunt...............................................    85
        Hon. Ted Cruz................................................    88
        Hon. Dan Sullivan............................................    96
        Hon. Marsha Blackburn........................................    99
        Hon. Mike Lee................................................   100
        Hon. Ron Johnson.............................................   102
        Hon. Todd Young..............................................   102
        Hon. Rick Scott..............................................   104

                      NOMINATION OF HON. GINA M. RAIMONDO,

                            NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY,

                          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                                  ----------

                           TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2021

                                           U.S. Senate,
            Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room
    SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Roger Wicker,
    Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
        Present: Senators Wicker [presiding], Thune, Blunt, Cruz,
    Fischer, Moran, Sullivan, Blackburn, Capito, Johnson, Young,
    Scott, Cantwell, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, Schatz, Markey, Peters,
    Baldwin, Duckworth, Tester, Sinema, Rosen, Reed, and
    Whitehouse.

                OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER WICKER,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI

        The Chairman. Hearing will come to order. Thank you for
    being here, in person some of us and some of us remotely.
    Today, we are considering the nomination of Governor Gina
    Raimondo to be the next Secretary of Commerce. I want to thank
    Senator Cantwell for joining me in holding this important
    confirmation hearing. And I want to take a moment to thank
    former Secretary Ross for his service and for working with me
    and my staff over the past 4 years.
        Governor Raimondo has strong professional qualifications
    which demonstrate her intelligence and dedication to public
    service. As an elected official and former venture capitalist,
    she will bring a valuable perspective to the Department of
    Commerce regarding the economic challenges that face our Nation
    as we continue our work to move out of this pandemic. I look
    forward to hearing from Governor Raimondo today on her and
    President Biden's goals for the Department of Commerce if she
    is confirmed as Secretary, which I expect will certainly occur.
        This confirmation hearing is just the starting point for
    our conversation about vital policy matters, including
    responding to the economic damage caused by the pandemic,
    investing in our people and small businesses, ensuring that
    American workers and manufacturers can compete fairly in the
    global market, growing the marine economy through the promotion
    of transportation, seafood, shipbuilding, and technological
    innovation and research, promoting 5G deployment and increasing
    rural broadband access, improving our Nation's cyber security,
    and elevating space commerce at the Department. These issues
    are critically important to my constituents in Mississippi and
    to all Americans. I believe Governor Raimondo, as Governor of a
    maritime state, understands the need for effective oceans and
    fisheries policies. I hope she will be a strong advocate on
    these issues as Secretary of Commerce.
        I appreciate that Governor Raimondo is testifying remotely
    today. Let me say to the members and our guests who are
    listening that Governor Raimondo offered to come and attend
    this hearing in person, but after consultation with me and
    Senator Cantwell, we certainly agreed that the Governor is
    needed for pressing duties back in Rhode Island as she is still
    serving as Governor during trying times there.
        So, I appreciate her willingness to accommodate us and I
    look forward to hearing her thoughts on how we can work
    together to find solutions to the challenges before us. I want
    to thank Governor Raimondo for appearing before this committee
    today and for her willingness to serve her country in this
    prominent and essential role. Senator Cantwell.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON

        Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I apologize in
    advance if I go a little long, but a lot of things to cover.
    But first, I too want to congratulate Governor Raimondo on
    being nominated to be Secretary of Commerce. I, too, am excited
    about her nomination and the fact that she has both public and
    private sector experience. I think that this will be a big help
    to us and to the Biden Administration as we work on a variety
    of commerce issues from trade, competition, economic stability,
    growing opportunities for all Americans. Governor Raimondo's
    record in the public sector, working on how to empower
    entrepreneurs and skilled workers as part of the Real Jobs
    Rhode Island Initiative, I think is exactly the kind of skill
    set that we need to match the skills development and the
    business needs to better grow our economy.
        I, too, am grateful for her understanding of important
    issues as it relates to both science and to fisheries. Having a
    great deal of understanding of oceans, fisheries and the
    investment in science I think will greatly help us at the
    Department of Commerce, where the budget oversight is a very
    big task of the Secretary of Commerce. And as we have, I think
    more than a dozen members of this committee, including you, Mr.
    Chairman, who these maritime oceans and fisheries issues are
    very big issues, particularly in a changing climate, couldn't
    come at a better time to have a Secretary of Commerce who
    really does understand fish issues.
        So, I appreciate that about her, and I appreciate that she
    will lead the agency in making decisions based on science and
    data that will help our economy grow in the future, everything
    from these oceans' issues and fisheries to spectrum and space
    issues. I hope that she will speak out today and say that she
    opposes any kind of censorship of scientific information at the
    Department and at NOAA, and that she fully expects to hear from
    scientists on these important issues. We in the Pacific
    Northwest know that we can't always agree on issues, but we
    know we can agree on science. And that is why science needs to
    continue to prevail. Also, we need to make sure that this issue
    of spectrum and the issues related to spectrum are treated as
    important as well, let me actually go for a second to the
    science and fisheries issues for a second. There are a whole
    host of issues where we need smart strategies, smart strategies
    on salmon recovery, stormwater, and habitat investments.
        We need smart strategies on our orca population that is
    threatened in Puget Sound. We need smart strategies on stock
    assessments and fishery management strategies. I know my
    colleague from Alaska could weigh in on this issue, but smart
    fishery management strategies are what will help save our
    fisheries in an ever-changing economy. In 2018, commercial
    fishermen caught more than 9.8 billion pounds of seafood, and
    that in turn supported seafood processors, shipbuilders, trade,
    and restaurant jobs, and marine anglers took more than 194
    million fishing trips, which fueled our outdoor recreational
    economy. So, in total, there are more than a million jobs in
    the seafood sector and there are important science issues that
    need to be addressed there as I mentioned. So, the other area
    that I was mentioning is this issue of spectrum and weather
    forecasting. And in my opinion, there is no reason why the
    United States should not be a leader in weather forecasting.
    This is an important issue for us, whether you are talking
    about fires or you are talking about ocean issues.
        So, making a better, crucial investment in the science for
    maritime, aviation, space, and agriculture industries will be
    very important for us moving forward. During the last 4 years,
    the FCC, I believe, ran roughshod over concerns raised by
    various committees within Congress on these airwave issues
    critical to weather data adjacent to the 24 gigahertz band,
    critical to systems dependent on GPS and threatened by the
    Ligado decision. So, I am hoping that a Commerce Secretary will
    take these issues and help the Administration prioritize how we
    can get on the same page and also work with us on these
    important issues of National Security. The Chairman worked so
    hard on the issues with Huawei, and rip and replace, and making
    sure that the American infrastructure was going to be secure
    from the future of threats and violations. I hope the Commerce
    Secretary will work with us on these security issues on our
    communication system as we move forward. And the Secretary will
    inherit a new program as part of the COVID bill, the Tribal
    Broadband Connectivity Program.
        In 2019, a report from FCC found that less than half of
    households in Indian country have access to high-speed
    broadband services, a 20 percent gap from non-tribal areas. And
    so, I hope that we will be able to get good administration of
    that program. As the Chairman mentioned, one of the key
    responsibilities will be in response to the larger COVID
    pandemic in the country and what we should do about it. I hope
    that the Secretary of Commerce will play an important role in
    strengthening our economy, in trying to defeat the pandemic and
    recover from its economic impacts. I think this is a critical
    job of the Commerce Secretary as we continue to see the impacts
    of COVID on our economy. Again, seafood exports dropped by 31
    percent since 2020 and 44 percent since February 2020. So, all
    of our sectors have been impacted and Congress has appropriated
    $600 million in fisheries assistance for state and tribal
    needs, but so far, the fishermen in our state have yet to
    receive one dollar from this program.
        So, I hope that we can get her assistance in implementing
    and moving forward on this, as well as working with us on other
    aspects of COVID relief package moving forward, particularly in
    the area of manufacturing. I know my colleague from Kansas,
    Senator Moran and I are very interested in how we continue to
    keep an aerospace manufacturing sector going at a time when we
    have seen a decrease in demand. And the COVID pandemic will
    also help us deal with minority-owned businesses who were
    greatly impacted by the pandemic and have received less help
    and support. So, the Office of Minority Business Development, I
    believe, is an agency that can help focus us on these issues.
    And the Department of Commerce, I think, continues to have a
    leadership role in our competitiveness as a nation.
        I hope that we will continue to look at this issue of
    competitiveness. In my state, one in four jobs are related to
    trade, and I hope that the Secretary and the Administration
    will make a goal for export advancement. Increasing exports is
    a great way to grow our economy. The last Democratic
    Administration had a goal of increasing exports 50 percent over
    a 5-year window and came pretty close to making that. I hope
    that we will continue to move our trade export agenda and that
    the Secretary of Commerce will help on that. And then last, the
    census. We don't need a politicization of the census. We need
    accurate data and information. For every 100-household missed
    in the 2020 census, the state could lose up to $5.8 million.
    So, we need to get this right because children and veterans and
    seniors and families are dependent on how this formula works,
    and I hope that we will have a less political process, but one
    that gives us an accurate census moving forward.
        So, Governor Raimondo, that is a big agenda to cover for
    Secretary of Commerce. But as I said, very confident that your
    public and private sector experience will help us deal with
    these issues and your great depth of knowledge, both about the
    competitiveness that America needs, both from the perspective
    of the outside in the private sector as well as Governor, will
    help us steer through this current pandemic challenge and on to
    better economic times. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cantwell, for that very
    fine opening statement. And now we turn to our nominee,
    Governor Raimondo. Your prepared statement will be included in
    the record as submitted, and we ask you to summarize any
    comments you might have in 5 minutes. You are recognized.
        Senator Reed. Chairman, when are the introductions from her
    home state going to come?
        The Chairman. Oh, OK. Well, we just received a flash notice
    that there will be introductions from Senators from Rhode
    Island. Did I hear the voice of Senator Jack Reed.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. JACK REED,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND

        Senator Reed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Yes, you are recognized, sir.
        Senator Reed. Thank you, Chairman Wicker and thank you
    Ranking Member Cantwell. I have had the privilege of knowing
    the Governor for several years, in fact, since 1971. I was a
    new Second Lieutenant, just graduated from West Point. I drove
    to my family's modest summer cottage in Narragansett, Rhode
    Island, to check in with my folks before I hit the beach. We
    lived next door to the Piero family, wonderful neighbors. Mr.
    Piero was a cook in a business club in Providence, Rhode
    Island. And just before I left, my mother said, go next door,
    Josephine just had a new baby. Josephine was the Piero's
    daughter. I weighed the joys of the beach versus the command of
    my mother, and I quickly went next door. I saw Josephine
    holding an almost 2-month-old little girl. I said, ``she is
    cute. What is her name?'' Gina said Josephine Raimondo. Our
    families summered together year after year, so I saw and heard
    of the Governor's remarkable progress.
        She attended my high school La Salle Academy, where she
    excelled. By the way, that is also Senator Toomey's high
    school. She was accepted into Harvard College, where she again
    excelled. Upon graduation, she was awarded one of those
    prestigious scholarships in the world, a Rhodes scholarship.
    After graduating from Oxford, she had her law degree at Yale
    University. After clerkship in the Federal district court, she
    turned her formidable talents to business. In her finance and
    investment work, she learned about business and innovation from
    small startups to large corporations to bring that wealth of
    experience, practical experience to the Department of Commerce.
        In 2010, she was elected the General Treasurer of the state
    of Rhode Island. She took on tough issues and hammered out
    practical solutions. In 2014, she was elected the first woman
    to serve as the Governor of the state of Rhode Island. She was
    reelected in 2018. As Governor, she has led with extraordinary
    distinction. In the wake of the pandemic, she rallied the
    people of Rhode Island with straight talk and quickly
    established an outstanding team of physicians and medical
    experts to guide the state's efforts. She has made bold changes
    to the economy to improve its direction. Understanding the
    centrality of education now and the increasing urgency in the
    future, she created a program of free tuition at the Community
    College of Rhode Island for low-income Rhode Islanders.
        She realigned work skills training with the needs of
    business. She joined Senator Whitehouse and me in helping to
    modernize our infrastructure and completed the Nation's first
    offshore wind power system. She spurred investment and job
    creation in our state so that prior to the pandemic we had a
    record number of jobs and our lowest unemployment rate in 30
    years. Now, I would like to say all of this is the result of
    meeting me at the formative age of 2 months, but I can't. What
    I can say about her is she is the proud daughter of working-
    class parents. They serve the Nation and their community and
    left an example of hard work and helping to build opportunity
    for all.
        As such, Governor Raimondo knows that the true test of the
    Secretary of Commerce is a flourishing main street, not simply
    a bountiful Wall Street. I can say with complete confidence
    after battling the COVID epidemic, after invigorating our
    economy, with a firm commitment to working families like our
    own, there is no better choice for the Secretary of Commerce at
    this time than Governor Gina Raimondo. Thank you very much, Mr.
    Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator Reed. I am told
    Senator Whitehouse is also lined up to make an opening
    statement. Sir, are you there?
        Senator Whitehouse. I am here, Chairman Wicker.
        The Chairman. Senator Whitehouse is recognized.

                 STATEMENT OF HON. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND

        Senator Whitehouse. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank
    you also to Chairman-to-be Cantwell. I cannot top Senator Jack
    Reed in the length of my association with Governor Raimondo
    back to diapers, but I can assure all of my colleagues,
    Republican and Democrat alike, that you will like working with
    Secretary Raimondo. She is smart, she is practical, she is
    results oriented, and she likes getting stuff done. As Governor
    of Rhode Island, she focused on the economy, a critical part of
    the Commerce Secretary's beat. She added record numbers of
    jobs. The unemployment rate fell to the lowest point in three
    decades. The minimum wage rose four times. Protections for low
    wage workers improved. New job training programs went into
    effect, and Rhode Island became particularly a national hub for
    offshore wind.
        In solving the offshore wind dilemma, Governor Raimondo
    broke the logjam of offshore wind siting that had prevented any
    state in the United States from getting offshore wind turbines
    up. Now off of Rhode Island there is steel in the water and
    there are electrons on the grid. So, Governor Raimondo will be
    a successful Commerce Secretary on the economy, growing our
    economy nationally and creating jobs nationally, just as she
    did in Rhode Island. But I am just as excited about her role as
    the new Secretary of what I call oceans and commerce. We have
    seen, and Chairman Wicker has been an important part as well as
    Ranking Member Cantwell, enormous bipartisan progress on
    oceans. There is an open lane on oceans for an energetic and
    bright Secretary to move issues forward in an almost
    unprecedented way. Our oceans, as many of us who come from
    coastal states know, are in serious peril from an array of
    threats, and NOAA has long been overlooked and underfunded.
        So, having an ocean state Governor to oversee NOAA's work
    is something that is very exciting. She has experience and
    familiarity with the issues around storm surge, sea level rise,
    ocean plastics, pirate fishing, fisheries management and many
    other challenging areas. As Governor, she established task
    forces on plastic waste, developed a collaborative relationship
    between wind developers and fishermen that saw to the success
    of our offshore wind programs, focused on coastal resiliency
    and the need of our coastlines to be defended from inevitable
    sea level rise and worsening storms, and she focused on our
    blue economy, which in Rhode Island is an incredibly important
    part not only of our financial well-being, but of our heritage
    as well.
        Governor Raimondo will be the Secretary for oceans and
    commerce we have long needed. As important as her successes in
    this area is also what Jack referred to, and that is her
    grounding and her roots. She recognizes the values that matter
    most to Rhode Islanders and I think to people around the
    country, that if you work hard, you should never have to
    struggle to feed your family. You should have access to good
    health care and quality housing. You should be able to live in
    a safe and clean environment, and you should be able to send
    your kids to a good, reliable school. Her values will serve
    Americans very, very well. And I will end where I began. I am
    very confident that my colleagues will like working with
    Secretary Raimondo.
        The Chairman. Thank you. And I am going to put Senator Reed
    and Senator Whitehouse down as firm yeses on confirmation. And
    Governor Raimondo, we are delighted to have you remotely, and
    you are now recognized for 5 minutes.

     STATEMENT OF HON. GINA M. RAIMONDO, NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY,
                      U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you
    Ranking Member Cantwell. Special thank you to Senators Reed and
    Whitehouse for your friendship, support, and such kind opening
    remarks. Thank you to both of you. It is an honor to come
    before this committee today as President Biden's nominee for
    United States Secretary of Commerce. Over the past few weeks, I
    have enjoyed talking with many of the members. I want to thank
    you this morning for your time and tell you how much I
    appreciated hearing your insights and perspectives on the
    important work of the Commerce Department.
        Commerce Department has a simple but vital mission, to spur
    good paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow,
    and help American workers and businesses compete. These are the
    same priorities that have guided my own life and my own career.
    Like most of you, like many of you, I was raised to appreciate
    the value of hard work and good family-supporting jobs. When I
    was growing up here in Rhode Island, Rhode Island was a
    national epicenter of jewelry manufacturing, and those
    factories supported thousands of families all across my state.
    My dad always used to say there was something special about a
    job in manufacturing, the dignity of a job when you spent your
    day making things.
        But by the 1980s, the factories started closing, jobs were
    shipped overseas, and thousands of working-class Rhode
    Islanders found themselves suddenly out of work. My father was
    one of those Rhode Islanders after a long career at the Bulova
    watch factory, he was forced into early retirement in his 50s
    and it was a rough time for my family. And so, I know the pain
    that losing a job can cause a family, and as Governor I have
    seen that pain in communities all across Rhode Island where
    people have lost their jobs to offshoring or outsourcing and
    more recently in the pandemic. At its heart, the Commerce
    Department is about opportunity, the opportunity to start or
    grow a business, the opportunity to get a good stable job, the
    opportunity to pursue the American dream regardless of where
    you live. I have been blessed in my life to have an opportunity
    to get a great education that put me on a path to success. I
    started a venture capital firm to help entrepreneurs start and
    grow their own businesses.
        I served as State Treasurer to shore up Rhode Island's
    finances. And for the past 6 years, it has been my great honor
    to serve the people of Rhode Island as their Governor. When I
    started my campaign for Governor, as Senator Reed said, Rhode
    Island had the highest unemployment rate in the country for
    eight straight months in a row. And so, we had to get to work
    to get Rhode Islanders back to work. By the time the pandemic
    hit, we had the lowest unemployment rate in over 30 years and
    the most jobs ever in our state's history. We did it by
    investing in people through workforce training programs,
    bringing dozens of new businesses to the state, and empowering
    small business owners. We launched the Real Jobs Rhode Island
    Training Initiative, which is partnered with 1,800 companies
    and provided skills to 11,000 Rhode Islanders. And we created
    the state's first small business loan program, which has
    empowered hundreds of Rhode Island entrepreneurs so far, more
    than half of whom are women or people of color.
        In this time of overlapping crisis, the Commerce Department
    must be a partner to businesses and workers to help them
    innovate and grow. First, we need to immediately address the
    economic damage caused by the pandemic. COVID has touched every
    community: urban, rural, suburban, tribal and exacerbated the
    longstanding inequities facing low-income families. Second, we
    need to ensure that American workers and manufacturers can
    compete fairly on the global playing field. We need to invest
    in innovation and technology in a manufacturing sector and take
    aggressive trade enforcement actions to combat unfair trade
    practices from China and other nations that undercut American
    manufacturing. And third, we need to recognize that tackling
    climate change is a pressing priority but goes hand in hand
    with creating good paying jobs.
        None of this will be possible without the incredible,
    hardworking public servants of the Department of Commerce, and
    I am excited to lead that team, a team with experienced,
    dedicated public servants at the Commerce Department. Some of
    the brightest minds and very best scientists in America. If I
    am confirmed, it will be an honor to learn from them and lead
    them. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to your
    questions.
        [The prepared statement and biographical information of Ms.
    Raimondo follow:]

     Prepared Statement of Hon. Gina M. Raimondo, Nominee to be Secretary,
                          U.S. Department of Commerce
        Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the
    committee--it is an honor to come before you today as President Biden's
    nominee for United States Secretary of Commerce. Over the past few
    weeks, I've had the chance to speak with many of you about the critical
    work of the Commerce Department; to share with you my experience and
    vision; and to hear your important perspectives. I want to thank you
    for your time and insight.
        The Commerce Department has a simple but vital mission--to spur
    good-paying jobs, empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow, and help
    American workers and businesses compete. These same priorities have
    guided my life and career.
        I was raised to appreciate the value of hard work and a good,
    family-supporting job. When I was growing up, Rhode Island was the
    national epicenter of jewelry manufacturing, and those factories
    sustained thousands of families in my state. There's something special
    about a job in manufacturing--about making things, about having dignity
    and pride in your work. But by the 80s, the factories started closing,
    jobs were shipped overseas, and thousands of working-class Rhode
    Islanders suddenly found themselves out-of-work. My dad was one of
    those Rhode Islanders. After a long career at the Bulova watch factory,
    he was forced into early retirement in his 50s, and our family had to
    cut back.
        I know the pain that losing a job causes a family, and I've seen
    that pain in communities that have lost jobs to outsourcing and to the
    pandemic.
        At its heart, the Commerce Department is about opportunity. The
    opportunity to start or grow a business. The opportunity to get a good,
    stable job. The opportunity to pursue the American Dream, regardless of
    where you live.
        Thanks to my dad's hard work, I had the opportunity for a great
    education that put me on a path to success. I started a venture capital
    firm to help entrepreneurs start a business. I ran for state treasurer
    to shore up Rhode Island's finances. And for the past six years, I have
    had the honor of serving as Rhode Island's governor.
        When I started my campaign for governor, Rhode Island had the
    highest unemployment rate in the nation--for eight straight months. So
    we got to work. And by the time the pandemic hit, we had the lowest
    unemployment in over 30 years and the most jobs in state history. We
    did it by investing in our people through workforce training programs,
    bringing dozens of new businesses to the state, and empowering small
    business owners. We launched the Real Jobs Rhode Island training
    initiative, which has partnered with 1,800 companies and provided
    skills to 11,000 Rhode Islanders. And our small business loan program--
    the first in state history--has empowered 150 Rhode Island
    entrepreneurs so far--more than half of whom are women or people of
    color.
        In this time of overlapping crises, the Commerce Department must be
    a partner to businesses and their workers to help them innovate and
    grow.
        First, we need to immediately address the economic damage caused by
    the pandemic. COVID has touched every community--urban, suburban,
    rural, tribal--and exacerbated long-standing inequities facing low-
    income families and communities of color. We need to make investments
    across America and ensure every family, regardless of where they live,
    has an accessible pathway to a good job. If confirmed as Commerce
    Secretary, I look forward to scaling and deploying additional resources
    to businesses and workers--with a focus on regions and communities that
    have often been left behind--to help them bounce back and grow stronger
    than ever. And to accomplish that, I look forward to listening to, and
    engaging with, federal, state, local, tribal, and industry leaders.
        Second, we need to ensure that American workers and manufacturers
    can compete fairly on the global playing field. We need to invest in
    innovation and technology in our manufacturing sector and take
    aggressive trade enforcement actions to combat unfair trade practices
    from China and other nations that undercut American manufacturing. If
    confirmed, I look forward to deploying the full resources of the agency
    to keep the American worker at the center of U.S. trade policy and to
    reinvigorate American manufacturing by reshoring jobs that have gone
    oversees. When given a fair chance, no one can out-compete the American
    worker and small business.
        And third, we need to recognize that tackling climate change goes
    hand-in-hand with creating good-paying jobs. As governor, I expanded
    clean energy jobs, oversaw construction of the Nation's first offshore
    wind farm, and put Rhode Island on a path to 100 percent renewable
    power. Like President Biden, I know the climate crisis poses an
    existential threat to our economic security, and we must meet this
    challenge by creating millions of good, union jobs that power a more
    sustainable economy. The Commerce Department has the tools, data, and
    expertise to help communities and businesses address the climate crisis
    and become more resilient in the face of climate change.
        None of this will be possible without the incredible, hardworking
    public servants at the Department of Commerce. There are many reasons I
    am excited about this chance to serve the American people. But the
    opportunity to work together with the experienced, dedicated public
    servants at the Commerce Department is at the top of the list. Some of
    the brightest minds in the Federal government--indeed some of the best
    scientists in America--are at the Commerce Department, and they deserve
    leadership that's supportive, transparent, and driven toward a common
    mission--building a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient
    American economy. If I am confirmed, it will be an honor to lead this
    team.
        Thank you for this opportunity, and I'm happy to take your
    questions.
                                     ______

                          a. biographical information
        1. Name (Include any former names or nicknames used): Gina Marie
    Raimondo.
        2. Position to which nominated: Secretary of Commerce.
        3. Date of Nomination: January 8, 2021.
        4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses):

            Residence: Information not released to the public.
            Office: Office of the Governor, 82 Smith St., Providence, RI
            02903.

        5. Date and Place of Birth: 5/17/1971, born in Providence RI.
        6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your
    spouse (if married) and the names and ages of your children (including
    stepchildren and children by a previous marriage).

            Spouse: Andrew Kind Moffit, Chief People Officer, PathAI, 1325
            Boylston, Boston, MA.

        7. List all college and graduate degrees. Provide year and school
    attended.

       Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, B.A. Economics, attended
            1989-1993; Unpublished thesis: Misuse of American health care
            facilities (1993)

       New College, Oxford University, D.Phil in Sociology 2003;
            M.Litt. in Economics 1996, attended 1993-1995; Unpublished
            thesis: Determinants of single motherhood in the United States
            (2002)

       Yale Law School, New Haven, CT, J.D., attended 1995-1998

        8. List all post-undergraduate employment, and highlight all
    management-level jobs held and any non-managerial jobs that relate to
    the position for which you are nominated.
    Highlighted Experiences:

       2015 to present, Governor, State of Rhode Island,
            Providence, RI; lead state government and all Executive Branch
            departments and agencies; during my time in office, we created
            thousands of jobs, made record investments in infrastructure
            and education, and became the fourth state in the country to
            offer tuition-free community college for every high school
            graduate

       2010-2014, General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island,
            Providence, RI; oversaw state's financial accounts and pension
            investments, disbursements and managed state's bond issuances

       2001-2010, General Partner, Point Judith Capital,
            Providence, RI; investor in early-stage medical device and
            healthcare services companies

       October 1999-2001, Senior Vice President of Fund
            Development, VillageVentures, New York, NY; established
            national network of small, early-stage venture capital funds in
            more than 10 cities
    Other Experiences:

       August 1998-August 1999, Judicial Law Clerk, Honorable Kimba
            Wood, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, New
            York, NY

       June 1998-August 1998, Summer Associate, Paul, Weiss &
            Rifkind, New York, NY

       June 1997-August 1997, Summer Intern, U.S. Department of
            Justice, Civil Rights Division, Employment Discrimination
            Section; Washington, DC

       June 1996-August 1996, Intern, U.S. Department of Justice,
            Office of Policy Development, Washington, DC

       June 1995-August 1995, Summer Associate, McKinsey & Company,
            NY, NY

       June 1993-August 1993, law librarian, Hinckley, Allen &
            Snyder, Providence, RI

        9. Attach a copy of your resume. Attached at Appendix A.
        10. List any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-time
    service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other
    than those listed above, within the last ten years.
        I have not served in any Federal or local government positions in
    the last ten years. As Governor, and before that as General Treasurer,
    I have served, by law, on various state government boards and
    commissions. I have listed the principal ones below. I have not
    included boards or commissions where I appointed a designee to serve.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Entity                            Position(s)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Rhode Island Commerce Corporation  Chair (2015 to present) (ex officio
                                        as Governor)
    Rhode Island State Investment      Former Chair (2011-2015) (ex officio
     Commission                         as General Treasurer)
    Rhode Island Retirement Board      Former Chair (2011-2015) (ex officio
                                        as General Treasurer)
    Rhode Island Student Loan          Former Board member (2011-2015) (ex
     Authority                          officio as General Treasurer)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        11. List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee,
    partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any
    corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business, enterprise,
    educational, or other institution within the last ten years.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Entity                            Position(s)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Organizing Together 2020           Former Co-chair (2020)
     (501(c)(4))
    Rhode Island Commerce Corporation  Chair of the Board (2015 to present)
                                        (ex officio as Governor)
    Truth Initiative Board of          Former Member (2017-2021)
     Directors
    Yale Corporation                   Former Trustee (2014-2021) Former
                                        Chair, Audit Committee
    Democratic Governors Association   Member (2015 to present) Former Chair
                                        (2019) Former Vice Chair (2018)
    Crossroads Rhode Island Board of   Former Vice Chair of the Board (2010-
     Directors                          2014)
    Family Service of Rhode Island     Former Board Member
    LaSalle Academy                    Former Board Member
    Steering Committee of Cherrystone  Former Member
     Angel Group
    Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode  Former Trustee Former Chair, Quality
     Island                             Committee
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        12. Please list each membership you have had during the past ten
    years or currently hold with any civic, social, charitable,
    educational, political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or
    religiously affiliated organization, private club, or other membership
    organization. (For this question, you do not have to list your
    religious affiliation or membership in a religious house of worship or
    institution.). Include dates of membership and any positions you have
    held with any organization. Please note whether any such club or
    organization restricts membership on the basis of sex, race, color,
    religion, national origin, age, or disability.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Board or Commission                      Position(s)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Campaign for Free College Tuition    Former Advisory Council Co-Chair
                                          (2019-2021)
    Council on Foreign Relations         Member (2012 to present)
    Rhode Island Commodores              Admiral (2015 to present) (ex
                                          officio as Governor)
    The Aspen Institute--Rodel           Rodel Fellow, Class of 2011
     Fellowship
    Yale University Council              Former Advisory Member (elected to
                                          Yale Corporation in 2014)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        13. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held a public office
    (elected, non-elected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any
    campaign has any outstanding debt, the amount, and whether you are
    personally liable for that debt.

       Governor of Rhode Island, 2015 to present; candidate for
            Governor 2014, 2018

       Treasurer of Rhode Island, 2011-2015; candidate for
            Treasurer 2010

       There are no campaigns with outstanding debts.

        14. List all memberships and offices held with and services
    rendered to, whether compensated or not, any political party or
    election committee within the past ten years. If you have held a paid
    position or served in a formal or official advisory position (whether
    compensated or not) in a political campaign within the past ten years,
    identify the particulars of the campaign, including the candidate, year
    of the campaign, and your title and responsibilities. None.
        15. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
    organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
    entity of $500 or more for the past ten years.
        To the best of my recollection, I have not made any Federal
    campaign contributions in the past ten years. To the best of my
    recollection, I have made the following Rhode Island campaign donations
    of $500 or more in the past ten years:

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Recipient                         Date        Amount
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    RI DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE                     01/24/2014       $3500
    Grace Diaz                                        09/12/2016        $500
    Nicholas Anthony Mattiello                        01/17/2017       $1000
    RI DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE                     11/16/2017       $4000
    RI DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE                     11/16/2017       $1000
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        In addition to these donations, in the last ten years I made a
    $50,000 loan to my own campaign in 2014. The campaign repaid that loan
    in full.
        16. List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary
    society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition
    for outstanding service or achievements.

       ``Outstanding Mother,'' 41st Annual Outstanding Mother
            Awards, Thursday, May 9, 2019, awarded to Gina Raimondo and
            others. The National Mother's Day Committee, an entity of the
            Father's Day/Mother's Day Council, each year confers
            ``Outstanding Mother'' honors to recognize exceptional women
            for successfully building their careers, nurturing their
            families and helping improve the lives of others.

       ``Italo-American Person of the Year,'' October 20, 2018,
            awarded to Gina Raimondo by the Italo-American Club of Rhode
            Island.

       Rhodes Scholarship, 1993

       Allyn Young Award for outstanding undergraduate thesis in
            the Economics Department, Harvard University, 1993

        17. Please list each book, article, column, Internet blog posting,
    or other publication you have authored, individually or with others.
    Include a link to each publication when possible. Also list any
    speeches that you have given on topics relevant to the position for
    which you have been nominated. Do not attach copies of these
    publications unless otherwise instructed.
    Publications
        During my time in office, I have authored or co-authored many
    articles related to my work and priorities. Below is a list of
    publications which I have been able to identify from my records and
    electronic searches. Links are provided where available.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Date(s) of
             Title                  Source          Publication      Link
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Women are bearing the    Washington Post            10/8/20  Link
     brunt of the economic
     crisis. They must lead
     our recovery plans.
    It's time to get         Boston Globe                9/8/20  Link
     serious about the
     skills crisis in
     America
    My Turn: Gina Raimondo:  Providence Journal          8/3/19  Link
     R.I. should not gamble
     with 1,100 jobs
    R.I. needs to invest in  The Westerly Sun           5/11/19  Link
     the younger generation
     with universal Pre-K
    Rhode Islanders deserve  The Westerly Sun          10/14/18
     another 4 years of
     growth
    New economic tools can   The Westerly Sun          11/15/17  Link
     add to Quonset's
     success
    Cutting the cost of      The Brown Daily           10/19/17  Link
     college textbooks        Herald
    Congress Must Protect    Newsweek                  10/19/17  Link
     the Dreamers from
     Expulsion
    Revitalizing             The Westerly Sun           5/12/17  Link
     manufacturing for 21st
     century
    R.I. needs line-item     Providence Journal         3/18/17  Link
     veto, other reforms
    A Message From The       Rhode Island Small         1/23/17  Link
     Governor: Vibrant And    Business Journal:
     Prosperous               Volume 6, Issue 1
     Opportunities Are
     Growing For Rhode
     Island
    R.I. Now More            Providence Journal          1/1/17  Link
     Prosperous And Vibrant
    It's time to invest in   independentri.com          11/3/16  Link
     our ports; vote yes on
     Question 5
    RI now among big names   The Westerly Sun           9/27/16  Link
     in tech job sector
    Rhode Island governor:   Quartz                     9/26/16  Link
     How a small state made
     a big breakthrough in
     high tech job growth
    Restoring faith in       The Westerly Sun           5/27/16
     government
    Rhodeworks Finally       Providence Journal         3/20/16  Link
     Addresses R.I. Crisis
    Treasury's 2014          Rhode Island Small       12/6/2014  Link
     Accomplishments          Business Journal:
                              Volume 3, Issue 11
    Improving the Integrity  Rhode Island Small        11/10/14  Link
     of Our State's           Business Journal:
     Retirement System        Volume 3, Issue 10
    EverFi: Financial        Rhode Island Small         10/3/14  Link
     Literacy Program         Business Journal:
                              Volume 3, Issue 9
    Treasury Continuing to   Rhode Island Small          9/4/14  Link
     Achieve Great Results    Business Journal:
     for Rhode Islanders      Volume 3, Issue 8
    The Municipal Road and   Rhode Island Small         8/11/14  Link
     Bridge Revolving Fund    Business Journal:
                              Volume 3, Issue 7
    Smart Money Tour is      Rhode Island Small         6/30/14  Link
     Back                     Business Journal:
                              Volume 3, Issue 6
    Rhode Island Steps In    Rhode Island Small         4/27/14  Link
     To Recover Abandoned     Business Journal:
     Life Insurance           Volume 3, Issue 4
     Property
    Securing Retirement For  Rhode Island Small         3/17/14  Link
     RI Public Servants       Business Journal:
                              Volume 3, Issue 3
    Reflecting on the        Rhode Island Small       1/26/2014  Link
     Accomplishments of       Business Journal:
     2013                     Volume 3, Issue 1
    New Alternative Payday   Rhode Island Small      12/23/2013  Link
     Lending Site Will Help   Business Journal:
     Rhode Islanders          Volume 2, Issue 10
    Fixing Our Fundamentals  Rhode Island Small      12/10/2013  Link
     Benefits Us All          Business Journal:
                              Volume 2, Issue 9
    Raimondo Promotes EITC:  The Federal Hill           2/26/14  Link
     You've Earned It, Now    Gazette
     Get It
    Rebuilding Our Roads     Rhode Island Small         6/25/13
     and Bridges              Business Journal:
                              Volume 2, Issue 5
    Protect R.I. from these  Providence Journal         5/29/12
     abusive lenders
    Longer runway leads to   Providence Journal         2/14/12
     R.I. prosperity
    Next Up: Reforming       Providence Journal        12/21/11
     Local Pension Plans
    R.I. leaders move        Providence Journal         9/18/11
     toward pension reform
    Truth in the Numbers:    Office of the            June 2011  Link
     The Security and         General Treasurer
     Sustainability of
     Rhode Island's
     Retirement System
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Speeches
        During my tenure as Governor and General Treasurer, I have
    delivered remarks, both formally and informally, in countless forums on
    job creation, economic growth, and other topics related to the work of
    the Secretary of Commerce. To the best of my ability, I have sought to
    provide a comprehensive list of speeches and addresses which I have
    been able to identify from my records and electronic searches. If
    additional speeches are identified, they will be provided to the
    committee promptly.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Venue/Title                              Date
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Operation Hope Annual Meeting                                   10/22/20
    Politico State Solutions Conference                               2/7/20
    East Bay Chamber of Commerce                                     1/31/20
    2020 Rhode Island State of the State Address                     1/14/20
    Rhode Island Offshore Wind Summit                                7/18/19
    Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce                           4/18/19
    2019 Rhode Island Promise Scholarship Expansion Testimony        4/10/19
    Harvard Kennedy School                                           3/13/19
    2019 Rhode Island State of the State Address                     1/15/19
    2019 Gubernatorial Inauguration Address                           1/1/19
    Block Island Wind Farm Announcement                              5/30/18
    Northern Rhode Island Chamber Eggs and Issues Breakfast          4/23/18
    2018 North American Building Trades Union Speech                 4/18/18
    SIEPR Economic Summit                                            3/19/18
    Jobs For Rhode Island Summit                                     2/21/18
    Goldman Sachs Small Business Summit                              2/13/18
    2018 Rhode Island State of the State Address                     1/16/18
    Information Governance Conference                               11/16/17
    Sheldon Whitehouse 8th Annual Energy, Environmental and         10/20/17
     Oceans Leaders Day
    New York Times' 2017 Higher Education Leaders Forum              5/30/17
    University of Rhode Island Commencement                          5/13/17
    Northern Rhode Island Chamber Eggs and Issues Breakfast           4/3/17
    2017 Rhode Island Promise Scholarship Testimony                  3/15/17
    2017 Rhode Island State of the State Address                     1/17/17
    RI Small Business Economic Summit                                 1/8/17
    2016 Rhode Island Budget Address/State of the State Address       2/2/16
    Most Powerful Women Summit                                      10/14/15
    The Inauguration of Rosanne Somerson                             10/9/15
    IYRS School of Technology & Trades Commencement                  5/30/15
    Community College of Rhode Island Commencement                   5/20/15
    2015 Rhode Island Budget Address                                 3/12/15
    2015 Gubernatorial Inauguration Address                           1/6/15
    Transition Policy Summit                                        12/16/14
    RI Gubernatorial Forum to Discuss Climate Change                 8/25/14
    Financial Empowerment Initiative                                 1/10/13
    Smaller Business Association of New England                     10/13/11
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        18. List digital platforms (including social media and other
    digital content sites) on which you currently or have formerly operated
    an account, regardless of whether or not the account was held in your
    name or an alias. Include the name of an ``alias'' or ``handle'' you
    have used on each of the named platforms. Indicate whether the account
    is active, deleted, or dormant. Include a link to each account if
    possible.
        My office or my campaigns have operated the following social media
    accounts, which remain active:

            Twitter: @GovRaimondo, @GinaMRaimondo

            Facebook: @GinaMRaimondo, @gina.raimondo

            Instagram: @GovRaimondo, @ginaraimondo

            I also have a LinkedIn account, https://www.linkedin.com/in/
            ginaraimondo/.

        19. Please identify each instance in which you have testified
    orally or in writing before Congress in a governmental or non-
    governmental capacity and specify the date and subject matter of each
    testimony.
        I have never testified before Congress.
        20. Given the current mission, major programs, and major
    operational objectives of the department/agency to which you have been
    nominated, what in your background or employment experience do you
    believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment to the position for
    which you have been nominated, and why do you wish to serve in that
    position?
        The mission of the Commerce Department is to help spur good-paying
    jobs; to empower entrepreneurs to innovate and grow; to come together
    with working families and American businesses; to create new
    opportunities for all of us. These same goals have been my priorities
    as Governor of Rhode Island. When I announced my run for Governor,
    Rhode Island was in the midst of an eight-month streak as the state
    with the highest unemployment rate in the Nation. But over the last six
    years, we grew our way back, achieving a record number of jobs and the
    lowest unemployment in 30 years.
        We did it by bringing together our workers and our businesses in
    common cause.
        We invested in our people--in their skills, their opportunities,
    and their dreams. The Real Jobs Rhode Island initiative has served more
    than 1,700 employers and 11,000 Rhode Islanders through job training
    programs designed to meet employer needs and then doing whatever it
    takes--be it building programs or clearing barriers--to teach those
    skills to potential employees.
        We helped new businesses launch and sparked others to hire and grow
    responsibly. We have provided businesses with access to capital to help
    them expand and innovate. I am particularly proud of our work with
    small businesses. One of our small business loan programs has empowered
    150 Rhode Island entrepreneurs so far--more than half of whom are women
    or people of color--to get new businesses up and running.
        We have pursued an aggressive renewable energy agenda. During my
    time as Governor, Rhode Island became the first state in the Nation to
    put ``steel in the water'' by establishing America's first offshore
    wind facility. This has been part of my focus on expanding clean energy
    jobs and putting Rhode Island on a path to achieving 100 percent
    renewable energy .
        The United States is facing a daunting economic challenge, but it
    is one that America's workers and entrepreneurs can overcome. I share
    the President-elect and Vice President-elect's vision for an inclusive
    recovery that lifts up those who have been left behind, for a national
    effort that provides skills, training, and wraparound supports to get
    Americans back to work, and for rebuilding American manufacturing and
    bringing back jobs that have gone overseas. It's why I'm so excited to
    get to work on a national scale to help realize that vision and Build
    Back Better.
        21. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to
    ensure that the department/agency has proper management and accounting
    controls, and what experience do you have in managing a large
    organization?
        If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I will be accountable for
    the operations of the department. Everyone who works in public service
    must do the people's work effectively, efficiently, and with integrity.
    I will set that tone from the top. I will empower personnel in the
    department to lead with integrity and ensure that things are done
    properly, and I will hold them accountable if they do not meet those
    standards.
        22. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the
    department/agency, and why?
        First, we need to respond to the economic damage caused by the
    pandemic. The Department of Commerce needs to invest in our people and
    our small businesses, so that we emerge from this crisis with a
    stronger and more resilient economy.
        Second, we need to address the structural inequity in our economy.
    The harms of the pandemic have hit low income and minority communities
    the hardest. The Department, in particular through the work of the
    Minority Business Development Agency, must be integral to this effort.
    We need to invest in these communities by ensuring that everyone has
    accessible pathways to good jobs, by providing small businesses with
    the resources they need to recover and thrive, and by strengthening
    community, financial, and other institutions so these communities have
    continued access to capital, technical assistance, and other resources
    that sustain prosperity.
        Third, we need to ensure that American workers and manufacturers
    can compete fairly on the global playing field. We need to invest in
    innovation and technology in our manufacturing sector, leveraging the
    capacity at National Institute of Standards and Technology to ensure
    our industries succeed. The International Trade Administration needs to
    take aggressive trade enforcement actions to combat unfair trade
    practices that undercut American manufacturing, and be equally
    aggressive in promoting American goods abroad.
                       b. potential conflicts of interest
        1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
    agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
    clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement
    accounts.
        I have a 457b Retirement Account from the State of Rhode Island as
    a result of my service as Governor and General Treasurer. I also have a
    TIAA-CREF Retirement Account and a Retirement Defined Benefits plan
    from the State of Rhode Island that accrues with each year of state
    service.
        2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal,
    to maintain employment, affiliation, or practice with any business,
    association or other organization during your appointment? If so,
    please explain. No.
        3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
    relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
    the position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will
    resolve each potential conflict of interest.
        In connection with the nomination process, I have consulted with
    the Office of Government Ethics and the Designated Agency Ethics
    Official at the Department of Commerce to identify any potential
    conflict of interest. Any conflict of interest will be resolved
    according to the terms of an ethics agreement that I have entered into
    with the Commerce Department's Designated Agency Ethics Official and
    that will be provided to this Committee. In the event that an actual or
    potential conflict of interest arises during my appointment, I will
    consult with the Commerce Department's ethics counsel and take the
    measures necessary to resolve the conflict.
        4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
    transaction which you have had during the last ten years, whether for
    yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
    any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
    position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will resolve
    each potential conflict of interest.
        I have spent the last ten years in public office in Rhode Island,
    first as General Treasurer and currently as Governor. I have not had
    any business relationships, dealings, or financial transactions during
    that time that could in any way constitute or result in a possible
    conflict of interest, so far as I am aware.
        5. Identify any other potential conflicts of interest, and explain
    how you will resolve each potential conflict of interest.
        I am not aware of any other potential conflicts of interest that
    may arise beyond what I have explained above.
        In the event that an actual or potential conflict of interest
    arises during my appointment, I will consult with the Commerce
    Department's ethics counsel and take the measures necessary to resolve
    the conflict.
        6. Describe any activity during the past ten years, including the
    names of clients represented, in which you have been engaged for the
    purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or
    modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and
    execution of law or public policy.
        For the last ten years, I have held elected office in Rhode Island,
    first as General Treasurer and then as Governor. During that time
    period, my efforts to influence legislation, the administration or
    execution of the laws, or public policy have been as part of my duties
    as an elected official or in my capacity as a candidate for public
    office.
                                c. legal matters
        1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics,
    professional misconduct, or retaliation by, or been the subject of a
    complaint to, any court, administrative agency, the Office of Special
    Counsel, professional association, disciplinary committee, or other
    professional group? If yes:

      a.  Provide the name of agency, association, committee, or group;

      b.  Provide the date the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
            personnel action was issued or initiated;

      c.  Describe the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
            personnel action;

      d.  Provide the results of the citation, disciplinary action,
            complaint, or personnel action.

        I have never been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics,
    professional misconduct, or retaliation.
        There have been five campaign finance or ethics complaints filed
    against me or my campaigns, and one advisory opinion request that
    purported to complain about my campaign. All have been rejected without
    any adverse findings or adverse actions. They are as follows:

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Agency                    Rhode Island Board of Elections
    Date                      Complaint filed on Sept. 30, 2014 by
                               Republican Party
    Description               Complaint alleged that Democratic Party's ad
                               supporting U.S. Senate candidate and my
                               gubernatorial campaign violated state
                               campaign finance law.
    Result                    Board of Elections dismissed the complaint.
    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Agency                    Rhode Island Ethics Commission
    Date                      Complaint filed Feb. 12, 2018 by Republican
                               Party
    Description               Complaint alleged that mutual support
                               agreement between gubernatorial campaign and
                               Providence Democratic City Committee violated
                               state ethics law because the chair of the
                               city committee was a state employee
    Result                    Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint
    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Agency                    Federal Election Commission
    Date                      Complaint filed Mar. 3, 2018 by Republican
                               Party
    Description               Complaint alleged that mutual support
                               agreement between gubernatorial campaign and
                               Providence Democratic City Committee violated
                               Federal Election Commission regulation
                               governing joint fundraising activity
    Result                    FEC dismissed the complaint after finding no
                               reason to believe that a violation occurred
    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Agency                    Rhode Island Board of Elections
    Date                      Advisory opinion request filed Mar. 12, 2018
                               by Republican Party
    Description               Request asked whether mutual support agreement
                               between gubernatorial campaign and Providence
                               Democratic City Committee violated state
                               campaign finance law
    Result                    Board of Elections declined the request upon
                               determining the advisory opinion request did
                               not comply with the law
    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Agency                    Rhode Island Board of Elections
    Date                      Complaint filed Jul. 9, 2018 by Republican
                               Party
    Description               Complaint alleged that campaign failed to pay
                               fair market value in rent for its office
                               space
    Result                    The complaint was dismissed
    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Agency                    Rhode Island Ethics Commission
    Date                      Complaint filed Jul. 24, 2019 by Republican
                               Party
    Description               Complaint alleged that participating in
                               negotiations to extend existing state lottery
                               contract and signing legislation authorizing
                               online sports gambling violated ethics law
                               because former chairman of lottery company
                               was Treasurer of the Democratic Governors
                               Association, which I chaired at the time
    Result                    Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by
    any Federal, State, or other law enforcement authority of any Federal,
    State, county, or municipal entity, other than for a minor traffic
    offense? If so, please explain. No.
        3. Have you or any business or nonprofit of which you are or were
    an officer ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency
    proceeding, criminal proceeding, or civil litigation? If so, please
    explain.
        I have been a party to multiple civil litigations in my capacity as
    Governor and as General Treasurer of Rhode Island. I am a party to
    those cases by virtue of the office hold. Often I am named as a
    defendant in cases involving alleged matters which did not involve me.
    I have asked counsel to prepare a list of all the cases in which I have
    been named as a party, to the best of their ability, which I am
    providing in Appendix B. Among the more notable cases include present
    litigation on the constitutionality of the state's truck tolling
    program and concluded litigation on the state's pension reform, public
    access to grand jury records, and the separation of powers. I have
    never been a party to a lawsuit outside of lawsuits resulting from my
    service as Governor or General Treasurer.
        In addition, as Governor, I am by law the Chair of the Board of the
    Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, a quasi-public corporation that
    serves as the state's economic development agency. The Rhode Island
    Commerce corporation was a plaintiff in civil litigation alleging fraud
    against various private parties concerning a failed economic
    development transaction that occurred before my time as Governor.
        The Securities and Exchange Commission brought litigation against
    the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and others in connection with the
    same translation. During my tenure as Governor, the Rhode Island
    Commerce Corporation settled the civil litigation and the litigation by
    the SEC.
        4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
    contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
    offense? If so, please explain. No.
        5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual
    harassment or discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or
    any other basis? If so, please explain. No.
        6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
    favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in
    connection with your nomination. None.
                         d. relationship with committee
        1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with
    deadlines for information set by congressional committees, and that
    your department/agency endeavors to timely comply with requests for
    information from individual Members of Congress, including requests
    from members in the minority? Yes.
        2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can
    to protect congressional witnesses and whistle blowers from reprisal
    for their testimony and disclosures? Yes.
        3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested
    witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with
    firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the Committee? Yes.
        4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
    constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
    reasonably requested to do so? Yes.
                                     ______

                                   Appendix A
                                 GINA RAIMONDO
                            PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

    GOVERNOR, STATE OF RHODE ISLAND   Providence, RI
    2015-present

    GENERAL TREASURER, STATE OF RHODE ISLAND   Providence, RI
    2011-2015

    POINT JUDITH CAPITAL, LLC   Providence, RI
    Founder, Managing Partner, 2002-2010
    Founder and General Partner of $100MM venture capital firm investing in
    early-stage IT and health care companies
       Served as lead partner on fundraising, LP relations,
            recruiting, and strategic development
       Led the firm's healthcare investing, with focus on medical
            device and healthcare IT companies; responsible for deal
            sourcing and structuring, due diligence, and post-investment
            oversight and support with business development and strategies,
            and recruiting for portfolio

    VILLAGE VENTURES, INC.   New York, NY
    Senior Vice President Fund Development/Founding Team, 1999-2002
    Member of senior management team that established and supported a
    network of regionally-focused venture capital funds located in emerging
    geographies across the U.S.
       Served as key member of team that raised $70MM+ in Series A
            and B financings from private equity firms (Bain Capital,
            Highland Capital, Sandler Capital); drafted PPMs, attended
            pitch meetings, attended VV board meetings
       Managed team of six professionals to establish national
            network of 12 venture capital funds, including identification
            of optimal geographies for new funds, recruitment of local
            management teams for each fund, and raising of over $300MM in
            LP capital across the fund network from both institutional and
            individual LPs based in those geographies
       Member of deal teams on several investments; led successful
            M&A negotiations on company's behalf
       Speaker at numerous venture capital industry forums and
            events

    HONORABLE KIMBA WOOD, U.S. DISTRICT COURT, S.D.N.Y.   New York, NY
    Law Clerk, 1998-1999
    Advised Federal trial judge on drafting opinions, preparing for
    conferences and managing caseload
                                   EDUCATION

    YALE LAW SCHOOL   New Haven, CT
    Juris Doctor, 1998
    Olin Fellow. CT Bar Association Public Service Scholarship. Research
    Assistant for corporate law professor Roberta Romano. Teaching
    Assistant for Professor Harold Koh. Student Supervisor, Jerome N. Frank
    Legal Services Clinic

    OXFORD UNIVERSITY, NEW COLLEGE   Oxford, England
    D.Phil in Sociology, 2003; M.Litt in Economics, 1996
    Rhodes Scholar. Doctoral thesis entitled: ``Determinants of Single
    Motherhood in the United States.'' President, New College graduate
    student body. Captain, New College Rugby Club

    HARVARD UNIVERSITY   Cambridge, MA
    Bachelor of Arts in Economics, 1993
    Magna Cum Laude. Phi Beta Kappa (junior year). Allyn Young Award for
    outstanding thesis in the Economics Department. Operations Manager, The
    Harvard Crimson. Research Assistant, National Bureau of Economic
    Research. Radcliffe Rugby Club
                                     ______

                                   Appendix B

                               List of Litigation
                               Prepared by counsel
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Case                  Case No.                Court
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Clervrain v. Raimondo       1:2020cv0 0535     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    American Trucking           20-2120            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     Associations, Inc., et al                      the First Circuit
     v. Alviti, Jr., et al
    In Re: Raimondo, et al      20-2168            U.S. Court of Appeals for
                                                    the First Circuit
    Armstrong v. Raimondo et    1:2020cv0 0509     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     al                                             District of Rhode Island
    A.C., et al v. Raimondo,    20-2082            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     et al                                          the First Circuit
    Card v. Raimondo            1:2020cv0 0439     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Alvizures v. Raimondo       1:2020cv0 0336     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Letourneau et al v. State   1:2020cv0 0269     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     of Rhode Island et al                          District of Rhode Island
    Efreom et al v. Raimondo    1:2020cv0 0122     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     et al                                          District of Rhode Island
    El v. Del Vecchio et al     1:2020cv0 0119     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Elle Sanon Auguste El v.    1:2020cv0 0055     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     DelVecchio et al                               District of Rhode Island
    Gonzalez v. Raimondo et al  1:2019cv0 0402     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Romano v. Wall et al        1:2019cv0 0370     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Lombardi et al v. Raimondo  1:2019cv0 0364     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Smith v. Neronha, et al     19-1470            U.S. Court of Appeals for
                                                    the First Circuit
    Shahwali v. Hughes et al    1:2019cv0 0186     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Liviz v. Baker, et al       19-1224            U.S. Court of Appeals for
                                                    the First Circuit
    Liviz Sr. v. Baker et al    1:2019cv1 0304     U.S. District Court for
                                                    the District of
                                                    Massachusetts
    Nickerson v. Providence     1:2019cv0 0030     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     Plantation et al                               District of Rhode Island
    Smith v. Neronha et al      1:2019cv0 0029     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    A.C. et al v. Raimondo et   1:2018cv0 0645     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     al                                             District of Rhode Island
    Rhode Island Homeless       1:2017cv0 0602     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     Advocacy Project et al v.                      District of Rhode Island
     Raimondo
    Jefferson v. Raimondo et    1:2017cv0 0439     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     al                                             District of Rhode Island
    Silvia v. Raimondo          1:2017cv0 0310     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Cranston Firefighters,      17-1293            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     IAFF, et al v. Raimondo,                       the First Circuit
     et al
    Parkhurst v. Raimondo et    1:2017cv0 0092     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     al                                             District of Rhode Island
    Winslowet-Alps v. Mathes,   16-1951            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     et al                                          the First Circuit
    Winslowet-Alps v. Mathes,   16-1838            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     et al                                          the First Circuit
    Winslowet-Alps v.           1:2016cv0 0256     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     Arondrewli et al                               District of Rhode Island
    Cranston Firefighters,      1:2016cv0 0130     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     IAFF Local 1363, AFL-CIO                       District of Rhode Island
     et al v. Raimondo et al
    Hicks v. State of Rhode     1:2015cv0 0011     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     Island et al                                   District of Rhode Island
    Kufner et al v. Suttell et  1:2013cv1 2864     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     al                                             District of Rhode Island
    Bergemann, et al v. Rhode   11-1484            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     Island Department of Env,                      the First Circuit
     et al
    Bergemann, et al v. Rhode   11-1407            U.S. Court of Appeals for
     Island Department of Env,                      the First Circuit
     et al
    Walker v. Raimondo          1:15-cv-00 087     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    M. et al v. Chafee et al.   1:07-cv-00 241     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
                                                    District of Rhode Island
    Monsanto v. State of Rhode  1:16-cv-00 147     U.S. Dist. Ct. for
     Island et al.                                  District of Rhode Island
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Rhode Island State Court Cases
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ANDREA CABAN VS GINA        6CA-2011 -03410    6th Division District
     RAIMONDO IN HER CAPACITY                       Court
    ANNE ARMSTRONG, ALAN        KC-2019-0071       Kent County Superior
     GORDON, DAUGHTERS OF EVE                       Court
     v. NICHOLAS MATTIELLO,
     DOMINICK RUGGERIO, GINA
     RAIMONDO
    ROBERT BAINTER V STATE OF   PC-2011-3 197      Providence/Bristol County
     RI                                             Superior Court
    NICOLE FOX V GINA RAIMONDO  PC-2011-2 633      Providence/Bristol County
                                                    Superior Court
    LINDA PHILLIPS V            PC-2012-2 875      Providence/Bristol County
     RETIREMENT BOARD                               Superior Court
    RI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES V       PC-2012-3 166      Providence/Bristol County
     LINCOLN CHAFEE                                 Superior Court
    BRISTOL WARREN V LINCOLN    PC-2012-3 167      Providence/Bristol County
     CHAFEE                                         Superior Court
    RI COUNCIL 94 V LINCOLN     PC-2012-3 168      Providence/Bristol County
     CHAFEE ET AL                                   Superior Court
    CRANSTON POLICE V LINCOLN   PC-2012-3 169      Providence/Bristol County
     CHAFEE                                         Superior Court
    WOONSOCKET FIRE FIGHTERS V  PC-2012-3 579      Providence/Bristol County
     LINCOLN CHAFEE                                 Superior Court
    ANDREA HUNT DENBY V SHARON  PC-2012-4 395      Providence/Bristol County
     VIENS                                          Superior Court
    ROSA ARCE V CITY OF         PC-2012-4 610      Providence/Bristol County
     PROVIDENCE                                     Superior Court
    JOHN GRASSO v. GINA         PC-2013-3 121      Providence/Bristol County
     RAIMONDO, FRANK                                Superior Court
     KARPINSKI, BOARD
     OFEMPLOYEES RETIREMENT
     SYSTEM OF RI, State of
     Rhode Island and
     Providence Plantations
    CYNTHIA TZOC V CITY OF      PC-2014-4 276      Providence/Bristol County
     PROVIDENCE                                     Superior Court
    CRANSTON FIREFIGHTERS V     PC-2014-4 343      Providence/Bristol County
     LINCOLN CHAFEE                                 Superior Court
    ANNETTE DIAZ V FLORA        PC-2014-4 522      Providence/Bristol County
     CURTIS                                         Superior Court
    RONALD RENAUD v. GINA       PC-2016-0 910      Providence/Bristol County
     RAIMONDO, Michael                              Superior Court
     DiBiase, State of Rhode
     Island
    GOLOCALPROV, LLC v. Rhode   PC-2016-4 810      Providence/Bristol County
     Island Department of                           Superior Court
     Public Safety, Kevin
     Barry, Gina Raimondo
    JASON GREENBERG v. RHODE    PC-2017-4 703      Providence/Bristol County
     ISLAND ARMY NATIONAL                           Superior Court
     GUARD, CHRISTOPHER
     CALLAHAN, GINA RAIMONDO
    Bryan Menge v. The State    PC-2018-1 211      Providence/Bristol County
     of Rhode Island, Gina                          Superior Court
     Raimondo, Paul Suttell,
     Peter Kilmartin, William
     Guglietta, Alan Goulart,
     Ann Assumpico, Walter
     Craddock, Michael Kane,
     Mr. Drozdov, Mr. Cloud,
     Mr. Bautista, Mr. Robles
    Save The Bay, Inc. v. Gina  PC-2018-2 684      Providence/Bristol County
     Raimondo                                       Superior Court
    In re, 38 Studios Grand     SU-2017-0 301-A    Rhode Island Supreme
     Jury                                           Court
    In re, 38 Studios Grand     PM-2017-0701       Providence/Bristol County
     Jury                                           Superior Court
    RI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES V       SU-12-033 1        Rhode Island Supreme
     LINCOLN CHAFEE                                 Court
    WOONSOCKET FIRE FIGHTERS V  SU-12-033 2        Rhode Island Supreme
     LINCOLN CHAFEE                                 Court
    RI COUNCIL 94 V LINCOLN     SU-12-033 3        Rhode Island Supreme
     CHAFEE                                         Court
    CRANSTON POLICE V LINCOLN   SU-12-033 4        Rhode Island Supreme
     CHAFEE                                         Court
    BRISTOL WARREN V LINCOLN    SU-12-033 5        Rhode Island Supreme
     CHAFEE                                         Court
    RI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES V GINA  SU-15-006 0        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    CRANSTON POLICE V GINA      SU-15-006 2        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    BRISTOL WARREN V GINA       SU-15-006 3        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    RI COUNCIL 94 V GINA        SU-15-006 4        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    RI COUNCIL 94 V GINA        SU-15-006 5        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    WOONSOCKET FIRE FIGHTERS V  SU-15-006 6        Rhode Island Supreme
     GINA RAIMONDO                                  Court
    JOSEPH CLIFFORD V GOVERNOR  SU-15-006 9        Rhode Island Supreme
     OF RHODE ISLAND                                Court
    IBOP V GINA RAIMONDO        SU-15-007 0        Rhode Island Supreme
                                                    Court
    CRANSTON FIREFIGHTERS V     SU-15-007 1        Rhode Island Supreme
     GINA RAIMONDO                                  Court
    JOHN GRASSO V. GINA         SU-16-008 3        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    JONATHAN CORRENTE V. CRIME  SU-16-024 7        Rhode Island Supreme
     VICTIM COMPENSATION PR                         Court
    In Re: Jonathan S. Berkon   SU-2019-0 305-MP   Rhode Island Supreme
                                                    Court
    Steven Palange v.           SU-2020-0 069-A    Rhode Island Supreme
     Margarita Palange et al.                       Court
    Steven Palange v.           WC-2019-0555       Washington County
     Margarita Palange et al.                       Superior Court
    RI PUBLIC EMPLOYEES V GINA  SU-15-006 0        Rhode Island Supreme
     RAIMONDO                                       Court
    JOSE LANZA V CITY OF        PC-2011-4 487      Providence/Bristol County
     PROVIDENCE                                     Superior Court
    TOWN OF SCITUATE V          PC-2011-6 345      Providence/Bristol County
     EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT                           Superior Court
     SYSTEM RI
    DOLORES NUGENT V STATE OF   PC-2014-3 247      Providence/Bristol County
     RI                                             Superior Court
    THOMAS WHEWELL V CORRIB     WC-2009-0841       Washington County
     REALTY LLC                                     Superior Court
    JAMES MEGA V COLLEEN        PC-2014-3 640      Providence/Bristol County
     HIGGINS                                        Superior Court
    RI STATE TROOPERS V STATE   PC-2014-4 432      Providence/Bristol County
     OF RI                                          Superior Court
    NORBERTO GOMEZ C ALL FRESH  PC-2014-4 500      Providence/Bristol County
     DONUTS                                         Superior Court
    CITY OF CRANSTON v. STATE   PC-2020-0 7650     Providence/Bristol County
     OF RHODE ISLAND et al.                         Superior Court
    MICHAEL BRADY V GINA        PC-2013-5 592      Providence/Bristol County
     RAIMONDO                                       Superior Court
    DEBORAH GATTO V PROVIDENCE  PC-2012-6 025      Providence/Bristol County
                                                    Superior Court
    JONATHAN CORRENTE V CRIME   PC-2013-4 763      Providence/Bristol County
     VICTIM COMPENSATION PRO.                       Superior Court
    LAURIE SMITH V FAMILY       PC-2013-5 152      Providence/Bristol County
     SERVICES OF RI                                 Superior Court
    Gina Raimondo, Rhode        PC-2019-1 0341     Providence/Bristol County
     Island Department of                           Superior Court
     Business Regulation v.
     Nicholas Mattiello,
     Dominick Ruggerio
    Town of Barrington et al.,  PC-2019-1 0870     Providence/Bristol County
     v. State of Rhode Island                       Superior Court
     et al.
    CHARIHO REGIONAL SCHOOL V.  SU-11-008 5        Rhode Island Supreme
     DEBORAH GIST                                   Court
    Rhode Island Troopers       PC-2019-1 1054     Providence/Bristol County
     Association et al., v.                         Superior Court
     State of Rhode Island,
     Division of the State
     Police et al.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The Chairman. Thank you very, very much, Governor, and we
    will now proceed to questions under the 5-minute rule. I am
    required to ask you this question. The Committee has a history
    of the Chair asking nominees to state on the record that they
    pledge to work with Congress and the Committee in a cooperative
    manner. So, I ask you, if confirmed, will you pledge to work
    collaboratively with this committee and provide thorough and
    timely responses to our requests for information as we work
    together to address important policy issues? Will you?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, absolutely.
        The Chairman. Thank you, ma'am. Let's move on then to some
    specific issues. And I wonder if you have had a chance to look
    at the status of the United States and European Union
    negotiations to establish a successor data transfer framework
    that overcomes the issues that led to the invalidation of the
    Privacy Shield last summer. We held a hearing on this in the
    last Congress on the invalidation of this EU, U.S. Privacy
    Shield framework. If confirmed, how do you plan to work with
    your counterparts in Europe on this issue and other issues to
    ensure that we have a data transfer framework that is workable?
    And how will you continue transatlantic data transfers in
    compliance with what we have now? Have you had a chance to look
    into this, Governor?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you say,
    cross-border data transfers are vital to the interests of many
    American companies, and the Privacy Shield was particularly
    important for thousands of small and medium sized businesses.
    As I understand it, the negotiations are going well. And should
    I be confirmed, it would be a top priority of mine to finish
    the negotiations swiftly and ensure that there is a successor
    agreement that protects the interests of American businesses
    and provides for that transfer of data.
        The Chairman. Well, thank you very much. And I just wanted
    to highlight the importance of that by asking that as my first
    substantive question. Let's move to seafood, trade, restaurants
    and competitiveness. Americans eat approximately 70 percent of
    their seafood in restaurants and other food service
    establishments. Restaurant closures during the COVID-19 crisis
    caused the demand for seafood to evaporate almost overnight.
        As a result, fisheries across the Nation have reported up
    to a 90 percent drop in sales in 2020. My Restaurants Act,
    which is a bipartisan Act, would have temporarily established
    and provided funding for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
    Since Americans eat 70 percent of their seafood in restaurants,
    this bill would also help see the seafood industry recover. And
    at this point, I offer into the record at this point an Op-ed
    in today's Wall Street Journal, ``Closing Time for Bars and
    Restaurants'' by Robert St. John, a prominent restauranteur in
    the state of Mississippi. And without objection, it will be
    added into the record at this point.
        [The information referred to follows:]

                              Wall Street Journal

                              OPINION | COMMENTARY

                     Closing Time for Bars and Restaurants

         Few industries have been harder hit by Covid. We need relief.

                  By Robert St. John--Jan. 25, 2021 5:41 pm ET

        Maria's Italian Kitchen in Santa Monica, Calif., prepares to close
    due to Covid-19 restrictions, July 28, 2020.
        PHOTO: VALERIE MACON/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
        Hattiesburg, Miss.

        From the first moment of my first shift on my first day in a
    restaurant, I knew I wanted to own my own place. That was 40 years ago
    and I've loved every challenge the restaurant business has thrown my
    way--until now. I fear the work of four decades won't survive the
    coming months without a plan that truly addresses my industry's needs.
        In April I sat down with my wife, 22-year-old daughter and 18-year-
    old son and told them we may lose some, or all, of the six restaurants
    and two bars we owned. In the same conversation, I told them there was
    also a strong chance we might have to sell our home.
        Nearly a year into the pandemic, I have permanently closed two
    restaurants and a bar--leaving 52 people to have difficult
    conversations with their own families. For the first time in my career,
    I have to ask for help.
        The pandemic is unfair. A tiny airborne particle threatens
    everything I've spent 40 years working to build. My teams have done
    nothing wrong. We work hard, we're honest, we roll with the punches,
    and we always do our best to serve our customers and community.
        This isn't the first time restaurant owners have dealt with
    adversity. The financial crisis of 2008 came and went, our sales
    tanked, and no one heard a word from restaurants. After hurricanes,
    tornadoes and wildfires we have rolled up our sleeves and done the work
    it takes to reopen.
        But this is different. We are out of options, and I fear a few more
    weeks of limited revenue may jeopardize my remaining businesses.
    Thousands of American independent restaurants face similar issues. The
    end is coming in more of a whimper than a bang--restaurants are being
    starved into extinction.
        Early in the pandemic I joined other independent restaurateurs
    across the country and organized the Independent Restaurant Coalition
    to ensure our community had a voice in the public debate around Federal
    relief. Politics is a game that is entirely new to me and most members
    of the IRC, but that turned out to be an asset. We applied the same
    entrepreneurial attitudes we bring to our kitchens to advocate for our
    cause in Washington. We didn't take no for an answer, no problem was
    too big or too small to solve, and no opportunity was left to waste.
        The drinks and food-service industry has suffered about 1 in 4
    Covid-related job losses. According to a National Restaurant
    Association survey, more than 1 in 6 restaurants closed permanently
    during the first six months of the shutdown.
        I was encouraged to see President Biden highlight our industry's
    unique pain in his speech outlining a new Covid relief plan. He
    acknowledged the devastation felt by the entire restaurant world. It's
    a good start, but now we need Congress to do something about it and
    pass direct relief in the next round of stimulus.
        In the 116th Congress, I worked closely with Mississippi Sen. Roger
    Wicker to push the Restaurants Act. That $120 billion grant program is
    what our community needs to survive this pandemic, and nothing less
    will cut it for America's 500,000 independent restaurants and bars, the
    11 million workers we employ, and the five million ancillary jobs, such
    as farmers and fishermen, associated with our industry.
        Time is nearly up for my business and many others. Restaurants
    operate under a unique business model that is tight on cash and short
    on profit. Ten weeks of diminished revenue can spell trouble for a
    restaurant's business health. Independent restaurants across the
    country have been struggling for more than 10 months on financial
    fumes.
        The solutions offered by Congress so far have amounted to a Band-
    Aid on a bullet hole. Our first round of Paycheck Protection Program
    funds are gone, and the second round will keep us afloat for only a few
    weeks. Restrictions limit indoor dining, and winter weather has brought
    an end to outdoor dining for much of the country. Thousands more
    businesses will soon have no choice but to shut their doors forever.
        It's time for Congress to make restaurants a priority and pass
    direct aid. It's the only thing that will save our restaurants and
    workers.

    Mr. St. John is a chef and owner of the New South Restaurant Group.

    Appeared in the January 26, 2021, print edition.

        The Chairman. So, let me ask you, Governor, since 70
    percent of Americans eat their seafood in restaurants, from the
    perspective of your region, what do you expect to be the
    lasting impacts of this terrible crisis on the seafood
    industry? And what will it take for the seafood and the
    restaurant industry to recover?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you for that question. And I know from
    our previous discussions, this is a very important topic for
    you as it is for me. As Senator Whitehouse said, I am the
    Governor of the ocean state. Thousands of Rhode Islanders make
    their living as commercial fishermen, and both they and
    restaurants have been really devastated during this pandemic.
        If confirmed as Commerce Secretary, I would look forward to
    working very closely with you and your colleagues to come up
    with bold and creative solutions, not only to help our
    fishermen, but also our restaurants and for that matter, the
    entire hospitality industry, because I assess the impacts to be
    quite long standing unless we take bold action.
        The Chairman. These are two terribly threatened industries
    that are vital to our economy. Thank you, Governor Raimondo.
    Senator Cantwell, for your questions.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor, again,
    congratulations on your nomination. And I think you are aware
    of how broad the Department is in its oversight of science
    issues. The Chairman asked you a pretty broad question at the
    beginning, which was important, to do with collaboration.
    Surprising how often that doesn't happen sometimes. So, it is
    very good to clarify, but also want to clarify this issue as it
    relates to science and data. Do you oppose any censorship of
    scientific data and information coming out of the Department of
    Commerce?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I do.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you. And will you work with us to
    help restore the confidence in that science and data,
    information, and investment in it for the future?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I will.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you. A couple of specific issues,
    one that I mentioned in my opening statement and as we are
    talking about seafood and the fishing economy. Salmon is
    particularly important to the Pacific Northwest, and one of the
    issues regarding salmon, involves broader infrastructure
    investment moving forward, that is all sorts of transportation
    infrastructure. We are a coastal state with a lot of
    transportation infrastructure and moving products. But keeping
    salmon habitat and restoration in a robust state is very
    critical to keeping salmon. So, will you work with us on a more
    targeted, larger scale investment in stormwater restoration and
    in building critical habitat for everything from oyster reefs
    to eel and seagrass and critical habitat? There is a dozen or
    so members of this committee that probably have similar
    problems in their states, but would you work with us to
    increase the amount of investment and targeted return from that
    investment?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I would very much look forward to
    working with you and other members of the Committee. Again, as
    I said, I have come to understand from my discussions with you
    these past couple of weeks how important the salmon stock is
    and the fishing industry in general is to your state. And I
    would absolutely look forward to working with you on that
    issue.
        Senator Cantwell. Well, I guess I would call it salmon
    infrastructure, and that is that as we grow transportation
    infrastructure, which we also desperately need in the Pacific
    Northwest, we grow salmon infrastructure, which is that habitat
    and stormwater restoration, which practically every community
    in my state would tell you that they need if they are ever
    going to do a better job of protecting salmon. The same kind of
    scientific and data information is also needed for our orca
    whale population and preserving them. One of the things that
    they have issue with right now, which NOAA has basically said
    we need to do something about is noise as it relates to the
    orca population, so I hope that you will work with us to
    implement a process for our shipping and Coast Guard and others
    to work on a mitigation plan for the orca whale population.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I would be excited to do that. I will
    say here as Governor I have a record of investing in
    stormwater, investing in resiliency, investing in adaptation,
    and would certainly look forward to doing that with you and
    members of the Committee.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you. And then last, stock
    assessments. We believe in good fisheries management policy and
    key to that is stock assessments. And so I hope you will work
    with us on increasing the amount of dollars that go into the
    science behind stock assessment so we can make good management
    plans.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, again, absolutely. I plan to lead with
    science and lead with data. I know stock assessments are vital
    and also very detailed, and I absolutely look forward to
    working with you on that.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you. And on the larger issue of
    science and data, as I mentioned in my opening statement, as it
    relates to weather, do you think the United States should be a
    world leader in weather and data forecasting information? I say
    I am not necessarily trying to be competitive with another
    nation, it is just the amount of times that we hear our news
    broadcasters say, well, this is the forecast and then this is
    the European forecast. And they are using supercomputing time
    to get more out of this. This weather data is so critical for
    us as it relates to, as I said, aviation, maritime, space
    issues, agriculture issues. So will you work with us to make
    sure the United States has the state-of-the-art technology when
    it comes to weather forecasting and weather information?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I think, and we had the opportunity to
    visit about this last week, I applaud your leadership on, I
    think that America's national weather service should be the
    gold standard. And should I be confirmed, I will work with you
    to make sure that that is the case.
        Senator Cantwell. Thank you. I see my time has expired, Mr.
    Chairman. I would just say that I am going to count on the
    Governor to work with us. Her workforce strategy in Rhode
    Island jobs, I think, is that particularly for underserved
    communities and minority business community, is something we
    need to look at and how we can elevate that to a national
    level. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. Senator Thune.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN THUNE,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA

        Senator Thune. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor Raimondo,
    congratulations on your nomination. And let me just start by
    saying that as I am sure you are aware, in December Congress
    allocated funds to NTIA to oversee a broadband grant program to
    connect underserved areas. It is vitally important that we
    close the digital divide in states like South Dakota and across
    America. However, the effectiveness of NTIA administering such
    a program is concerning given its history awarding broadband
    grants provided by the 2009 stimulus.
        Under the Obama, Biden Administration, GAO concluded that
    NTIA had faced a number of challenges, from staffing to
    adequate data on broadband availability, resulting in a largely
    ineffective program at the taxpayer's expense. What steps would
    you take to correct the mistakes of the past? And will you
    commit to me that NTIA will set up this program in a way that
    this new money only goes to areas that are completely unserved?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator, for that question. First,
    let me say that as Governor of a state and having lived through
    COVID, I have seen the truly devastating effects of that lack
    of broadband can have on people. It is not a luxury, it is a
    necessity. It is how children can have their classes. It is how
    people can do telehealth and visit a doctor. It's how you can
    sign up to get a vaccine. So you can have my strong commitment
    to work closely with you and other members of this committee to
    make sure that NTIA has strong leadership that and that we
    execute on those grants as expeditiously as possible, and with
    an eye toward making sure that everyone, tribal lands, rural
    folks who live in a mountain range, has access to broadband,
    which is absolutely necessary.
        I will also say, you know this is an area where I hope we
    can have bipartisan agreement. I have heard from my Republican
    Governor colleagues and Democratic Governor colleagues all over
    the country saying we need help on this. And so should I have
    the honor of serving as Commerce Secretary, I commit this will
    be a very top priority the minute I get into the job.
        Senator Thune. Thank you. Congress established a clear
    division of responsibility for spectrum management. The FCC is
    responsible for commercial spectrum. NTIA is responsible for
    Federal Government spectrum. And there have been a number of
    instances in the past when the FCC and NTIA's roles have come
    into conflict. How can we ensure that the FCC and NTIA work in
    partnership to address spectrum management issues that impact
    both Federal and commercial entities? And do you support
    freeing up additional spectrum held by the Federal Government
    to support the needs of next generation wireless services?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you for this question, and it is a
    topic that I have had the opportunity to talk to a number of
    members of the Committee on. Again, it gets back to having a
    strong NTIA with strong leadership, particularly as it relates
    to 5G. You know, the race is on for 5G and I want America to
    win and lead, and that requires spectrum. So, yes, I do support
    finding additional publicly-owned spectrum, and I will--I think
    what we need to do, and the President has been clear, is we
    need to step back and have a national strategy on spectrum and
    look to make spectrum available from public and commercial uses
    so that we can move forward on broadband and 5G. And I commit
    to working with you on that and having leadership in the NTIA
    to do that.
        Senator Thune. Thank you. The livelihoods of farmers and
    ranchers in my state often depend on forecasting accuracy. So
    it is important that we find innovative ways to improve NOAA's
    capabilities when it comes to predicting weather. In the last
    Congress, Senator Schatz and I introduced a bill called the
    Learning Excellence and Good Examples from New Developers or
    LEGEND Act, got to have an acronym around here, which makes
    NOAA's current future operational forecast models more
    accessible to outside experts, including scientists and
    engineers in academia who can provide new insights to improve
    existing forecasting models. Do you believe it is important for
    NOAA to incorporate innovative approaches to weather
    forecasting from outside stakeholders?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I do. As I said to Senator Cantwell, the
    National Weather Service should be the gold standard. And by
    the way, I have a strong track record of embracing innovation
    and technology throughout my public and private sector career.
    So, yes, I think we ought to be forward leaning and embrace
    science and technology and innovation, so we have the best
    there is to offer.
        Senator Thune. And would you commit to working with us to
    move that Act through Congress, that legislation?
        Ms. Raimondo. I will commit to working with you.
    Absolutely.
        Senator Thune. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Thune. Governor let me
    just interject that Senator Thune has raised a very good point
    with regard to NTIA and FCC. And it is going to be important
    that we have a Secretary that is committed to following the
    statute on the bifurcated system of managing spectrum with the
    NTIA representing the spectrum needs of Federal agencies.
    Senator Klobuchar.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA

        Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
    Welcome, Governor. Thank you for being here. And I have to say
    that those two introductions by your Senators, we hear a lot of
    introductions, but they were incredibly heartfelt and a tribute
    to you. And I would also add that my own Governor, Tim Walz, is
    a big fan of yours, and that goes a long way. So your
    experience with economic development, your private sector and
    public sector experience I think is going to be an amazing
    combination for this job. So thank you very much for being
    willing to serve.
        I had a question, you and I talked about this when we met,
    on travel and tourism, and I noted that Senator Blunt and I,
    along with several other Senators, including Schatz, Cortez
    Masto, have worked on tourism, and the Brand USA bill, where
    Senator Blunt and I have led for years now, is a public,
    private partnership that promotes international tourism
    throughout the U.S., supporting more than 51,000 jobs a year,
    and I just like your commitment that you will support that and
    do all that you can to continue to support the tourism
    industry?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you, Senator, and thank you for
    your time yesterday. I thank you for your leadership on
    tourism. I know you have been a leader on this issue for a long
    time. I hail from a state where tourism is a significant part
    of our economy. And I have seen firsthand over these past 10
    months just how crippling the COVID pandemic has been to the
    businesses of--tourism-dependent businesses. So, yes, I look
    forward to working with you and your colleagues, really leaning
    into Brand USA and being as bold and creative as we can to
    encourage people to come to our country, to apply, to stay in
    hotels. Obviously, I think President Biden's leadership around
    COVID is vital, and once folks are vaccinated and feel more
    comfortable, absolutely. We will work together on this issue.
    It is a lot of American jobs.
        Senator Klobuchar. Thank you. And one thing we didn't talk
    about as much, and I wish I had and I can talk to you about it
    later, given your experience with venture capital investment
    and the like, I think you could be such a big advocate for
    this, is a bill that I have called the New Business
    Preservation Act, focuses, we worked with Steve Case and other
    people on this, focuses on incubating and developing Silicon
    Valley type areas all over the country, that it shouldn't just
    be one area that gets all this investment, as good as that is,
    and that we need to spread it around and create other hubs of
    investment.
        And what the bill does is it authorizes states to make
    equity investments in new businesses alongside venture capital
    companies. They wouldn't actually be making the decisions or
    funding it directly. But I hope you will be willing to look at
    that and look at that as well as skills investment. I think
    your experience in Rhode Island and the work you have done with
    getting more people jobs would be really helpful. I think it
    was Tyler Perry who once said ``your beginning shouldn't
    dictate your destiny.'' And certainly after this pandemic and
    through this pandemic, we are going to have a lot of work that
    must be done. I know Senator Cantwell has been such a leader on
    this, on skills reinvestment, as well as looking at our economy
    more globally about where we can invest in areas of the country
    to encourage more hubs of innovation.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. Yes, of course, I will
    look forward to working with you and all of your colleagues. I
    would say I am deeply committed to making sure that all
    Americans, in every community, have an opportunity to have the
    skills they need to get a good job. And it is true that most
    venture capital is highly concentrated in five or six
    communities around America. But those communities don't corner
    the market on great ideas or entrepreneurs. And so I will very
    much look forward to working with you to provide opportunity to
    all Americans.
        Senator Klobuchar. Thank you. Last question. With 95
    percent of the world's potential customers living outside of
    our borders, it is important more than ever that we ensure that
    our businesses and farmers, reference to Senator Thune, we
    share a border, are able to capitalize on opportunities in
    these markets. And I am a strong supporter of the U.S.
    Commercial Service, which, as you know, is the export division
    of the Department's International Trade Administration, which
    handles trade promotion, has trade professionals in over 100
    U.S. cities including my own, and has a presence in more than
    70 countries. And during the Obama Administration, there was a
    lot of focus on this. And I think we need to do even more as we
    move forward on exports. What are your plans to improve the
    U.S. commercial service program, particularly for businesses
    based in rural areas?
        Ms. Raimondo. So first, I agree with you. Second, I know
    this is an important area for you and I appreciate your
    leadership. Exports equal growth, equal more jobs. So I intend
    to be very aggressive, should I be confirmed, to make sure that
    the Department of Commerce is accessible to all businesses,
    particularly small, medium sized businesses, farmers, rurally
    located businesses. They ought to have access to the tools of
    the Department of Commerce to help them improve their exports.
    And so I will be very focused on that.
        Senator Klobuchar. Very good. And I will put on the record,
    Mr. Chairman, questions about broadband as well as steel
    dumping, something I discussed with the Governor yesterday.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Klobuchar. Senator Blunt.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. ROY BLUNT,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSOURI

        Senator Blunt. Thank you, Chairman. Governor, I am sorry we
    haven't had a chance to visit yet but look forward to an
    opportunity to do that. Let's go right to the exports issue
    that you and Senator Klobuchar just talked about. I think one
    of the disadvantages we created for ourselves in the recent
    years are our tariffs on a number of things but particularly
    steel and aluminum. In my state, we make beer cans and bass
    boats and automobiles and pickup trucks. And I think we are
    disadvantaged----
        Senator Cantwell. Excuse me, Senator, don't you also make
    airplanes?
        Senator Blunt. And airplanes, exactly. And even Boeing
    airplanes, as a matter of fact.
        The Chairman. Don't take that out of his time.
        Senator Blunt. But all of those things and well beyond, as
    Senator Cantwell just pointed out, well beyond any list I would
    come up with. President Biden said he would conduct a review of
    all existing tariffs. I am personally concerned about the 232
    tariffs on steel and aluminum and wonder if you have any view
    on that issue?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes. Thank you very much for that question. I
    will say that here in Rhode Island, you know, we make
    submarines and electric boat who are consumers of steel and
    aluminum. And so I hear you and I appreciate your advocacy.
    Having said that, China has clearly behaved in ways that are
    anti-competitive, dumping cheap steel and aluminum into
    America, which hurts American workers and hurts the ability of
    our companies to compete. So should I be confirmed, I plan to
    be very aggressive to help Americans compete against the unfair
    practices of China.
        I will say the President has been clear, we need to step
    back, review broadly our policies, trade policies as it relates
    to China, consult with our allies, and I will assure you that I
    will certainly listen to you, engage stakeholders, listen to
    the manufacturers in your state and take their needs into
    account. I also understand there is an exclusion process, and I
    will also commit to you, for consuming industries, and I will
    commit to you to ensure that that exclusions process is swift,
    fair, objective, and helps to balance the competing interests.
        Senator Blunt. Well, I do think, and I am sure you well
    understand that the dumping, the tariffs that are based on that
    are clearly tariffs that we should impose, and we shouldn't
    tolerate dumping, at the same time we shouldn't use National
    Security as just an excuse to have a tariff. And you are not
    suggesting we should. But anything you do on that front doesn't
    take away the tools you have from a country like China that may
    be dumping steel and aluminum. And I hope you will look at that
    that way. I was going to mention Brand USA and Senator
    Klobuchar and I talked--mentioned we have worked closely on
    that for a long time. It's a program that is working, was
    working obviously a lot better when people were traveling, but
    to be sure that we are continuing to project states like
    Minnesota and Missouri and Rhode Island that may not have their
    own budget, that would allow them to appeal to foreign
    travelers the way Brand USA has. It is working. It is a great
    partnership.
        I think we have gone through all of the challenges of a new
    program and see that program working a little better all the
    time. And you have already addressed that. Generally, the
    hospitality industry, travel, tourism, hospitality has been
    hurt as badly as any industry in this pandemic. And being sure
    when we establish barriers, like some concern right now that
    maybe everybody who travel to the United States should have had
    a vaccine or have some level of testing, I hope we really move
    forward looking at those issues with an understanding of how
    important that is to our economy.
        We clearly want to win the fight against the virus, but we
    don't want to lose the fight for a reemerging economy in those
    areas. If you had any thoughts on whether there should be
    barriers on travel that the Commerce Department would be
    involved in?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, so thank you for the question. I would
    say this is something that I have lived every day since COVID
    because being Governor, you are in the position of wanting to
    protect people from COVID, but also make sure that you maintain
    as much of an economy as possible. President Biden has a
    fantastic team leading on COVID, and I have confidence in their
    ability to do that. I will simply say to you, I hear you and I
    feel we need to be very bold, aggressive, and creative to be to
    help the tourism and hospitality industry in light of the
    situation they are in.
        Senator Blunt. Thank you, Governor. Thank you, Chairman. I
    may have some questions for the record, but I have used up my
    time.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Blunt. Senator Blumenthal.

                 STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL,
                     U.S. SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT

        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to
    the Committee and thank you for your willingness to continue
    your public service, Governor. I am really admiring and
    grateful of your record on environmental preservation,
    particularly your commitment, as you and I discussed, to the
    idea of a blue New Deal. I think a phrase originated by Senator
    Warren, but as the ocean State and our neighbor to Connecticut,
    I know that you are committed to our oceans and to the health
    of that treasure that we share. And in that connection, I was
    very gratified to see that President Biden has signed an
    Executive Order to reinstate the protections afforded by the
    Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument last
    week. That is a cause that I championed. President Obama signed
    the Order establishing it. President Trump reversed it.
        And now, fortunately, President Biden has reinstated it.
    And I understand that he is contemplating and will soon sign an
    Executive Order to establish a goal to conservative--to
    conserve 30 percent of all United States lands, fresh waters
    and oceans by 2030, which is known as 30 by 30. Thank you for
    your support of that measure as well. As you know, the quotas
    for fishing in our respective waters are outdated. And I would
    like your commitment that you will be working with me to get
    the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and relevant
    fishery managers to update the outdated quotas for fishing,
    which affects the fishing industry in our respective states.
        As you know, those quotas have been severely outdated for
    years, and they force many of our boats to throw back fish that
    are dead anyway and the quotas would, should be updated to
    enable them to keep some of that produce.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you and I know this is a vitally
    important area for you, you brought up with me a few times, and
    I definitely look forward to working with you on this. I will
    say that I understand, you know again being the Governor of the
    ocean state, 4,000 or 5,000 people make a living fishing here,
    having quotas, stock assessments, accurate based on data,
    science is important. And I that is--I will prioritize it. That
    is how I will lead. And I look forward to a dialogue with you
    on this.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. I know as your--in light of
    your background, both in the private sector and now as
    Governor, you are very well aware of the disparate impact the
    pandemic has had on minority-owned businesses. In fact,
    according to one report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of
    New York, 41 percent of black owned businesses, 32 percent of
    Latino-owned businesses have gone under. What would be the
    role--what should be the role of the Minority Business
    Development Agency to help vulnerable and hopefully thriving,
    minority-owned businesses?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. COVID has shined a light on
    the inequities in our economy and the President has been very
    clear, we are going to build back better and more equitably.
    And I strongly support that. I believe NBDA can play a vital
    role in that. And certainly I have a lot of experience as
    Governor and place-based economic development. I am very proud
    of the fact that more than half of the people who have
    participated in our job training and placement effort post-
    COVID are women and people of color. So you have my commitment
    to lead in this area and to use the NBDA as a very important
    player in the rebuild effort.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. Finally, let me ask you
    about broadband connectivity. As you know, many parts of our
    country, including Rhode Island and Connecticut, are afflicted
    with the homework gap. The lack of connectivity is a severe
    barrier to young people trying to stay current and that is
    another problem that has been highlighted by the pandemic.
    Census's ACS program is one of the most reliable source of
    information about the homework gap. And I would appreciate your
    commitment that you will make, as a priority, the sources of
    information about the homework gap and the digital divide which
    are so necessary to our closing that gap.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I will commit to prioritizing that and
    working with you on that.
        Senator Blumenthal. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Blumenthal. Senator
    Fischer.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. DEB FISCHER,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA

        Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Governor, it
    is a pleasure to see you here today, and I appreciated you
    taking time earlier to have a conversation with me. So it is an
    important job that you have put your name forward to take on.
    And again, I thank you for your willingness to serve. I am
    interested in talking more with you on technology and
    competitiveness. Just yesterday, the Center for Data Innovation
    Report assessed our country's artificial intelligence
    capabilities as being in a dead heat with China's.
        At the end of 2020, two bills that I led to advance U.S.
    Policy on the Internet of Things and emerging technology both
    passed into law. The first is the DIGIT Act, which I worked on
    with Senator Schatz to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive
    on the development and deployment of IOT. This could add
    considerable value to our economy, especially in
    transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and also energy
    sectors. The bill, now law, directs the Secretary of Commerce
    to convene a public, private working group and a steering
    committee.
        If confirmed as Secretary, will you prioritize implementing
    the DIGIT Act's working group structures in accordance with
    that law?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator, and thank you for your
    time the other day. I enjoyed the discussion. The answer is
    yes. I will look forward to working with you on that. Whether
    it is artificial intelligence or 5G or a block chain, we are in
    competition and it will be my job, should I be confirmed, to
    make sure that Americans can compete and get those jobs. And so
    convening that sort of a group would be absolutely a priority
    for me working with you.
        Senator Fischer. Great. Second, I led the Senate companion
    to the American COMPETE Act with Senator Sinema. The
    legislation directs the Commerce Department to complete a
    series of studies on emerging technologies. These studies will
    inform Congress on key sectors of emerging tech, which have
    major consequences for our country's economic success. The
    Secretary of Commerce plays an important part in conducting
    those studies in the Compete Act. Will you commit to ensuring
    that, if confirmed, the Secretary's office will take a lead
    role in fulfilling this responsibility?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator, for that, and yes, I will
    commit to working with you on that, focusing on that, and
    prioritizing it.
        Senator Fischer. Thank you. During our call last week, we
    talked about how NOAA works closely with the University of
    Nebraska on two important programs: the High Plains Regional
    Climate Center and the National Drought Mitigation Center. Both
    these programs provide important information on the climate
    across the country. If confirmed, will you work with me to
    ensure that NOAA continues to support and coordinate with UNL
    on these programs?
        Ms. Raimondo. So thank you for bringing that up again. I
    know this is a priority of yours because you brought it up with
    me before, and I look forward to working with you. I will say
    here in my home state, NOAA has a significant presence and also
    works with our University of Rhode Island to great effect and
    to create innovation and jobs. So I will look forward to
    supporting you on that.
        Senator Fischer. Great. I appreciated in speaking with you
    about the Commerce Department recent actions against threats
    from China before this hearing. Would you further explain your
    perspective on the National Security risk regarding the Chinese
    equipment suppliers to our communication networks, particularly
    with regard to Huawei?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. So National Security has to
    come first, obviously. And with respect to 5G, as we spoke
    about in your office, there is an opportunity to move forward
    in 5G and create great innovation and jobs. But we can't have
    the Chinese or really anyone having a backdoor into our network
    and compromising in any way our national or economic security.
    And so, as Commerce Secretary, should I be confirmed, I will
    use the full toolkit at my disposal to the fullest extent
    possible to protect Americans and our network from Chinese
    interference or any kind of backdoor influence into our
    network. And that is Huawei, ZTE, or you know any other
    company.
        Senator Fischer. Thank you very much. I appreciate your
    strong firmness on this issue because it is a National Security
    issue. We need, I think, to have a strong voice when we discuss
    these issues, and we need to follow up with strength as well.
    So I thank you for that firmness and look forward to working
    with you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Fischer. Senator Schatz.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. BRIAN SCHATZ,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII

        Senator Schatz. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and
    Ranking Member. Governor, thank you for the conversation
    yesterday. You mentioned in your testimony that Commerce has
    the tools and expertise to help communities and businesses
    address climate risk. Can you just talk about your top two or
    three priorities under existing statute?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you and good morning. There are a
    number of ways that Commerce could influence climate, but most
    principally through NOAA. As I said, some of the best
    scientists around atmospherics and oceans are at NOAA and are
    at the Department. So I would really look forward primarily
    through NOAA to address the climate issues posed by warming
    oceans, ocean debris, rising tides, the issues around fisheries
    and climate to lead again with science and rely on the experts
    in the Department. I think it is a very big role for NOAA to
    play in the blue economy, but also as we meet the challenges of
    climate.
        Senator Schatz. Great. And I just encourage you, especially
    given what happened with the previous regime, to lock into
    whatever extent possible, a scientific integrity policy which
    doesn't swing back and forth depending on who the President may
    be. I want to pivot to the census, and I think I know the
    answer to this question, but I think it is important for the
    record, are you going to give the Census Bureau adequate time
    to compile and review apportionment and redistricting data?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes I, like you, I know from yesterday's
    conversation, I believe that we need to take the politics out
    of the Census, and we need to rely on the experts. The experts
    and statisticians in the Census Bureau are top notch. So I,
    once confirmed, intend to rely on them. And if they advise that
    more time is necessary, then I am going to follow the lead of
    their expertise.
        Senator Schatz. Thank you. We briefly spoke yesterday about
    the potential for aquaculture. I know your home state has a
    growing aquaculture industry, and Senator Wicker and I have
    legislation along those lines. As Secretary, will you work with
    Senator Wicker and myself and other members of the Committee to
    enact and implement bipartisan legislation to develop a
    responsible national aquaculture framework?
        Ms. Raimondo. I would embrace that opportunity to work with
    you and your other colleagues. We here have used aquaculture
    successfully for oysters. I know there are different issues as
    it relates to finfish, but, yes, I would look forward to
    working with you.
        Senator Schatz. Great. And you talked a little bit about a
    place-based economic development. Senator Thune and I authored,
    and it was signed into law, a law called the Native Act, which
    was bipartisan and is designed to strengthen native tourism and
    empower local communities to tell their own story. You know,
    Brand USA is important. Destination marketing is important. But
    a lot of the best opportunities for economic development are
    for small towns and cities and tribes and native communities to
    tell their own story.
        And increasingly, that is what tourists want. The
    unfortunate fact is that even though the bill was enacted, it
    was never implemented by the previous Commerce Department
    Secretary. And I would like your commitment simply to implement
    the law and to consult with us as we go along.
        Ms. Raimondo. Absolutely, yes.
        Senator Schatz. Thank you. And finally, as you know,
    Congress allocated $1 billion to NTIA to fund broadband on
    tribal lands. Do you commit to establishing a fast and fair
    review process so that this money can be immediately deployed
    to help unconnected students and individuals during this
    pandemic?
        Ms. Raimondo. I commit to you and all of your colleagues,
    because a number of you had brought it up, to move that as
    expeditiously, transparently, and effectively as possible. I do
    believe that broadband is a lifesaving and to many people
    living in rural and tribal lands don't have it. So, yes, I will
    prioritize it and get going quickly.
        Senator Schatz. Thank you very much.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Schatz. Senator Cruz.

                      STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS

        Senator Cruz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor,
    congratulations on your nomination. Welcome. In recent years,
    the United States has successfully used economic pressure to
    prevent the People's Republic of China from exploiting American
    technology to carry out human rights abuses. This is an area
    the previous Administration was particularly active in.
    Governor, should you be confirmed, can you please describe the
    role you envision for the Department of Commerce in these
    efforts, especially as that role relates to export and import
    controls?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. So as I said earlier, China's
    actions have been anti-competitive, hurtful to American workers
    and businesses coercive. And as you point out, you know, they
    are culpable for atrocious human rights abuses. So whether it
    is the entities list or tariffs or countervailing duties, I
    intend to use all those tools to the fullest extent possible to
    level the playing field for the American worker.
        I believe in free trade, but fair trade. Americans can
    compete if the rules are fair and the playing field is level.
    And I believe my job, should I be confirmed, is to increase the
    competitiveness for the American worker and companies,
    especially small businesses. President Biden has said that we
    are going to step back and have a whole of Government approach
    as it relates to the threat of China. And of course, I will
    play my role on that team.
        Senator Cruz. Well, as you noted, the Department of
    Commerce maintains the entity list, which is foreign parties
    that engage in activities contrary to U.S. National Security.
    And in 2019, I led an effort to add to that list companies the
    Chinese Communist Party has used to carry out their
    surveillance campaigns of Uyghurs and other oppressive
    activities. And I introduced legislation mandating that some of
    those companies be listed, the Tiananmen Act. And in the fall
    of 2019 and in 2020, the Trump Administration did so, adding
    batches of Chinese technology companies to the entities list.
    Can you commit, if confirmed, that those companies will remain
    on the BIS entities list?
        Ms. Raimondo. I will commit to working with you on that,
    and I certainly agree with you that the entities list is a
    powerful tool in the Commerce Secretary's toolkit to shore up
    American National Security.
        Senator Cruz. Well, let me ask you about Huawei in
    particular. Can you commit that Huawei will remain on the list?
        Ms. Raimondo. I will commit that once, should I be
    confirmed, and I am there, I will review the policy, consult
    with you, consult with industry, consult with our allies and
    make an assessment as to what's best for American national and
    economic security.
        Senator Cruz. Well, I will say there is chatter in
    Washington that the Biden Administration is contemplating going
    easy on China and removing companies from the entities list. I
    certainly hope that does not happen because I think that would
    be profoundly contrary to the National Security interests of
    the United States. The Department of Commerce's mandate and its
    mission is to create conditions for economic growth and
    opportunity. The Department of Commerce's job is to advocate
    for commerce, to advocate for jobs.
        I will say I am certainly concerned that in the Biden
    Administration, the Commerce Department will not have that as
    its priority. President Biden has named you as a member of the
    interagency working group on the social cost of greenhouse
    gases. In what Federal statute does the Department of Commerce
    find legal authority to promulgate rules concerning greenhouse
    gases?
        Ms. Raimondo. That is a good question. I am not certain,
    but I will tell you that President Biden asks me to serve on
    his team in a capacity to help American workers compete or to
    fight climate change, then I obviously will be a key player on
    that team.
        Senator Cruz. So, Governor, your current job as Governor of
    Rhode Island, as you know, in 2019, CNBC did its annual
    rankings of the states that are friendly to business, and the
    state of Rhode Island came out 50th, dead last, the worst state
    in the union for businesses. Given that record, how are the
    American people--what reassurances can you give the American
    people that your performance at Commerce would be better than
    the state of Rhode Island has done in terms of creating an
    environment where jobs are plentiful?
        Ms. Raimondo. When I ran for Governor, Rhode Island had the
    highest unemployment rate in the country. And just prior to
    COVID, we had the lowest unemployment rate in our state's
    history and the most jobs in our state's history. When I ran,
    we were 50 out of 50 on Business Insider's ranking and a couple
    of years into my term, we were 26th. So my record is clear that
    we have created thousands of jobs for the people of Rhode
    Island and I look forward to fighting for the American worker,
    should I be confirmed.
        Senator Cruz. And final question, should you be confirmed,
    last week President Biden signed an Executive Order canceling
    the Keystone pipeline, destroying 11,000 jobs, including 8,000
    union jobs. If you were confirmed as Secretary of Commerce,
    what would you say to those 11,000 construction workers whose
    jobs have been destroyed by the stroke of a pen? And what would
    you say to them?
        Ms. Raimondo. I would say we are going to get you to work.
    I would say that climate change is a threat to all of us and
    that we will make sure that you have jobs, that you have the
    skills you need to have a job. And by the way, as we meet the
    needs of climate change, there will be many more jobs created,
    good paying jobs, union jobs. And should I be the Commerce
    Secretary, I will fight every single day for every American to
    have a decent paying job and a chance to compete.
        Senator Cruz. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cruz. Senator Markey, we
    have heard an awful lot from New England already today. Would
    you like to just yield back your time?
        [Laughter.]

                   STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD MARKEY,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS

        Senator Markey. Well, this is a great game, Mr. Chairman.
    The Bay State and the Ocean State, we agree on a lot of issues
    and we are small in numbers, but we are mighty on policies. And
    Governor Raimondo is a perfect example of someone who is just
    an incredible leader on issues that make her state cutting edge
    in just so many areas. And I would like to if I could begin,
    Governor, by taking two subjects I usually raise in committees
    with Senator Wicker, and that is telecommunications and climate
    change. And we are going to need programs and I am going to be
    introducing legislation toward this effect in order to protect
    our telecommunications networks, our fiber optic networks, and
    harden them against the impact of climate change. So I am
    asking you whether or not you would work with me toward the
    goal of putting together the programs that will help to ensure
    that that infrastructure gets protected from the inevitability
    of the climate change that is already built into our
    atmosphere?
        Ms. Raimondo. It would be my honor to work with you. I have
    long admired your leadership in this area. And yes, I would
    look forward to that.
        Senator Markey. Thank you. In the most recent relief bill,
    the one that we passed right at the end of 2020, we were able
    to include $300 million for relief for the fishing industry,
    something that you are very familiar with. So I would love to
    hear your views on how quickly, expeditiously that funding can
    get out into the hands of the fishing industry in all of its
    various manifestations.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. I know you are very
    committed to the fishermen in your state. We have talked about
    it, and like you, I come from a state with thousands of
    fishermen. Should I be confirmed, I will assess that very
    quickly and make sure that it is distributed as expeditiously
    as possible. The fishermen are struggling like so many others
    right now, and we need to do our best to get the money out the
    door quickly and effectively and transparently.
        Senator Markey. Thank you. And NOAA is just such a critical
    agency in terms of protecting our country against the impact of
    climate change. And I have a number of pieces of legislation.
    One, with Senator Sullivan, the Ocean Research Act to designate
    funding for critical research on ocean acidification. I have a
    Climate Change Education Act so that NOAA could study and
    dispense grants on key climate health and jobs related issues.
    So would you, if confirmed, would you work with me on those
    issues on climate health and marine science priorities?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I would look forward to working with
    you.
        Senator Markey. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. And the
    Nation's first Federal fisheries lab was established at Woods
    Hole, Massachusetts, in 1871, 150 years ago. The Northeast
    Fisheries Science Center is an invaluable part of Massachusetts
    fishery and science community. So, Governor, would you commit
    that NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center will remain in
    Massachusetts?
        Ms. Raimondo. Senator, I deeply admire your advocacy on
    this issue. I think you have brought it up with me every time
    we have spoken. And should I be confirmed, I will commit to
    look into that and work with you on it.
        Senator Markey. Well, I thank you for that. And again, I
    would like to ask you to come and visit at Woods Hole so that
    we can show you the incredible work that is being done right
    there on all these fishery issues as well. And I would also ask
    you, Governor, if you would consider adding additional NOAA
    facilities and capacity in New Bedford and in other areas of
    Massachusetts in order to provide the on-the-ground expertise
    on fishing, offshore wind and other issues important to
    Massachusetts communities?
        Ms. Raimondo. I would look forward to coming to Wood Hole
    and to New Bedford and exploring that with you.
        Senator Markey. And I appreciate very much. Obviously,
    workers, fishermen have been under enormous stress over this
    past year and before. And so I look forward to working with
    you. I think you are going to be a great Secretary of Commerce.
    You bring just an incredible background that has prepared you
    for this moment in our country's history. So I thank you for
    your service to Rhode Island, and to our country in the years
    ahead. Thank you.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you. Thank you, Senator Markey. Senator
    Moran.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS

        Senator Moran. Chairman Wicker, thank you. Governor
    Raimondo, thank you for being with us today. And thank you for
    the conversation we have had recently. Let me start with an
    issue for me as an appropriator. As we discussed yesterday, I
    chair the subcommittee on Appropriations that funds the
    Department of Commerce. We raised with you yesterday, and I
    want to do again today, do so again today, a couple of large,
    mission-critical, high-cost items within the Department of
    Commerce's budget. Two of the Department's largest bureaus,
    NOAA and NIST, are both facing crises as it relates to
    recapitalizing, aging and in some cases, obsolete
    infrastructure. I recently visited the NOAA Aircraft Operations
    Center where I learned about the need to recapitalize the
    agency's fleet of hurricane hunter aircraft, an effort that
    will require more than $600 million in funding before 2024.
        Likewise, earlier this year, I visited the NIST campus in
    Boulder, Colorado, and the laboratories clearly are aging, and
    they are housing some of our Nation's most premier scientists
    tasked with some of our country's most challenging issues in
    science and technology. So unfortunately, the funding crisis
    for these capital costs are often not included in the
    department's budget or in those agencies? budgets request. It
    is difficult to take things out of everyday operations and put
    them into things that are necessary for long-term benefits.
        But I would ask you if you will include and prioritize in
    the Department's budget request that we will see later this
    year and commit to testifying before our subcommittee in regard
    to these and the other appropriations items?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator, and thank you for
    bringing this up as you did yesterday. So first, let me say I
    certainly concur that some of the finest scientists and
    mathematicians in America are at NIST and at the Department,
    and they do deserve adequate facilities. And I will commit to
    looking into this and learning more and certainly coming back
    to you, should I be confirmed.
        Senator Moran. Governor, thank you. I raised also with you
    in our conversation something I wanted to raise again, because
    I don't know that it will be mentioned by anyone else. And I
    wouldn't expect you to be terribly knowledgeable about this
    topic. But it is a topic of fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer
    that farmers use to grow crops. It is the second most important
    fertilizer behind nitrogen. And on February 8, just a few days
    from now, Commerce is scheduled to make a final determination
    on countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco,
    which is one of our Nation's largest suppliers. Since the CBD
    investigation began, the price for those fertilizers in the
    United States has increased approximately 25 percent.
        The higher prices are being passed on to farmers,
    increasing their input costs. And it comes at an always
    challenging time for farmers and ultimately comes at a very
    challenging time for consumers. Governor, I need to highlight
    this issue and hope that in making a final determination on
    those duties on phosphate fertilizers, you will assure me that
    you will take into account the broad impact of those duties
    that they have on the agricultural economy, on input costs and
    on the consumer.
        And I would ask you to consult--I have a conversation with
    nominee, Governor Vilsack, Secretary Vilsack to have this
    conversation as well and I am going to encourage him to visit
    with you about this issue before February the 8th. I need some
    reassurance that you understand the magnitude and challenge of
    this issue for everyday farmers and ranchers in this country.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. Thank you for bringing it up.
    I know your passion for this, and I appreciate your advocacy on
    behalf of your constituents. Yes, as with all countervailing
    duties and tariffs, I understand the pain that some of these
    decisions can cause to farmers in your state. And I absolutely
    look forward to working with you and Secretary Vilsack. I
    will--a strong relationship with him generally as it relates to
    all export policies for agriculture and farmers and imports.
        Senator Moran. Two other items that I was intended to bring
    up or have been brought up by others, I would highlight them
    again for you, the Privacy Shield also has a consequence for
    data privacy that Senator Blumenthal and I, in particular, have
    worked on. And also Senator Blunt raised this morning the issue
    of 232 tariffs, and I appreciate the conversation we had on
    those. Finally, I would say, Governor, you have prioritized
    everyone's request for things that you prioritize. And so I
    would finally ask you, will you prioritize my requests over the
    priorities of other members of this committee?
        [Laughter.]
        The Chairman. Don't thank him for that question.
        Ms. Raimondo. It is probably one commitment I surely cannot
    make.
        The Chairman. Senator Baldwin is next.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY BALDWIN,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN

        Senator Baldwin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor
    Raimondo, as we discussed last week, I hold our Federal
    research mission in the highest regard. I think I shared that
    my grandfather who raised me was an NIH-funded researcher at
    the University of Wisconsin Madison. As Commerce Secretary, you
    will enforce the Bayh-Dole Act, which dictates how technology
    developed with Federal research dollars can be transferred to
    the private sector. Bayh-Dole retains some rights over new
    inventions for the Federal Government in order to--the public
    interest. It also includes a requirement that these cutting-
    edge inventions be manufactured in the United States. At the
    very end of the Trump Administration, NIST proposed a new rule
    that would prohibit the Federal Government reasserting its
    ownership rights over an invention if a private company is
    charging too much.
        In the middle of a pandemic and a recession, it doesn't
    seem like the right time for us to limit the Government's
    ability to make products Americans need more affordable. So, in
    fact, I believe that innovations that are paid for by the
    American taxpayer should be used to improve the lives of the
    American people. Governor, will you work with me to amend or
    change those rules so we can create jobs and provide Americans
    affordable access to new cutting-edge products?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator, for bringing that up, as
    you did the other day, and, yes, I will commit to working with
    you. I will also say that in my time in the private sector as a
    venture capitalist, we worked extensively with universities
    around tech transfer. And so I do have some familiarity with
    the power of how many jobs you can create if you harness that
    sort of technology. And this is, you know, a leader in that.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you. The Department of Commerce also
    has the opportunity to play an important role in ensuring that
    our Nation's infrastructure is more resilient to the effects of
    climate change and extreme weather events. In Wisconsin and
    throughout the Midwest that means infrastructure that can
    withstand severe flooding that is occurring with increased
    regularity. My bipartisan Built to Last Act would help ensure
    Federal, state, and local, and private infrastructure is more
    resilient by equipping those who develop building codes with
    the best available climate information and technical assistance
    if needed. The bill includes directives for NOAA and NIST, and
    it could be carried out by executive action. So, Governor, if
    confirmed, do I have your commitment to supporting climate
    resilient infrastructure, including efforts like those in my
    bipartisan Built to Last Act?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. I look forward to learning more
    about what is in the bill specifically. But certainly I, and
    again, I am a Governor of a coastal state. We are uniquely
    vulnerable to the harms of climate change. I understand the
    value of shoring up our infrastructure and, you know, look
    forward to working with you on the issue.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you. In 2013, I successfully worked
    to reopen the process at NOAA that allows states to nominate
    their nationally significant marine areas for Federal
    protection as national marine sanctuaries. And Wisconsin has
    nominated an area of Lake Michigan. This proposal required and
    garnered tremendous local support and a wide range of
    stakeholders have worked together for years to plan and
    advocate for, to protect and celebrate this really remarkable
    resource. Do you support the mission of NOAA's Marine Sanctuary
    Program? And if confirmed, would you ensure that the pending
    designation process for the Wisconsin Marine Sanctuary moves
    forward without delay?
        Ms. Raimondo. So thank you for bringing this up and for
    advocating. You know, I do support the process and I will
    assure you I will look into the details of that and move it
    forward to the best of my abilities.
        Senator Baldwin. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Baldwin. Senator Sullivan.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA

        Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And Governor, I
    appreciated our opportunity to have a good discussion on a
    number of critical issues yesterday, so thanks for your time.
    And I am going to follow up on some of those in my remarks. One
    thing that I didn't get to ask you about was this issue that
    you highlighted in your testimony today which I watched, and I
    thought was very powerful, good paying jobs and the story about
    your dad losing a job. I think that is going to be critical as
    we are in this recession. And to be honest, one of the things I
    am worried about, we have had a huge development in America
    with regard to the energy sector.
        This is everything, renewables, clean energy, oil, gas,
    where we have become the dominant player in the world. Pretty
    remarkable. Almost everybody thinks that is a good thing to be
    the superpower of energy again, all of the above energy. And it
    definitely produces millions of good jobs. It has reduced
    greenhouse gas emissions with the revolution in natural gas
    spreads, stretched budgets for families. But one concern I
    have, I am having a hard time finding anyone in the Biden,
    incoming Biden cabinet who will be an advocate for a strong
    energy sector in America. This, to me, seems like a very basic,
    non-controversial proposition and in fact, out of the gate,
    some of the Biden Administration's moves seem to be directly
    targeted at actually killing energy sector jobs or related
    sectors.
        So can I ask you to commit to being that advocate, given
    your important position, should you be confirmed for the energy
    sector, broad based, everything, renewables, clean energy,
    wind, as you have been a leader in, but also traditional
    energy, oil and gas, and certainly not to be an advocate for
    targeting putting thousands of people out of work in the
    sector, which has already happened in the first week of the
    Obama or Biden Administration. Can I get your commitment on
    that?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. Thank you for your time
    yesterday. Obviously as Commerce Secretary, I will not be
    playing a primary role on President Biden's team as it relates
    to energy policy. But I will do everything within my power to
    help create jobs for American people. And as it relates to
    NOAA, I think that as Commerce Secretary, should I be
    confirmed, I will have the opportunity to help create thousands
    of jobs with offshore wind in particular.
        Senator Sullivan. Let me--well, I appreciate that. I just
    want to make sure that again there shouldn't be discrimination
    against good paying jobs, and I am starting to feel that there
    is. And we shouldn't have that in our country, particularly as
    we are in a recession. Let me talk and again, I really
    appreciated our opportunities to chat yesterday. I just want to
    get your commitments that we talked about. You know, having
    broad based sustainable fisheries is going to be critical for
    America. You will be the leader in this if confirmed overseeing
    NOAA.
        As I mentioned yesterday, over two-thirds, almost two-
    thirds of all fish harvested in the United States come from
    Alaska. So we are the superpower of seafood. No offense to my
    colleague, Senator Scott, who is sitting right next to me from
    Florida. But can I get your commitment to work with me on
    surveys, on data to make sure the United States and my state
    continue to have the most sustainable, best managed fisheries
    in the world?
        Ms. Raimondo. So first, let me say that in my state, we
    have over 4,000 people who make a living commercial fishing,
    and they have for generations. They did, their father, their
    grandfather did. And I understand how important that part of
    the economy is in your state. And you have a strong commitment
    to work closely with you on making sure that the surveys and
    the stock assessments, etcetera, are fact-based, science based,
    and we really take into account the needs and concerns of the
    fishermen and the stakeholders in your state.
        Senator Sullivan. Well, I appreciate that. And I
    appreciated your discussion of your own background on
    fisheries. I think that is going to be critical if confirmed as
    you come into this role. Finally on an area that we talked
    about yesterday, and I will have more questions for the record
    to submit. But on the healthy oceans, can you commit to working
    with me and other members of the Senate in a bipartisan way on
    the implementation of the Save Our Seas 2.0, which Senator
    Whitehouse and I were able to get over the goal line and signed
    by President Trump in December, which will--Congressional
    researchers call it the most comprehensive ocean cleanup
    legislation ever to come out of the Congress. A lot of the
    implementation that will be under your leadership if confirmed.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, absolutely.
        Senator Sullivan. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator. Thank you very much,
    Senator Sullivan. Before I recognize Senator Peters, let me say
    we have 11 members who have not yet asked questions, 13 members
    have asked questions, and we have a vote at noon, which we will
    work through. But I do ask members to stick very closely to the
    5-minute rule. Senator Peters.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. GARY PETERS,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN

        Senator Peters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And Governor
    Raimondo, it is certainly great to see you and congratulations
    on your nomination and your willingness to serve in this
    capacity. Certainly, I enjoyed our opportunity to talk at
    length on a number of these issues prior to this meeting. And
    among the many things that I learned, I was very pleased to
    know your very strong family connections to the state of
    Michigan from your husband and all of your in-laws up in Mount
    Pleasant, Michigan.
        And those Michigan roots that you have in your family are
    wonderful and happy to hear that. And I also appreciate it, and
    you have said, you have talked about the story again in today's
    hearing about your father's struggles related to manufacturing
    and the need for us to make sure that we have a strong
    manufacturing sector in this country. I know it is something
    that you feel very passionate about. And if this pandemic has
    taught us anything, it is that our domestic manufacturing and
    that our supply chains are vulnerable because we have not
    prioritized and coordinated manufacturing policy at the Federal
    level in a way that we should.
        I believe you can't be a great country if you don't
    actually make things. And in order to do that, we need to lean
    in. Given the fact that although we have 58 different
    manufacturing programs within the Federal Government, they are
    spread out over 11 different Federal agencies. There is
    duplication, there is wasted resources and there isn't a
    singular vote. And when we talked earlier, I talked about
    legislation that I have proposed to create a National Institute
    of Manufacturing that would give that unified voice and that
    coordinated strategy that some of our main competitors, like
    South Koreans and Germany, are engaged in, to allow us to
    compete effectively. It would establish a chief manufacturing
    officer, require a national strategic plan for manufacturing,
    and elevate National Manufacturing Council, something that has
    been basically defunct over the last 4 years under the Trump
    Administration, build out the manufacturing.gov is one stop hub
    for small and medium manufacturers to get additional help to
    make sure that their businesses are as successful as possible,
    as well as create a national institute.
        So my question for you Governor is, if confirmed as
    Secretary, will you commit with this committee and with me to
    elevate manufacturing policy generally, perhaps speak to that,
    as well as strengthening our industrial sector by addressing
    some of the items that I brought up?
        Ms. Raimondo. So thank you for that question. I will
    wholeheartedly commit to, should I be confirmed, using all of
    the strength and tools of the Commerce Department to do
    everything I can to bolster manufacturing. As I said, it is
    important to me. It is how I was raised. I have worked very
    closely as my time as Governor with the Rhode Island
    manufacturers and would look forward to working closely with
    you as well.
        Senator Peters. Well, thank you for that. One of the big
    challenges facing smaller manufacturing industries and domestic
    producers is unfair trade from foreign Governments. We have an
    issue in Michigan with our cherry growers. So we are cherry
    capital USA, our tart cherry producers, but they are facing
    significant, unfair trade from Turkey that has had a
    significant negative impact on their ability to produce. And
    quite frankly, it is an existential threat.
        I have introduced legislation to empower the Commerce
    Department to be more actively engaged in self initiating
    enforcement actions to help smaller manufacturers, smaller
    producers like cherry growers. In Michigan, we have cherry
    growers who are facing this competition. And in order to fight
    back, they had to raise millions of dollars to take the case
    forward. These are small growers that don't have the money to
    put up to do that because they are struggling just to keep
    their operation functioning and they really need a partner. And
    I certainly believe that the Federal Government can be that
    partner for those industries that can't hire an army of lawyers
    and economists to fight these trade actions.
        I am working on legislation, self-initiation legislation
    with Senator Burr, a bipartisan basis and certainly, if
    confirmed, would love to have your commitment to work on how we
    strengthen our ability to push back on unfair foreign
    competition for our small industries, small manufacturers, and
    others that are being impacted by this activity.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you for bringing it up. You brought it
    up the other day. I hear your passion to stick up for the
    cherry industry. Absolutely will work with you. Will also
    commit to making Commerce more accessible to the small
    companies and farmers and work with Secretary Vilsack to do
    that. I think, as I told you every year on his birthday, I make
    my husband a cherry cake with Michigan cherry. So on this one,
    you had me at hello.
        Senator Peters. Well, that is wonderful, Governor. Thank
    you for your answers.
        The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator Peters. Senator
    Blackburn.

                  STATEMENT OF HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE

        Senator Blackburn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Governor, thank
    you for your time yesterday in order to work through some of
    these questions. I do appreciate the time that you gave me on
    the phone. And I appreciate some of your comments that you
    made. I know that a lot of people have focused on the seas and
    fisheries, but instead of the high waves I am going to take
    you, or the high seas, I am going to take you up there to
    spectrum. And let's look at the utilization of spectrum. And of
    course, the NTIA and their positioning in making certain that
    they are properly managing broadband, they are properly
    managing spectrum by the Federal Government. So we talked a
    little bit about 5G yesterday and having that 5G
    telecommunications network. And so a simple yes or no for the
    record. Do you or do you not support nationalization of a 5G
    telecommunications network?
        Ms. Raimondo. I do not. I share your concerns about a
    nationalized 5G network.
        Senator Blackburn. Thank you. I appreciate that. Let's look
    at the broadband mapping. We talked a little bit about the
    importance of getting rural America online and connected. And
    mapping is a big part of this. You have the 477 maps that FCC
    and NTIA have worked to complete. And so how do you plan to
    leverage the national broadband availability map in making
    policy recommendations for rural Internet access, putting a
    distinction between those areas that are unserved and
    underserved?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. So first, let me just say
    I look forward to working with you and learning from you on
    this, and you have my commitment to prioritize underserved
    areas, including rural and tribal areas. I have heard for the
    past 10 months from many Governors, Republican and Democrat
    alike, all across America, about how many of their citizens
    don't have access to broadband, which means they can't go to
    school, go to the doctor to sign up for a vaccine. I commit to
    having a strong NTIA, a spectrum strategy, looking at the maps,
    looking at ways to share spectrum, looking at ways to find
    spectrum to be available so that we can close the digital
    divide. It is not a luxury good. I mean, people, everybody
    deserves access to broadband.
        Senator Blackburn. If I may, you use putting the emphasis
    on underserved. What we need to do and have to do is put the
    emphasis on unserved areas, those that have nothing. What got
    the Federal Government, I think, quite frankly, into a little
    bit of a problem during the Obama and Biden stimulus, was they
    allowed underserved. That is why you have some cities that have
    a gig and right outside that city limit, you have nothing. So,
    Governor, I would just highlight with you that is a very
    important distinction. And we need to prioritize these unserved
    areas because you cannot, as we discussed yesterday, have
    access to 21st century economic development, health care,
    education, or law enforcement without access to high-speed
    Internet. Privacy Shield, we talked a little bit about Privacy
    Shield yesterday. So how do you plan to continue the Privacy
    Shield negotiations with the Europeans?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. As I said, I understand that
    Privacy Shield is necessary for many companies, especially
    small companies who rely upon transfers of data. So I intend
    to, should I be confirmed, prioritize finalizing the
    negotiations so we have a successor agreement that enables
    these businesses to conduct their business.
        Senator Blackburn. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Blackburn. Governor
    Raimondo, Senator Blackburn hammers home a very important
    point. There is $1.3 billion in broadband grants, $1 billion
    for tribal areas, $300 million for broadband deployment in
    unserved areas. We absolutely have to make sure that money is
    devoted to unserved, absolutely unserved areas and make sure
    that those funds are not used to overbuild areas that already
    have some service. So I am glad we have re-emphasized that
    point again. Senator Duckworth, you are recognized.

                  STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS

        Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you,
    Governor Raimondo. Congratulations on your nomination. I
    enjoyed speaking with you last week, and I am confident that
    your executive experience working with business to grow the
    economy in your home state of Rhode Island will prepare you
    well to lead the Commerce Department. In my view, I think
    Commerce is one of the more underrated departments in the
    Federal Government. And with strong leadership and robust
    funding, Commerce could play a critical role in helping
    American manufacturers, small business owners, and
    entrepreneurs commercialize products, reach new customers, and
    hire even more workers. I am going to turn my volume up just a
    little bit. Sorry about this.
        On that note, I wanted to know how we can do to promote
    American innovation, supporting long neglected communities and
    leveling the playing field for U.S. Companies competing with
    foreign competitors. There are three programs in particular I
    would like to discuss with you, which we did talk about when we
    met last week. First, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
    One of the most pivotal programs overseen by a Commerce is the
    MEP. My state partner organization with the MEP network, IMEC,
    delivers incredible value to Illinois small businesses and
    manufacturers by helping improve their operations, implement
    long term strategy, commercialize their products, and grow
    their companies. And last year, IMEC helped small businesses in
    my state weather the COVID-19 crisis and assist others at a
    very critical moment in our fight against a pandemic. For
    instance, when a company in Bensenville wanted to remake some
    of its products to help first responders, health care workers,
    service members and service providers to decontaminate N-95
    masks quickly, they turned to IMEC to make sure that they were
    fully compliant with available guidance and working with the
    right Government partners in the fight against COVID.
        Now, I know you have the same success story in Rhode Island
    itself. Your own Polaris MEP helped connect your state with a
    nearby manufacturing company to produce vitally needed PPE
    gowns last year. And I imagine you share my confusion when you
    heard that the Trump Administration in every single budget has
    sought to eliminate all Federal funding for a MEP, not once but
    in every single budget that they have put forward. Seeking to
    eliminate MEP which is enthusiastically supported by Democratic
    and Republican members alike, may have been one of the most
    short-sighted and unbelievable proposals that Trump
    Administration sent up the Hill.
        I was pleased to join a broad bipartisan majorities in
    Congress on multiple occasions to not only reject Trump's
    effort to gut the MEP program, but to go further and increasing
    funding for Fiscal Year 2021. Governor Raimondo, can you
    describe your experience working with MEP as Governor of Rhode
    Island and provide your commitment to work with me and
    championing even greater Federal investment in IMEC, Polaris
    MEP and the entire MEP national network?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. Yes, I have had a
    fantastic experience here in Rhode Island with our MEP program
    and I am a strong supporter of the MEP program. President Biden
    has said he would like to have it expanded, which is something
    I support. I think I have been clear today that, should
    confirmed, I would like to be a champion for the American
    worker, but American manufacturers and do everything I can,
    including executing MEP to expand the industry, promote
    innovation, and help be a leader in manufacturing.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you. Would you also show the same
    support for the EDA, Economic Development Administration, the
    EDA program, especially on prioritizing President Biden's
    proposal to establish a new EDA division focused on helping
    disadvantaged communities get ahead? And will you help my
    office with some technical assistance to help us codify this
    effort into law to ensure that it lasts through successive
    Administrations?
        Ms. Raimondo. Should I be confirmed, I will make sure you
    have full access to me and all the tools in the department to
    work with you on that. And again, as Governor, I see how
    powerful EDA can be in a community for economic development,
    and I would look forward to leading with you in that area, in
    your state and every state.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you. And my colleague from
    Michigan, Senator Peters, just talked about the cherry wars
    with the country of Turkey. And you and I chatted a little bit
    about steel dumping and how desperately needed the Department
    of Commerce is when it comes to businesses trying to settle
    trade disputes. If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, how will
    you prioritize trade enforcement and work with other agencies
    to combat circumvention of our Nation's trade laws through
    practices like the transshipping of goods, while providing
    small businesses with confidence that their interests will be
    aggressively represented in the trade remedy process? By the
    time that they can bring their own case, they are out of
    business and bankrupt. They need your help.
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I understand that. As I said, I think
    the American worker can compete if the rules are fair, and I
    will enforce to the fullest extent possible the rules that
    Commerce has to protect American workers and businesses, with
    special eye to smaller businesses that struggle, as you say.
        Senator Duckworth. Would you consider having someone within
    your office like a trade czar or somebody who would head up
    that effort when it comes to trade disagreements?
        Ms. Raimondo. You mentioned that the other day. I think it
    is a very interesting idea and I look forward to learning more
    about it.
        Senator Duckworth. Thank you. I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Capito.

                STATEMENT OF HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO,
                    U.S. SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA

        Senator Capito. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you,
    Ranking Member Cantwell. Thank you, Governor, for being not
    only nominated, but thank you for your testimony and
    willingness to speak to me as it seems like you have spoken to
    everybody, which is incredible. Last week I enjoyed our
    conversation. We talked about some of the same issues that many
    people have brought up. I am going to go to the EDA, first of
    all. You and I talked about how the EDA's presence in your
    state of Rhode Island and I have talked about how impactful and
    what a growing impact EDA has had in our states.
        But I do have a question in terms of the President's
    proposed stimulus recommends an additional $3 billion for EDA.
    And I value and respect the focus of that. I have great
    concerns about an agency that has an annual budget of $330
    million to be able to absorb not just the $3 billion that he is
    proposing, but also the $1.5 billion that we put in with the
    CARES Act. So how would you propose to be able to meet that
    capacity, a challenge I think the EDA would have, to make sure
    that the money is being spent not only in--not just throw it
    out, but also making sure that it is targeted, well spent, and
    efficiently spent? Do you have any ideas on that?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. So first, let me say, as we
    rebuild post-COVID, I believe that the EDA can and needs to
    play a very strong and important role in the rebuilding to help
    Americans get back to work in their communities. Second, I
    understand your concern. I have been Governor for 6 years, a
    public executive for 10 years. Implementation matters and I
    have a strong track record of good management, transparency,
    and implementation.
        And what I will say to you is I understand the concern. It
    is obviously very valid. I need to get in the job, and be
    confirmed, and we will come back to you with your permission to
    have a discussion about, you know, whether there are any
    additional resources needed in EDA in order to effectively
    implement such a large infusion.
        Senator Capito. I would welcome that. I think that would be
    wise and I think that would be a great way to address the
    challenge. I am going to switch over to NTIA and I know some
    others have asked you about this, but we talked about broadband
    in your state. You have more urban broadband issues. We have a
    lot of rural broadband. Certainly this committee has done a lot
    of work in this. But one of the areas that we have really
    fallen short is on the mapping situation. Who really is served
    and to what degree are they served and what can we do to more
    accurately deploy the Federal resources to those that it is
    intended for, the unserved and underserved?
        And so I would just encourage you, West Virginia was one of
    the first eight states to be in the broadband mapping. There
    are now 22 states that are in there. They are using state
    resources as well, because you can't just rely on the providers
    to tell you where they are serving or just one state entity, I
    think you--or Federal entity. I think you need an all hands-on
    deck approach. And I know this is important to you for your
    state. Do you have any other perspectives on how we can get to
    that broadband mapping accurately when we see the urgency the
    pandemic has brought for broadband deployment?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. I share your urgency on this. And
    as I have said, it is lifesaving. People need access to
    broadband to go to the doctor, to go to school, to have a job.
    So I will commit to prioritizing it and also to engaging
    stakeholders. I have learned in my time as Governor that if you
    talk to people on the ground, companies, constituencies,
    individuals, you have a better assessment of the challenges on
    the ground and therefore, you know, better able to meet their
    needs.
        Senator Capito. I think that is a great approach. Sounds
    like a good Governor approach to me at the same time. And last,
    I will just mention as I did to you, our NOAA facility that we
    are very proud of in Fairmont. We do a lot of supercomputing
    there. We also have the Enterprise Security Operations Center,
    which it does a lot of cybersecurity. You can imagine a lot of
    the data that is collected, and the satellite sphere is very
    important to our National Security, but also to our homeland
    security in terms of protecting life and property, in terms of
    being able to not just predict, but be able to front-run
    certain kinds of what would potentially be weather disasters or
    other things.
        So I would just, I mentioned to you, I invite you to come
    to Fairmont on your confirmation and to see the NOAA facility
    and see where the great folks in Fairmont could be more helpful
    and use that expertise that they, combined with the educational
    centers, to be able to enlarge their presence. And my time is
    done, and I listen to what my Chairman says, and he says, stick
    to the time. So, thank you very much.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Capito. Senator Tester.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. JON TESTER,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA

        Senator Tester. I want to thank you, Mr. Chairman, both
    Chairmen as a matter of fact, and I want to thank you Governor
    for being here. I come to you a bit blurry today, and I am not
    even in Montana. I am in D.C., which brings me to broadband.
        The Chairman. I am actually seeing double here on the
    screen.
        Senator Tester. Yes, I know, I know. Just, close one eye
    and it will be better. So I want to talk broadband a little
    bit, Governor. There--it is a four-or five-legged stool with
    the FCC, Rural Development, USDA, and NTIA. I think that is an
    incredible challenge and getting what many of the questions
    have talked about and getting broadband built into unserved
    areas.
        Tell me what your--tell me if you thought about this,
    number one. And number two, do you have some ideas on how to
    get the different agencies to work as one? I, quite frankly,
    think we ought to put it into one. And I know there is some
    difficulties in doing that, but it is really tough to have
    accountability when you have four different agencies doing the
    same thing.
        Ms. Raimondo. So thank you for this, and I just again want
    to reiterate that this will be a strong focus of mine because I
    know it is a problem on tribal lands, rural, you know,
    everywhere. And I have learned in my time as Governor a bit
    about how to break down silos in Government. It is difficult,
    but I believe it is possible if we have a shared goal, as we
    will in this instance. It is bipartisan. It is necessary.
        We need to break down the silos and come together to
    achieve that goal. And I will just commit to you that I will
    lead on the issue and also collaborate, as you say, with the
    FCC, with other areas of Government in order to make sure we
    deliver for the American people. The American people don't care
    about our silos and bureaucracy. They want us to deliver and
    that is what I will work on.
        Senator Tester. Well, I appreciate that. And just to show
    how effective you are, I am now in focus. So that is incredible
    work Governor already and you are not even confirmed. Look, in
    Montana, the wood products industry is really an important
    industry. It creates a lot of jobs, provides lumber for
    building homes and corrals and everything else. The duties on
    softwood lumber, I would hope you would maintain that where
    they are now, because it is fair and it offers full opportunity
    for forest management and creation of jobs across Montana,
    across the West, you know, across the whole country. Maine is
    also there. I am sure Michigan and other places are too.
        So I appreciate you doing that. And I want to talk about
    the Census just really quickly, because it is generally
    believed that because of the pandemic and because of this
    Administration's inability to get things right, the census
    numbers are not right. And I was wondering if you have any
    ideas on how to address that? I will tell you that I think it
    is a challenge in rural America and it is a particular
    challenge in any country where the pandemic hit them very, very
    hard. Do you have any ideas on how to, after the fact, try to
    get these numbers accurate?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, I appreciate that. And I have worked
    hard here to make sure everybody is counted. As I said, first,
    let's take the politics out. And second, you have to listen to
    the experts. So I look forward to being confirmed, getting in
    the seat, and really rolling up my sleeves and listening to the
    experts and relying on, in the Census Department, relying on
    their assessment and evaluation as to how accurate the data is.
    And if they need more time, then certainly open to that.
        Senator Tester. Well, just to give you a data point. In
    Blackfeet, the self-response rate was 29 percent. And I think
    it is pretty similar that across the large land-based tribes in
    this country. And so there is a lot of work to do. Very
    quickly, because I have only got a minute and 20 seconds. China
    has been brought up a number of times. You have talked about
    your philosophy of free but fair trade. I think this
    Administration has botched up the relationships with trade with
    China by, quite frankly, trying to go it alone.
        And I don't think you can do that. I think not only has the
    United States been impacted by China's currency manipulation
    and other things, but other countries are too. Can you give me
    an idea on how you are going to deal with China? Because they
    are not going to change unless they are forced to change. And
    just to stand up at a podium and scream and holler about how
    unfair things are, is not going to get it done.
        And so can you tell me what your plan for China is going to
    be as far as this country and other countries and what your
    recommendations to Biden and the Biden Administration are going
    to be when it comes to China?
        Ms. Raimondo. So, first of all, I would say we cannot
    underestimate the threat. Second of all, it has to require a
    whole of Government response. And I will play my role in that
    if confirmed. Third, I agree with you that we need to work with
    our allies, and we need to be very serious because it is not
    fair what is happening to American workers.
        Senator Tester. Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Tester. Senator Johnson.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. RON JOHNSON,
                      U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN

        Senator Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome,
    Governor. Let me start out by apologizing if I ask you
    questions that you have already covered. I did chair a business
    meeting on the consideration of Ale Mayorka's nomination, which
    was reported favorably on the floor. So I apologize up front. I
    do want to cover Section 230 and the power of the social media
    companies. Let me just first start by asking you, do you
    believe that social media companies have amassed too much
    power, both commercially as well as from a standpoint of media
    and a role in censorship? Let's start just commercially, their
    ability to just the platform businesses without any kind of
    recourse.
        Ms. Raimondo. Well, I believe in competition and innovation
    and as it relates to social media companies, I think they need
    to be held accountable for what they put on their platform. We
    need responsible online discourse and platform accountability.
        Senator Johnson. That didn't really answer the question, do
    you believe they have become too powerful? Do you think the
    Federal Government does need to step in and take some kind of
    action as it is unclear what that action really should be?
        Ms. Raimondo. That is an issue that I think I would leave
    to Congress and the FTC, but as I said, I believe in
    competition and I think that it is important that we look at
    the social media companies in that regard.
        Senator Johnson. They are really, from my standpoint, two
    components of Section 230, liability protection. One is
    protection from what people load onto your platform. The other
    one is in what they call their moderation policies. One thing I
    think I have proposed is leave in place the liability
    protection on what people load onto your platform. But really
    take a serious look at removing the liability protection for
    the fact that you maybe don't have transparent policies and how
    you do censor, how you do moderate, what your moderation
    policies are. Would you agree with that approach?
        Ms. Raimondo. I would agree that we need some reform in
    Section 230, and I would look forward to working with you on
    that. I know you are a leader in this area, and I would use, if
    confirmed, use the resources at NTIA to convene stakeholders,
    convene industry, consult you and other Members of Congress to
    figure out the details of that reform.
        Senator Johnson. Well, there is an interesting article in
    The Wall Street Journal written by Andy Kessler today where he
    shares my concern that if Congress gets involved in this,
    chances are we will probably do more harm than good. But one of
    his proposals really was to end anonymity.
        When you have people being able to hop onto these social
    platforms completely anonymous, you end up with the result we
    have. I thought is a pretty interesting proposal. What would
    you think about--the basic concept was the Facebooks, the
    Twitters of the world have to know their customers so that if
    there is incitement, if there are problems, those customers can
    be held accountable? Do you think that is something you could
    support?
        Ms. Raimondo. As I said, I think platform accountability is
    important. I have seen in my own state that misinformation
    hurts people. You know, misinformation posted anonymously or
    otherwise can hurt people. So we have to hold these companies
    accountable. We need platform accountability. But, of course,
    that reform would have to be balanced against the fact that
    these businesses rely upon user generated content for their
    innovation and they have created many thousands of jobs. So I
    think it is a complex issue. I know you are a leader in it, and
    I look forward to working with you.
        The Chairman. Senator Johnson, let's put that Wall Street
    Journal piece in the record at this point. Is there objection
    to that?
        Senator Johnson. Without objection.
        The Chairman. Without objection, it would be done.
        [The information referred to follows:]

                              Wall Street Journal

                             OPINION | INSIDE VIEW

                      Online Speech Wars Are Here to Stay

     Both left and right want to regulate social media, but their `fixes'
                              would break the web.

                   By Andy Kessler--Jan. 24, 2021 5:14 pm ET

        PHOTO: DADO RUVIC/REUTERS

        Ding dong, he's gone, but Donald Trump's bans from Facebook,
    Twitter, Google, Reddit, Snapchat, Grindr (wait, what?), Pinterest,
    TikTok and others mostly persist. Don't bans on Mr. Trump and others
    violate the First Amendment? Actually, it's private companies invoking
    their own First Amendment right to bar things they don't like. But even
    Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey called it ``a failure.'' That's also true of
    Parler's decapitation. Never mind that these actions seem partisan and
    hypocritical; the bans will continue until morale improves. Democrats
    may cheer but the precedent is scary--soon they'll be silencing their
    own. Vive la guillotine electronique.
        Expect the siren calls for regulation to become deafening--mostly
    focused on ``updating'' Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency
    Act, the provision that limits social-media companies' liability for
    things users say. A year ago Joe Biden said it should be ``revoked,
    immediately.'' The law states that except for illegal materials like
    child pornography, companies can host everything and employ their own
    community standards to take down what they consider offensive.
        This mess was all predicted by a comic strip (really!) in 2004,
    when only Harvard dorm residents knew about TheFacebook--and Twitter
    was two years away. John ``Gabe'' Gabriel--the alter ego of one of the
    creators of Penny Arcade, a web comic--came up with the Greater
    Internet [Jerkwad] Theory (obscenity deleted). The theory is spelled
    out on a green chalkboard: ``Normal Person + Anonymity + Audience =
    Total [Jerkwad]'' while interpreters note that ``normal, well-adjusted
    people may display psychopathic or antisocial behaviors when given both
    anonymity and a captive audience on the Internet.'' It's no longer a
    theory, is it?
        In our new slushy, snowflake-soaked society, some folks are
    offended by just about anything, and are quick to deploy torches and
    pitchforks to silence and cancel anything not currently considered
    politically correct. It's worth reiterating: social media and all its
    benefits (ask small businesses) wouldn't exist without Section 230.
    Instead of hiring hundreds of thousands of coders, Facebook and Twitter
    would instead be giant law firms forever fighting lawsuits.
        Still, Facebook ran ads all fall practically begging for
    regulation. But any attempt to ``fix'' Section 230 would surely kill
    it. Legislation would be a bicameral camel--a horse designed by
    committee--trying to define community standards, hate speech, what
    ``incites'' riots, what constitutes ``systemic'' racism and on and on,
    with the inevitable loopholes for certain politicians and favored
    groups.
        Lost in the hysteria of Section 230 is the fact that it doesn't
    currently stop anyone from suing social media users. But that can be
    hard since so many are anonymous or almost impossible to identify. Just
    who is @barronjohn1946? Big Tech has all the money, so it would be
    easier to sue them--but you can't.
        Twitter tried to quash the unmasking of an anonymous user,
    @whysprtech, who in 2016 had released forged FBI documents concerning
    the death of Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich. Last
    fall, courts ruled that Twitter had to release that information when
    Rich's brother wanted to sue for defamation.
        In many ways, that's the solution--end anonymity. On Wall Street
    it's called ``Know your customer'': Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat talks
    about the bank's KYC rule all the time. Goldman Sachs forgot about KYC
    when it did deals with the swindlers at 1MDB. Know your customer is
    mandated to stop money laundering. Maybe it can work for rhetoric
    laundering and put an end to Gabe's theory.
        Sure, there's value to spontaneous users speaking freely about
    everything, but no one really knows how many fake accounts spewing fake
    news exist. Truth is elusive. So why not impose know-your-customer on
    social-media companies. Facebook and Twitter don't want to know their
    customers simply because it would be expensive. Too bad. Yes, it would
    be hard and their user counts would drop, maybe halve, but advertisers
    would rejoice. It might be cheaper than today's band-aid of hiring tens
    of thousands of content moderators.
        How to do it? Require a credit card, like Apple does to use its app
    store? Maybe. A driver's license? Passport? A trip to the post office
    or DMV (yikes!) to be identified? Require showing your voter ID? Oh
    that's right, there is no voter ID. Any way you choose, identify
    posters.
        Let's face it, Twitter can be a cesspool of snark. Of course,
    that's what attracts many of us. Will that change? Maybe. But I like a
    world in which someone can be sued when he posts threatening language.
    If someone libels you, you can sue him. Post about buying zip ties and
    invading the Capitol, and the FBI knocks on your door. This would put
    an immediate damper on today's worst offenders.
        Every social-media company would complain but secretly agree with a
    know-your-customer mandate. The alternative is mindless legislators
    fatally rewriting Section 230 and vengeful swampers continuing their
    gung-ho quest to break up everything in sight.

    Write to kessler@wsj.com.
    Appeared in the January 25, 2021, print edition.

        Senator Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In my final
    minute, I want to revisit net neutrality. I would rather not. I
    really applaud Chairman Pai and his courage against protests
    and threats of removing any types of policies that tried to
    create net neutrality, which I think would have done just the
    opposite of what net neutrality sounds like it would do. I
    haven't seen people being throttled back. I haven't seen this
    be an issue. What I have seen is continued investment in the
    Internet, which is why Chairman Pai instituted those orders.
    Where do you stand on net neutrality? I am hoping and praying
    this Administration is going to reraise that issue.
        Ms. Raimondo. I have been in favor as a Governor and I am,
    I say generally in favor of policies which create more of a
    level playing field and more equal access.
        Senator Johnson. It seems Mr. Chairman has left. Let me
    just follow up on that. Do you agree with me that it has not
    been--you know, since Chairman Pai acted, we have not seen a
    real problem in not having some of these net neutrality rules
    in place? I mean, where is the problem? Is this a solution--is
    this a solution looking for a problem?
        Ms. Raimondo. As I said, I would look forward to working
    with you on this and to, in my capacity at Commerce and to the
    extent that there are levers in the Commerce Secretary's
    Department, to work with you on the issue.
        Senator Johnson. OK. So I turn it over to Senator Sinema?
        Senator Cantwell. Yes. Senator Sinema, thank you.

                   STATEMENT OF HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM ARIZONA

        Senator Sinema. Thank you so much, Madam Chairman, and
    thanks to Governor Raimondo for joining us today. You know,
    Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the Nation and
    is a leader in creating jobs, economic growth and opportunity
    for the people of our state. The Department of Commerce's
    mission is to overcome obstacles to development and create the
    conditions for economic growth and opportunity. The Department
    achieves that goal through agencies and bureaus that focus on
    many important issues like broadband development, the census,
    and drought information. I am looking forward to working with
    my colleagues in this committee to develop bipartisan solutions
    to invest in Arizona and create the economic environment we
    need to continue to grow and succeed. Governor Raimondo, if you
    are confirmed for this important role, I look forward to
    working collaboratively to create good paying jobs and continue
    sustainable growth for all Arizona communities, from our
    largest cities to our rural and tribal areas.
        My top priority over the last year has been working with
    local, state, and Federal partners to keep Arizonans healthy
    and safe from the pandemic. Now, it has put a spotlight on the
    digital divide in this country, and I encourage the NTIA to
    play a major role in expanding broadband. As you know, the last
    COVID relief bill included new opportunities for NTIA,
    including a $300 million program to promote broadband expansion
    to unserved rural areas and a $1 billion program for tribal
    broadband. What are your plans for broadband expansion? And can
    you commit to coordinating closely with rural communities and
    tribes to ensure that this funding is utilized effectively?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. Yes, I will commit to
    working closely with you, your colleagues, rural communities
    and tribes, and listening to the rural communities and tribes
    around their needs and the challenges. Every American deserves
    access to high quality broadband. And I will use the full
    resources of NTIA, if confirmed, to lean into that issue and
    make sure we move quickly. COVID has shown that broadband can
    save lives, and everyone deserves to have it.
        Senator Sinema. I agree. You know, one of my top issues is
    increasing domestic manufacturing of semiconductors. In recent
    years, other countries, including China, have given massive
    financial incentives to semiconductor manufacturers to build
    factories offshore. This has shrunk the United States share of
    the semiconductor industry and domestic manufacturing is not
    only an economic concern. The Defense Department has identified
    a secure semiconductor supply chain as a National Security
    issue. I have been working with a bipartisan group of Senators
    to advance the CHIPS Act. Last year, we authorized the Commerce
    Department grants for semiconductor manufacturing in the
    Defense Authorization Bill, but we have more work to do. Will
    you prioritize this issue as Congress works to bring these jobs
    back to our country?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. Yes, the semiconductor industry is
    vital to American economic and National Security. And President
    Biden has been clear that we will have a whole of Government
    approach to semiconductors. And I plan to play an active role
    on his team, as you say, making sure that we have jobs for
    economic security, but also National Security issues looming
    large in this area. We need a resilient supply chain to be
    secure.
        Senator Sinema. Agreed. The accuracy of the 2020 census is
    very important to my state. Arizona is one of the fastest
    growing states in the country and we need to be sure the Census
    Bureau data is accurate. The previous Administration harmed the
    nonpartisan history of the Census Bureau through attempts to
    add a last-minute citizenship question and prohibit the
    inclusion of undocumented persons in apportionment data. Also,
    the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed the ability of the Census
    Bureau to engage with Arizonans.
        So the Census Bureau will need to be transparent in
    discussing any shortfalls in the data that were collected due
    to limited operations. Can you commit to repairing the damage
    and improving relationships with historically undercounted
    communities today, ensuring accurate and cost-effective counts
    in the future?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. And you brought this up the other
    day as well. I commit to taking the politics out of Census,
    relying on expertise, and doing everything I can to rebuild
    people's trust in the Census. It needs to be accurate.
        Senator Sinema. Thank you. In my last minute, I want to
    just briefly talk about NOAA. As you are aware, the
    Southwestern United States continues to face an unprecedented
    drought, resulting in a wide range of impacts from wildfires to
    water shortages. In Arizona, we rely on water not only to brush
    our teeth and shower, but also for our economic security. And
    we are ready to work with other Western states to ensure we
    have a healthy water stead and continue to be responsible
    stewards of our water. We have got to use the best available
    science to make informed decisions. So we commit to utilizing
    and strengthening programs such as NOAA's National Integrated
    Drought Information System to help us understand and address
    the impacts of this drought.
        Ms. Raimondo. I will commit to working with you on that. I
    understand how important it is to your state.
        Senator Sinema. Thank you so much, Governor, and thanks for
    being here today. I appreciate it.
        Senator Cantwell. Senator Scott.

                     STATEMENT OF HON. RICK SCOTT,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA

        Senator Scott. Thank you. Governor, thank you for the call
    we had the other day. We had the opportunity to talk about some
    of the issues that Governors deal with. And I think it is
    positive when you see a Governor come up and serve in an
    Administration. One of the issues that we both dealt with as
    Governors is the need for job creation and the need to try to
    keep the cost of living as low as we could for families in our
    state that don't make significant amounts of money.
        I got into public service focusing on the fact that I want
    kids like me who grew up in public housing have the same
    opportunity to live the dream as everybody else. In--and so
    what you are going to be doing as Secretary of Commerce, if
    confirmed, will be very significant to helping people across
    the country make sure they have the same opportunity I had. In
    December of last year, you signed a memorandum with
    Connecticut, Massachusetts in D.C. called the Transportation
    Climate Initiative, which is going to require suppliers of gas
    and diesel fuel to buy credits to sell them as early as 2023.
        In both of our states, the median income, just a little
    over $30,000 a year so how--who is going to pay for this and
    how is it going to impact the people that in both of our states
    don't make significant amounts of money? And I don't know if
    you track to see how much this is going to cost an individual.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you for the question. So, I believe
    that climate change is probably the greatest threat we face.
    And also, there is an opportunity to create jobs as we combat
    climate change. 30 plus percent of emissions come from
    transportation sector. And so, I allied myself with my fellow
    Governors to agree to look into the issue. And that is where we
    are. You know, I support that. And I believe long term it will
    actually create jobs.
        Senator Scott. So, I think all of us are very focused on
    climate change and how we are going to make sure that we deal
    with that and at the same time, we have got to keep our economy
    going. So, with what you have agreed to in the transportation
    climate initiative, how will--who will pay for that and how
    will a family making--you know, half the families, individuals
    in your state make less than $32,000 a year. How will they pay
    for that? And have you quantified it?
        Ms. Raimondo. We have not yet. The document I signed, by
    the way, is bipartisan, Republican and Democratic Governors,
    was an intention to work together with our legislators to
    develop a transportation climate initiative. So, it is very
    early in the process.
        Senator Scott. OK. Alright. Thank you. The nominee for
    Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, last week said he was
    receptive to increasing the gas tax. And again, this would be
    something that would impact the poorest families in our country
    significantly. What is your position on that? And do you
    think--how would that impact your ability to do your job as
    Secretary of Commerce?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, so I would defer to Congress to make
    that decision. Let me say this, I as Governor am deeply in
    touch with how much increasing bills affect the average
    American family. Having said that, we do need to meet the
    climate change challenge and we need funds for improved
    infrastructure, better roads, safer roads, safer bridges, and
    which also creates jobs. So, I would look to balance those
    interests and work as a piece of the President's team.
        Senator Scott. The part of the Biden Administration's
    proposal was $15 minimum wage, and according to the
    Congressional Budget Office, 3.7 million people are going to
    lose their jobs as a result of that. And as we all know, as
    Secretary of Commerce your job will be to figure out how to
    help our small businesses, help them prosper because that is
    where most of our job creation is. So, what is your position
    with regard to increase in minimum wage and what impact that
    will have on our small businesses and our families across the
    country?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. So, I believe work ought to
    pay and you shouldn't live in poverty if you work full time. As
    Governor, I have shepherded through several increases in
    minimum wage and we have not seen any impacts on unemployment.
    And so as with all policies related to wages or commerce or
    competitiveness, I will consult broadly with stakeholders, with
    industry and take a thoughtful approach. But I know many
    businesses also support that and believe that work ought to
    pay.
        Senator Scott. Thank you, Governor.
        Senator Cantwell. Senator Rosen.

                    STATEMENT OF HON. JACKY ROSEN,
                        U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA

        Senator Rosen. Thank you, Madam Chair, Ranking Member
    still, I guess, but thank you, Senator Cantwell. And Governor
    Raimondo, thank you for being with us today and thank you for
    your commitment to serving our Nation. I really appreciated our
    productive meeting. I look forward to learning more about your
    plans to revive our Nation's economy, to create jobs, and to
    ensure that every American has access to broadband no matter
    where they live. Amidst a global pandemic that has devastated
    our economy, I urge this committee to facilitate a swift
    confirmation for Governor Raimondo so she can immediately get
    to work for our country. But I would like to begin by talking a
    little bit about repealing Solar Terra. The solar industry
    employs about 7,000 workers in Nevada, the most solar jobs per
    capita in the entire country. If we are to address the climate
    crisis and continuing to create those good paying jobs in the
    energy sector, we must have a Federal policy that promotes the
    affordable deployment of solar projects.
        Unfortunately, the previous Administration imposed costly
    Section 201 tariffs on imported solar panels and cells. These
    misguided tariffs have cost us an estimated 62,000 solar jobs
    across the United States. In October, the Trump Administration
    doubled down on this failed policy and directed the United
    States trade representative to increase the tariffs for 2021.
    The right move for the economy and the environment would be for
    President Biden to rescind this ill-conceived proclamation
    before it takes effect on February 7.
        Given the extremely small solar manufacturing industry in
    the U.S. and the fact that nearly 90 percent of solar jobs in
    the U.S. are non-manufacturing jobs that rely on affordable
    solar panels, do you support the current tariffs on imported
    solar panels? And will you work with me to address this
    pressing issue and of course, time sensitive issue?
        Ms. Raimondo. So, thank you, Senator. I understand from
    talking to you and your Governor how important these solar jobs
    are in your state, and I look forward to learning more about
    it. Of course, I will work with you. And I understand it is
    time sensitive and challenging and a lot of jobs are at stake.
        Senator Rosen. I appreciate that. Usually, we have nothing
    but sunshine in Nevada, but I hear today it is snowing on the
    Las Vegas Strip. So, but we will have sunshine coming back
    soon. But speaking of the Las Vegas Strip, I want to talk about
    reviving our entertainment economy. Because in Nevada while our
    economy continues to recover from the devastating impact of a
    pandemic, we are still facing one of the highest unemployment
    rates in the country. Nearly half a million jobs are part of
    Nevada's entertainment and tourism ecosystem. Unfortunately,
    our once vibrant creative arts community is not just struggling
    to stay afloat.
        Performers or support staff, they have seen their work come
    to virtually a complete halt as venues are unable to open their
    doors during the pandemic. I know this is happening across the
    country. Theaters are shuttered and elsewhere. Like I said in
    the country, film, television, sports events, all of it. All
    these productions shut down in an abundance of precaution. So,
    as we work to create the conditions for economic growth and
    opportunity, what are your plans to specifically help the
    creative industries stay afloat and get back to work?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, thank you. I hear you about Las Vegas.
    You mentioned it the other day. My state also depends heavily
    on tourism and hospitality, so I see it. I expect to play a
    real leadership role with Brand USA and work with you and the
    industry and collaborate to find creative ways to get folks
    traveling again, going out to dinner and the like again. It is
    important. And of course, I support President Biden fully in
    his reinvigorated approach to get COVID under control, which
    gives people confidence to go out and travel.
        Senator Rosen. Thank you. And my last question I think I
    will have time for is about NIST and the cybersecurity work
    force. The Department's National Institute of Standards and
    Technology, NIST, plays an important role in supporting
    technological innovations and of course our STEM work force. In
    particular, and I am like this acronym, the National Initiative
    for Cybersecurity Education, or NICE, is housed within NIST. It
    focuses on cybersecurity, education, training and workforce
    development. And according to their NICE jobs current heat map,
    there are currently over 520,000 cyber job openings in the U.S.
    So, in the interest of time, I have a few bills out there.
    Cyber Ready Work Force, Junior ROTC, Cybersecurity Workforce,
    Framework, we are working on all of this. What are your goals
    for supporting our cybersecurity work force? Half a million
    jobs open, probably more to be created. We know we have got
    lots more needs. Let's get folks into these jobs.
        Ms. Raimondo. I could not agree more. I will work with you
    on it. I will prioritize it. I have done that as Governor. A
    big piece of that puzzle is job training. But I agree there are
    many jobs available and we ought to help Americans get them.
        Senator Rosen. Well, thank you. I appreciate your
    willingness to serve, and I yield.
        The Chairman. And thank you, Senator Rosen. Senator Young,
    are you there?

                     STATEMENT OF HON. TODD YOUNG,
                       U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA

        Senator Young. I am, indeed, Chairman. Thank you. Governor,
    it is so good to be with you again. Enjoyed our conversation
    the other day, and I will be following up on that. Once again,
    thank you for your willingness to serve and for appearing
    before the Committee. We discussed, during our conversation,
    the overwhelming geographic concentration of venture capital
    investment in three states. And that concerns me. It is
    detrimental to the innovation base, especially at a time when
    the U.S. Is going toe to toe with countries like China. So, we
    need to harness more of that talent across the heartland of
    America and around all four corners of our country. That is why
    I coauthored the Endless Frontier Act with Senator Schumer. The
    bill would bolster U.S. leadership in science and tech
    innovation by making $100 billion strategic investment in
    emerging technologies.
        Additionally, the bill will deliver $10 billion to
    establish regional tech hubs across the country to launch
    innovative companies, revive American manufacturing, and create
    new jobs to reinvigorate our local communities. So, we are
    talking here about a technology policy for our country. We have
    got a clear plan to implement one. I would ask you, Governor,
    do you think the Endless Frontier Act would help expand
    entrepreneurship and fuel greater innovation through these
    geographic regions, outside the traditional tech hubs that we
    have around the country?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you, Senator. I certainly share your
    concern that capital is concentrated in too few areas. By the
    way, my state is not one of them. So, I live it and would
    absolutely work with you to disperse that. We have talked a lot
    today about how to compete with China and we talked about
    tariffs and defense. But some of it is offense, which is
    investing in American innovation and doing that broadly. And
    so, I would be excited to, you know, work with you on that
    issue.
        Senator Young. It is about offense and we discussed this in
    our conversation together. I think I use the phrase that United
    States needs to outgrow, out innovate, and outcompete China.
    And you agreed with that sentiment. If confirmed, in addition
    to perhaps the Endless Frontier Act and being supportive of
    that sort of initiative, are there any other steps that you
    might take to sort of execute on this mandate of outcompeting
    the Chinese, just as we outcompeted the Soviet Union?
        Ms. Raimondo. Yes, well, there are many areas, and I will
    be brief, but one of the areas of commerce is NIST, which has a
    huge role to play in standard setting, and I believe America
    needs to lead in the standard setting, especially as it relates
    to new technology. I know you care a lot about artificial
    intelligence and blockchain. And so, I feel that that is one
    way in particular that we could help Americans to compete and
    lead and win.
        Senator Young. Very good. I have about a minute and a half
    left. This is sort of how this works. Not a lot of time. But I
    am going to pivot quickly to supply chain. And there has been a
    lot of talk about supply chain management and retrenchment of
    vulnerable supply chains in conjunction with this pandemic. We
    know that we are vulnerable. Ninety-five percent of surgical
    masks and 70 percent of respirators were made overseas at the
    start of this crisis. Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
    might be the most visible offshore sectors. As we begin to
    recover from this crisis, we need to secure these supply
    chains, and to maintain long-term investments, we have to
    ensure continuous demand for domestic production.
        If that is not ensured, no one is going to stand up a
    factory to build essential items. This demand can't just be a
    one-off spike. So, with that said, sometimes the issue is not a
    lack of total demand, but a matching demand with supply,
    especially in localized markets spanning across the country.
    One strategy could be mapping out and exaggerating demand and
    exploring various incentives to support American companies with
    moving supply chains. If confirmed, how do you plan to
    facilitate reshoring domestic supply chains?
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you. First, I will say it will be a
    priority because it will help shore up our National Security
    and economic security, and the technical resources of the
    Commerce Department are second to none in figuring out the
    complexities of how to execute on that.
        Senator Young. Well, very good. I will--I know our time has
    expired, so I will look forward to working with you on that
    important issue, very important to the most manufacturing
    intensive state in the country, which is the state of Indiana.
    Thank you.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
        The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator Young. And that
    concludes our questioning. Governor Raimondo, over the course
    of 2 hours and 37 minutes, you have been most patient and most
    talented in answering our questions. And I think you have
    learned a good bit about this committee during the process. I
    do not believe you will be serving as Governor of the state of
    Rhode Island for very much longer. And I wish you well. Look
    forward to working with you. Senator Cantwell, do you have
    anything?
        If not, the hearing record will remain open until the end
    of this day. Senators are asked to submit any questions for the
    record by the close of business today, Tuesday, January 26,
    2021. The Committee asks witnesses that upon--the witness, that
    upon receipt of any question for the record, you submit your
    written answers to the Committee as soon as possible, but no
    later than the close of business on Monday, February 1, 2021.
    This hearing is now concluded, and once again, we thank
    Governor Raimondo.
        Ms. Raimondo. Thank you.
        [Whereupon, at 12:37 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]6601

                                A P P E N D I X

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                                     ______

       Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Digital Trade. Digital trade and the free flow of information
    across borders is vitally important to the more than 5,000 technology
    companies in Washington state and our state's more than $2.8 billion
    digital export economy. Nationally, U.S. digital exports were worth
    more than half a trillion dollars in 2019, an increase of more than 50
    percent over the past decade. In Washington state, software industry
    jobs have increased by approximately one-third since 2016, and now
    account for around half a million jobs in my state. Unfortunately,
    digital trade barriers and restrictions are proliferating in many
    countries, which could undermine our Nation's economic recovery and
    threaten key trade relationships, including the $1.1 trillion trade
    relationship between the U.S. and Europe.

        Question 1. If confirmed, will you prioritize digital trade issues
    and the continued free flow of digital goods and information across
    borders?
        Answer. For U.S. companies to compete, they need the ability to--
    among other things--access networks, transfer data, and use secure data
    centers of their choice. If confirmed, I will pursue all available
    avenues to ensuring data flows and cross-border digital trade, whether
    that is through trade agreements, the World Trade Organization,
    expansion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross Border Privacy
    Rules System, or enhancement of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework.

        Question 2. What will you do to ensure that U.S. companies of all
    sizes can compete on a level playing field and have access to open
    digital markets in other countries?
        Answer. Leveling the playing field through robust digital trade
    commitments is necessary to expanding trade in goods and services
    across all industries. Given the global economy's dependence on the
    internet, market-opening commitments are a cornerstone of real economic
    wins for U.S. industry. If confirmed, I will ensure that the full
    expertise of the Department of Commerce is brought to bear on behalf of
    U.S. companies that leverage the digital economy to provide innovative
    services, deliver goods, and reduce costs and increase efficiency in
    their own operations.

        Softwood Lumber. The health of the U.S. lumber industry is
    essential to jobs in Washington state and across the country. It
    supports the economy by producing lumber and by supplying the U.S.
    housing market for local communities. However, enforcement must remain
    a priority. In 2019, nearly half of all antidumping and countervailing
    duties collected by the U.S. came from Canadian lumber imports. It is
    vital that we continue to fully enforce U.S. trade laws.

        Question 3. Will you ensure a level playing field for the U.S.
    lumber industry by fully enforcing U.S. trade laws against unfairly
    traded Canadian lumber imports?
        Answer. I understand the importance of the Antidumping and
    Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) orders on imports of softwood lumber
    from Canada on the U.S. lumber industry. If I am confirmed, the
    Department of Commerce will continue to vigorously enforce U.S. trade
    laws, including the AD/CVD orders on imports of softwood lumber from
    Canada, to ensure that the American lumber industry, and all U.S.
    workers, farmers and businesses are able to compete on a level playing
    field and are not harmed by unfair imports from Canada, or any other
    U.S. trading partner.

        Stakeholder Engagement in Ocean Conservation. The Biden
    Administration has placed an emphasis on ``building back better,''
    restoring our economy but doing so in a way that is equitable and just,
    and by addressing climate change. Meeting all three of these goals is
    going to require the tools, resources, and expertise from across
    government agencies, including the Department of Commerce and NOAA. The
    United States has a particularly strong blue economy, with ocean goods
    and services contributing over $373 billion to the Nation's GDP and
    supporting over 2.3 million jobs in 2018.

        Question 4. Protecting rural jobs that depend on sustainable
    fisheries is a priority. What role do you see for NOAA in the design
    and implementation of a potential 30x30 strategy in the U.S. EEZ?
        Answer. Creating and promoting job growth is important to me. If
    confirmed, I look forward to working with you on ensuring that jobs
    related to sustainable fisheries are protected. On January 27, 2021,
    President Biden issued an Executive Order on Tackling the Climate
    Crisis at Home and Abroad. Sec. 216 of this Executive Order calls for
    the Secretaries of Interior, Commerce and the Council of Environmental
    Quality, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a
    report within 90 days of its issuance on the steps to achieve the goal
    of conserving at least 30 percent of land and water. The Executive
    Order calls on Federal agencies to work with the ``States, local,
    Tribal, and territorial governments, agricultural and forest
    landowners, fishermen, and other stakeholders.''

        Question 5. How will you work to ensure that fishermen and fishing
    communities are included in the consideration of a potential 30x30
    proposal?
        Answer. As noted above, on January 27, 2021, President Biden
    released an Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and
    Abroad. Section 216 (c) specifically calls on the Secretary of
    Commerce, through NOAA, to work in the first 60 days to collect input
    from fishermen, regional ocean councils, scientists and fishery
    management council how to make fisheries and protected resources more
    resilient to climate change. If confirmed, I look forward to working
    with you on this important issue.

        Question 6. What opportunities do you see to harness the 30x30 goal
    to increase equitable access to these protected areas and bolster
    coastal economies where fisheries are managed based on science?
        Answer. As the Governor of a coastal state, I recognize the
    importance of coastal communities, and the need to ensure equal access
    to marine resources so that all communities can benefit. If confirmed,
    I will work with NOAA, other Federal agencies and stakeholders to
    implement the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home
    and Abroad, including in increasing equitable access and bolstering
    coastal communities.
                                     ______

       Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Amy Klobuchar to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Broadband. I am leading legislation to invest $100 billion in
    broadband infrastructure to close the digital divide once and for all.
    My bill also establishes an Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth
    at the Department's National Telecommunications and Information
    Administration to help ensure people in every community have the tools,
    support, and technology they need to take advantage of Internet access.

        Question 1. President Biden has identified investment in
    infrastructure, including broadband infrastructure, as a top priority
    for his administration. What are your plans to help expand broadband
    access as the Secretary of Commerce?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work with NTIA, which is currently in
    the process of standing up the Office of Connectivity and Growth, to
    amplify the work of NTIA's BroadbandUSA. Through its BroadbandUSA work,
    NTIA serves local, state, and tribal governments, industry and non-
    profits seeking to expand broadband connectivity and promote digital
    inclusion by providing solution-neutral technical assistance and
    convening regional workshops that bring local stakeholders together.
    NTIA also leverages its State Broadband Leaders Network (SBLN) which
    includes 50 states and three territories.

        Question 2. What are your plans to promote digital equity and
    inclusion, and will you work with me to help address this need?
        Answer. As I stated in my hearing testimony, broadband access is
    not a luxury; it's a necessity, providing children access to their
    classes, the ill and infirm access via telehealth to their doctor, and
    enabling consumers to sign up for the COVID vaccine. If confirmed, I
    commit to ensuring that the Department brings the full weight of its
    resources to advancing digital equity and inclusion by, for example,
    utilizing NTIA's Digital Inclusion Leaders Network (DILN)--a group of
    state and local government leaders working to bridge the digital
    divide--to serve as a critical resource for leveraging knowledge and
    best practices. In addition, NTIA will rely on data from over 20 years
    of its Internet Use Survey data to inform policy approaches to closing
    the digital divide.

        Steel Dumping. Iron ore mining has been a way of life for families
    in northern Minnesota, but illegal practices such as steel dumping
    unfairly harm our workers. I have long called for tough actions to
    address Chinese Steel dumping because our workers deserve to know
    everyone is playing by the same rules.

        Question 3. What should Congress do to best work with the new
    Administration to stand up to unfair trade practices?
        Answer. If confirmed as the Secretary of Commerce, I look forward
    to working with Congress on addressing unfairly traded imports from
    China and other trading partners that distort the market. If confirmed,
    it is my intention that the Department of Commerce will continue to
    rigorously enforce U.S. trade laws, including the Antidumping and
    Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) laws, to help ensure a level playing
    field--not only for the critical U.S. steel sector, but comprehensively
    for U.S. workers, farmers, and other businesses injured by unfair
    trade.
                                     ______

     Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Richard Blumenthal to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        The North Atlantic right whale. We share a mutual understanding
    that commercial and recreational fishing and shipping contributes
    significantly to our Nation's economy, but the contributions of marine
    species--like the North Atlantic right whale--who inhabit our Federal
    waters often take a backseat to industry, particularly in the previous
    administration. These species make countless contributions through
    tourism, ecosystem services, and carbon capture. Unfortunately, the
    North Atlantic right whale is one of the world's most endangered large
    whale species, with only about 400 whales remaining.

        Question 1. If confirmed, how will you guide the agency to not only
    focus on the management of sustainable fisheries and other marine
    industries but to encourage the coexistence of these activities with
    marine mammal species, such as the critically endangered North Atlantic
    right whale, which is facing extinction due to climate change,
    entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes and outdated management
    policies?
        Answer. I recognize the importance of shipping and fishing to the
    Nation's economy and I appreciate the ecological, cultural, and
    economic importance of protected marine mammals such as the North
    Atlantic right whale. If confirmed, I would welcome opportunities to
    learn more about NOAA's efforts to partner with the fishing community,
    the shipping industry, and other interested stakeholders to protect,
    conserve, and recover North Atlantic right whales and their habitats
    and to work with you and your constituents on this issue.

        The 2020 Census. In March 2020, as the 2020 Census was fully
    underway, the COVID pandemic impacted the process, causing the Census
    Bureau to suspend field operations for over a month. Initially, former
    Secretary Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced
    that they would be extending the deadline for self-response and field
    data collection and asked Congress to extend the statutory deadlines
    for delivery of apportionment and redistricting data by 120 days.
    However, in August, the Census Bureau inexplicably reversed course,
    shortened the enumeration period, and decided to move forward with the
    original statutory deadlines for apportionment and redistricting data,
    raising serious concerns that they would not have adequate time to
    complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 census. Further, last month,
    the Government Accountability Office testified before a House Oversight
    and Reform Committee hearing expressing concern about the risks to 2020
    census data quality caused by COVID-19 and related developments.

        Question 2. If confirmed, will you commit to protecting the
    integrity of the 2020 Census?
        Answer. Yes.

        Question 3. If confirmed, will you commit to working with the
    Commerce Committee to ensure that the Census Bureau has all necessary
    resources to ensure a full, fair, and accurate count is represented?
        Answer. Yes.

        Question 4. In May 2020, a career Census Bureau staffer expressed
    concern that the Census would not be able to meet its statutory
    deadlines. If confirmed, will you remain transparent and open in your
    communication with the Committee to ensure that they Census Bureau is
    meeting its constitutional and statutory responsibilities?
        Answer. Yes.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Edward Markey to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Restricting the 3D Printing of Guns. In January 2020, the Commerce
    and State Departments finalized rules that shift jurisdiction over
    small arms exports--including technical data, such as files for the 3D
    printing of guns--from State to Commerce. A coalition of state
    attorneys general obtained an injunction that maintains State
    Department oversight over technical data. But if a pending court
    decision vacates that injunction, the Commerce Department will then
    have jurisdiction over the posting of files for the 3D printing of
    guns.

        Question. What actions would you like to see the Commerce
    Department take to ensure that the posting and export of files for the
    3D printing of guns continues to be restricted?
        Answer. If the pending court decision vacates the injunction, if
    confirmed, I will work with the White House and members of Congress,
    including your office, to discuss ways of implementing meaningful
    oversight similar to State Department oversight that occurred before
    the rule change.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Gary Peters to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. For Michiganders, the Great Lakes are not just a
    precious environmental treasure, they're an economic driver, and they
    are literally part of our DNA. I enjoyed our discussion of NOAA's
    beautiful Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Michigan is also the
    proud home of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory,
    several weather forecasting stations, and other important NOAA
    resources that help support the communities and business throughout the
    region. If confirmed as Secretary, will you commit to working with me
    to support and grow NOAA's capacity to provide services within the
    Great Lakes?
        Answer. I recognize the importance of the Great Lakes to our
    economy and I know that NOAA provides data, tools, and services that
    support communities surrounding the Great Lakes, just as they do in
    Rhode Island. If confirmed, I would look forward to learning more about
    NOAA's work in the Great Lakes region and working with you to support
    the services they provide to you and your constituents.

        Question 2. The President announced yesterday a new executive order
    directed across the entire Federal government to ensure that when
    taxpayer dollars are used, they are not used to buy foreign goods but
    rather are supporting domestic manufacturers and domestic iron and
    steel. I was part of a bipartisan group of Senators that introduced the
    Build America, Buy America Act (led by Senators Brown and Braun) in the
    last Congress, which called on many of the items in the President's
    executive order. If confirmed as Secretary, will you commit to working
    with me and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee--
    where I will serve as chairman--to help make permanent these provisions
    to strengthen Buy America requirements that create jobs and support our
    domestic manufacturing base?
        Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will support efforts to help make
    permanent provisions to strengthen Buy America requirements where tax
    dollars are spent buying U.S. made goods. As you note, President Biden
    has made clear his support for Buy America provisions through the
    issuance of Executive Order 14005. Within the Department of Commerce,
    the Economic Development Administration has a long history of
    supporting Buy America requirements in its infrastructure grants.

        Question 3. KLA, one of the major US-based semiconductor equipment
    manufacturers is in the process of opening a second U.S. headquarters
    in Michigan, creating over 600 high-tech jobs in the Midwest. One
    challenge semiconductor manufacturers like KLA face has been export
    restrictions that make it difficult to compete with competitors in
    Korea, Japan, and Europe. I support efforts to be tough on China so I
    hope we can work together to strengthen the restrictions on China while
    ensuring our companies can compete globally. Will you commit to working
    with me on this?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I will commit to
    working with you on this issue. I will ensure that the Department
    conducts a full analysis of any changes in export control requirements
    before implementation.

        Question 4. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
    Committee, where I am the incoming Chairman, has jurisdiction over the
    Census Bureau. Will you commit to working with the Committee and with
    me to return the Census Bureau to the hands of experts and de-
    politicize it; Finish the 2020 Census as accurately as possible; Begin
    preparing for a more inclusive 2030 Census; and continue the critical
    surveys the Bureau conducts every year?
        Answer. Yes.

        Question 5. Michigan has been ranked the 2nd best state for
    aerospace manufacturing. The University of Michigan has one of the best
    space and space-related engineering programs in the country, which has
    helped pioneer the development of small satellites that are rapidly
    being deployed in outer space. I am joining Senator Wicker in
    Coauthoring the SPACE Act, which would authorize the Office of
    Commercial Space within the Department of Commerce. I have also been in
    touch with Commerce Department staff about the development of a space
    commodities exchange--something the Space Force has been interested in
    as well--to help provide certainty to financial markets backing new
    commercial space endeavors, as well as to our military and civilian
    space activities. Will you have staff look into this issue and provide
    timely feedback on the merits of developing a space commodities
    exchange from the perspective of the Office of Space Commerce?
        Answer. Thank you for your support of NOAA's Office of Space
    Commerce. If confirmed, I will work with NOAA to look into the issue of
    a space commodities exchange and the merits of developing such an
    exchange.

        Question 6. Space Weather has the potential to impact
    infrastructure on Earth and severely disrupt the economy. The insurance
    industry has cited estimates of a catastrophic space weather event as
    high as 10 percent in the next 10 years. An estimate by Lloyds of
    London found that a worst-case scenario space weather event could cost
    up to $2.6 trillion. Impacts include outages or blackouts of electric
    utilities, disrupting GPS and communication networks, and forcing
    airlines to reroute air traffic. NOAA operates a number of space
    weather instruments. I authored the bipartisan PROSWIFT Act, which
    tasks NOAA with coordinating across Federal agencies to help improve
    our understanding of and mitigate this threat. At the appropriate time
    in the future, will you please provide an update on the implementation
    of this law?
        Answer. Thank you for your support of NOAA and its space weather
    mission. If confirmed, I will work with NOAA to provide you an update
    on the Department's implementation of the PROSWIFT Act.

        Question 7. The COVID 19 pandemic has made it even clearer that
    broadband deployment is necessary to ensure the success of all American
    both in urban and rural areas. The President has called for major
    investments in broadband infrastructure. Last Congress, I introduced
    the Broadband Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act which establishes a
    financing program to make available loans, loan guarantees, and lines
    of credit for the construction and deployment of broadband
    infrastructure at NTIA. If confirmed as Secretary, will you commit to
    working with me and the Committee to accelerate broadband
    infrastructure deployment?
        Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will work to ensure that the
    Department will focus on bringing all of its resources to bear to
    accelerate broadband infrastructure deployment. Commerce's NTIA is
    uniquely qualified to help in expanding both broadband infrastructure
    to areas of unmet need as well as supporting communities with their
    digital equity and inclusion needs.

        Question 8. In the last Congress, I joined a bipartisan group of
    senators pushing for a massive investment in scientific research and
    technology development--the Endless Frontiers Act. I know you've
    commented on the need to ``Go big'' as we try to build our way back out
    of the pandemic. Can you comment on the importance of investing in
    basic research like this?
        Answer. Basic scientific research is imperative to set the long-
    term groundwork for technology development and later commercial
    application. President Biden has charged the Office of Science and
    Technology Policy to examine how we as a nation support research and
    development to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive globally in key
    areas of technology (A.I., quantum, communications, etc.). With bureaus
    like NIST having a key role to play in many of the emerging technology
    areas identified in the Endless Frontier Act, if confirmed, I look
    forward to working with the White House and Congress to ensure that our
    programs are positioned to support the advanced research necessary to
    fight the pandemic, ensure our competitive position, combat climate
    change, and build back our economy.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Question Submitted by Hon. Tammy Baldwin to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question. The Economic Census is intended to serve ``as the
    foundation for the measurement of U.S. businesses and their economic
    impact.'' One in three Americans is a member-owner of at least one
    cooperative business, and to capture the economic impact of
    cooperatives, the Census Bureau rightfully included a question on the
    2017 survey asking respondents if the business identifies as a
    cooperative. Unfortunately, the Bureau has not published any data on
    these responses, nor made the data available to cooperative researchers
    and economists. Will you commit to releasing Economic Census data on
    cooperatives and ensure that the Economic Census continues to measure
    the economic impact of cooperative businesses in future surveys?
        Answer. If confirmed, I look forward to working with you and the
    Census Bureau to ensure cooperative businesses are integrated into
    future surveys.
                                     ______

      Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Duckworth to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. As part of the 2021 NDAA, Congress authorized a
    National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) housed within the U.S.
    Department of Commerce, with the goal of furthering research and
    development into this crucial technology and strengthening our domestic
    supply. If confirmed, how will you prioritize funding for research in
    this and other critical technologies, and do you agree that the
    Department should solicit further funding for research and development
    of critical technologies like semiconductors?
        Answer. Cutting-edge semiconductor technology is crucial to both
    U.S. national and economic security. If confirmed, I will make every
    effort to prioritize R&D that can help address the advancement of
    semiconductor technology, overcome barriers to its manufacture and
    security, including models like the NSTC that bring together
    stakeholders from across government and industry. I look forward to
    working with Congress and the White House on ways to secure further
    funding for the important efforts laid out in the NDAA.

        Question 2. From a global competitiveness standpoint, how vital is
    it that the U.S. grow its domestic manufacturing base in technologies
    like semiconductors? And what are your plans to implement and promote
    the new semiconductor program at the Department of Commerce that
    Congress authorized with the FY 2021 NDAA?
        Answer. A vibrant domestic semiconductor manufacturing capability
    is an important component of the overall competitive position of the
    U.S. If confirmed, I plan to work diligently to coordinate efforts
    between Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department
    of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and the
    Department of Commerce to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor industry. I
    look forward to working with Congress on appropriations to support the
    efforts outlined in the NDAA.

        Question 3. Within the Department of Commerce, what position serves
    as the current point person for the Secretary in evaluating the breadth
    of the Department's response to trade enforcement and anti-
    competitiveness concerns? And how does that individual ensure that
    small businesses--especially those without a trade association or
    lobbyists--are able to quickly and easily flag concerns about
    potentially unfair trade practices so that the Department may analyze
    the situation and respond swiftly?
        Answer. I believe in leveling the playing field for small
    businesses when it comes to trade. If confirmed, I look forward to
    working to ensure all U.S. companies, including small and medium-sized
    companies, benefit from our trade agreements.
        It is my understanding that Commerce offers a number of tools to
    engage with the public to ensure compliance with trade agreements. It
    maintains a hotline (202-482-1191) and website (https://tcc.export.gov)
    to report complaints. The ITA website (https://www.trade.gov/trade-
    agreements-compliance) includes videos and infographics on trade
    barriers so companies can quickly self-assess if they are facing a
    trade barrier as the result of foreign government non-compliance.
    Finally, compliance officers work closely with more than 100 U.S.
    Export Assistance Centers that assist small and medium-sized exporters
    located throughout the United States.
        In addition, The Department of Commerce provides counseling on the
    remedies available under the Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/
    CVD) laws through its AD/CVD petition counseling office to ensure that
    all U.S. companies, including small and medium-sized companies,
    understand and have access to the applicable laws. The office can be
    reached through a hotline (202-482-1255) and dedicated e-mail address
    (petition.counseling@trade.gov). Additional information can also be
    found through the petition counseling website at https://www.trade.gov/
    ec-petition-counseling.

        Question 4. In confirmed, how would you survey and analyze the
    current policies and procedures within the Economic Development
    Administration to ensure that it is fully combatting racial and
    economic justice as part of its mission?
        Answer. EDA's mission to empower distressed communities though
    revitalization and diversification of local economies is consistent
    with the promotion of racial and economic justice. My understanding is
    that EDA looks forward to working with the Administration pursuant to
    President Biden's Executive Order 13985 to identify and continue to
    embed equitable principles and approaches across the bureau.
    Additionally, EDA will review its policies and actions to ensure they
    do not create barriers to equal participation by eligible institutions
    seeking grants from EDA.
                                     ______

       Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Kyrsten Sinema to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Semiconductor Manufacturing Grants. As we discussed at your
    hearing, semiconductors play a crucial role in our economic and
    national security. The 2021 defense authorization law included
    important provisions to incentivize domestic semiconductor
    manufacturing and reverse the decline in American semiconductor
    manufacturing jobs.

        Question 1. Will you commit to depoliticize the grant process and
    to establish a procedure that reviews applications and distributes
    grants based on the benefits to domestic semiconductor manufacturing
    and not based on politics or the location of the project?
        Answer. If confirmed, I commit to ensuring that DOC grants
    processes are not politicized and that they utilize procedures that are
    fair, competitive, transparent, and oriented to benefit domestic
    semiconductor manufacturing.

        Semiconductor Research. In addition to the grants to expand
    domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, the 2021 National Defense
    Authorization Act calls on the Department to establish a National
    Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The NSTC is intended to conduct
    research, development and prototyping to maintain U.S. leadership in
    this critical technology.

        Question 2. What role do you envision your Department playing in
    funding research in critical technologies, such as semiconductors?
        Answer. NIST currently has a number of research efforts directly
    aligned with the needs of the semiconductor industry and other critical
    technology areas, such as artificial intelligence, quantum science, and
    advanced communications. If confirmed, I look forward to working with
    Congress to support and grow these ongoing efforts at NIST as well as
    other activities across the Department that can help advance U.S.
    competitiveness in key technology areas, and that contribute to the
    establishment of a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

        Broadband Interagency Coordination. As we discussed at your
    hearing, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
    (NTIA) can play a major role in expanding broadband throughout Arizona.
    In addition to the programs designed to expand access into rural and
    tribal areas of Arizona, the COVID relief bill also sets up a one-stop
    shop at NTIA to coordinate broadband development opportunities across
    the executive branch.

        Question 3. Will you commit to quickly establish that office and
    help state and local governments identify all the opportunities for
    Federal assistance for broadband deployment?
        Answer. If confirmed, I commit to promptly establishing the new
    office and to help state and local governments identify all the
    opportunities for Federal assistance for broadband deployment. It is my
    understanding that NTIA has begun the process of setting up the Office
    of Internet Connectivity and Growth and to implement the new
    obligations relative to tracking Federal dollars, streamlining
    application processes, and coordinating among Federal agencies relative
    to broadband funding.

        Cross Border Trade. Cross border trade is an economic driver of
    Arizona's economy. A University of Arizona study shows that Mexican
    tomato imports support 33,000 U.S. jobs. Agribusiness supply chains
    derived from these imported tomatoes account for nearly $3 billion in
    U.S. gross domestic product. With trade agreements in place, such as
    USMCA, the North America supply chain provides consumers with the
    opportunity for choice and affordable produce while supporting our
    domestic growers. USTR has recently initiated a number of trade
    investigations having to do with imported produce, specifically related
    to seasonality concerns. These investigations destabilize the supply
    chain and open the door to potential damaging retaliations from our
    trade partners. That's why I joined with Senator Moran and other
    members of Congress to send a letter to USTR, urging them to consider
    the potential impacts when making these decisions.

        Question 4. In your opinion, how do we continue to foster a strong
    trade supply chain while not disrupting the USMCA and ensuring our
    domestic growers are supported and consumers are given affordable
    choices throughout the year?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure that Commerce continues its
    outreach with growers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables
    to enhance their understanding of applicable trade remedy laws and
    processes and will continue to monitor foreign subsidy practices that
    have a direct impact on U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable
    fruits and vegetables.

        Commercial Space. The commercial space industry is growing at an
    incredible speed--creating jobs, innovating, and fostering public-
    private partnerships across the country. Yuma, Arizona is currently
    going through the process to establish a spaceport that would have the
    ability to launch mini and nano satellites. If the spaceport moves
    forward, it will grow Yuma's economy and help the United States remain
    a leader in space.

        Question 5. As the commercial space economy expands and more
    technology is sent into space, how will you work with entities to
    ensure the National Airspace System is able to support additional
    launch and reentry points as well as increased traffic?
        Answer. I understand the importance in providing space situational
    awareness and traffic management to ensure safe and productive
    development in the space economy. If confirmed, I look forward to
    working with NOAA, other Federal agencies, and the Congress on this
    important topic.

        Space Traffic Management. Given the exponential growth in numbers
    of satellites and the increasing amount of debris in orbit, the Office
    of Space Commerce is charged with protecting the space based services
    that are critical to our Nation's infrastructure, sustaining U.S. space
    sector leadership globally, and international space cooperation. Last
    year Congress provided increased funding for the Office of Space
    Commerce and direction to initiate a Space Traffic Management (STM)
    pilot program in collaboration with industry.

        Question 6. What are your thoughts on the importance of Space
    Traffic Management?
        Answer. I understand that successful and collaborative space
    traffic management will be essential if the U.S. and the world are to
    realize the potential benefits of a healthy and growing space economy.
    If confirmed, I look forward to working with NOAA, other Federal
    agencies, and the Congress on this important topic.

        Privacy Shield. In July of 2020, the European Court of Justice
    struck down the Privacy Shield program, invalidating a critical
    mechanism for transferring personal data to the United States from the
    European Union. This has raised significant concerns about the
    continued viability of trans-Atlantic data flows, which are estimated
    to generate more than $7 trillion in economic activity.

        Question 7. As Secretary of Commerce, will you support and
    prioritize the on-going negotiations to replace the Privacy Shield
    program with the goal of ensuring the continued viability of trans-
    Atlantic data flows?
        Answer. If confirmed, one of my top priorities as Commerce
    Secretary will be to quickly conclude an enhanced Privacy Shield
    framework that fully addresses the European Court of Justice's concerns
    and enables the EU-U.S. transfers of personal data that underpin the
    $7.1 trillion transatlantic economy. I will work closely with my
    counterparts in the U.S. government, in particular the Office of the
    Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, and the
    Department of State, in order to ensure that these whole of government
    negotiations are successful and the 5,400+ Privacy Shield participants,
    more than 70 percent of whom were small and medium enterprises, can
    efficiently and effectively do business with Europe once again on firm
    ground.

        Bioscience and IP Rights. In Arizona, our bioscience and biotech
    industries fuel new jobs, and delivering life-changing innovations.
    We've worked hard in Arizona to leverage smart public sector
    investments to attract next generation start-ups, as well as global
    companies looking to build out manufacturing and research facilities.
    Arizona inventors have been awarded more than 2,000 bioscience-related
    patents since 2016. Never have the benefits of strong IP been as
    relevant as they are today. We have seen how pharmaceutical researchers
    have worked so quickly to develop COVID vaccines and therapeutics, and
    the importance of going after stolen IP and fraudulent medical
    products.

        Question 8. In order to continue driving discovery and to maintain
    the global competitiveness of American and Arizonan companies, how will
    the Commerce Department use trade enforcement tools to create a level
    playing field and protect millions of American jobs?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work with the Congress to protect U.S.
    intellectual property. The Department will address the challenge of
    protecting U.S. intellectual property from theft and unfair competition
    by helping our innovators and creators, providing information on how to
    obtain protection, maintaining high standards for protection in any
    future trade agreements, using tools at the Department's disposal to
    ensure our trading partners abide by their international commitments,
    including those respecting IP protection and enforcement, and
    participating and defending U.S. intellectual property interests in
    international forums and standard setting processes.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Jacky Rosen to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. The ability to transfer data across international
    borders is crucial to a broad range of companies, of all sizes and
    industries, and to consumers who rely on global services to help them
    work, learn, and connect with others from home. Can you commit to
    making it a priority to help ensure that companies can continue to
    transfer data across international borders and to working with your
    European counterparts to reach a new agreement to support data
    transfers from the EU to the US?
        Answer. If confirmed, one of my top priorities as Commerce
    Secretary will be to quickly conclude an enhanced Privacy Shield
    framework that fully addresses the European Court of Justice's concerns
    and enables the EU-U.S. transfers of personal data that underpin the
    $7.1 trillion transatlantic economy. I will work closely with my
    counterparts in the U.S. government, in particular the Office of the
    Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, and the
    Department of State, in order to ensure that these whole of government
    negotiations are successful and the 5,400+ Privacy Shield participants,
    more than 70 percent of whom were small and medium enterprises, can
    efficiently and effectively do business with Europe once again on firm
    ground.

        Question 2. With a majority of Americans working remotely due to
    COVID-19, will you commit to strengthening cybersecurity workforce
    capabilities to secure and defend information infrastructure?
        Answer. Yes. If confirmed, I commit to strengthening our
    cybersecurity workforce capabilities. I am aware of NIST's recently
    revised Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity and the output of the
    National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, which NIST manages. I
    look forward to working with NIST and the Department to continue
    improving our Nation's cyber workforce.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger Wicker to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Gov. Raimondo, supply chain security is a growing
    challenge for the business community and the Federal government needs
    to coordinate its efforts and work with the private sector to protect
    our interests. Will you commit to reviewing the Department of
    Commerce's recently issued Information and Communications Technology
    and Services (ICTS) Supply Chain interim final rule to ensure it is
    reasonable and is part of a coordinated Federal strategy to secure the
    supply chain? Yes or no?
        Answer. With experience in both the private and public sector, I
    know how critical it is to protect the interest of all Americans,
    consumers and constituents. If confirmed, I will work with the
    professionals at the Department and conduct a thorough review of the
    recently issued ICTS Supply Chain interim final rule as well as the
    Department's other supply chain activities.

        Question 2. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which
    included COVID-19 stimulus and relief funding, included $1.3 billion
    for broadband grants--$1 billion for Tribal areas and $300 million for
    broadband deployment in unserved areas. Those grants will be
    administered by the Department of Commerce's National
    Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The purpose
    of this question is to ensure that those broadband resources are
    targeted to unserved areas. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
    included $1.3 billion for broadband grants--$1 billion for Tribal areas
    and $300 million for broadband deployment in unserved areas. Those
    grants will be administered by the Department of Commerce's National
    Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). If confirmed,
    will you commit to ensure that those broadband resources are targeted
    to unserved areas and are not used to overbuild areas that already have
    broadband service from a private sector provider or are served by a
    project funded by another agency? Yes or no?
        Answer. Yes, if confirmed, I will work with the NTIA to implement
    broadband resources pursuant to the language set forth in the
    Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

        Question 3. Spectrum is critical for wireless innovation, closing
    the digital divide, and winning the race to 5G. The United States is
    one of the only countries in the world that has a bifurcated system for
    managing spectrum--the Federal Communications Commission manages non-
    Federal, commercial spectrum and NTIA manages the Federal government's
    use of spectrum. Historically, all Federal agencies would work through
    NTIA to represent its spectrum needs before the FCC. Spectrum is
    critical for wireless innovation, closing the digital divide, and
    winning the race to 5G. The Department of Commerce's National
    Telecommunications and Information Administration's management of the
    efficient use of Federal spectrum is key to achieving each of these
    goals. If confirmed, will you work with NTIA to ensure it is the
    voice--and not other agencies--representing the Executive Branch's
    position on Federal spectrum matters? Yes or no?
        Answer. NTIA is the critical voice of the Executive Branch on
    Federal spectrum matters, and, if confirmed, I will affirmatively work
    to ensure this is so.

        Question 4. Improving our Nation's cybersecurity requires working
    closely with industry to develop and adopt best cybersecurity
    practices. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST,
    has a long track record of helping the public and private sectors
    improve cybersecurity. Going forward, it is important to take into
    account the work that NIST has undertaken on these issues as the
    Executive Branch further develops and refines its cybersecurity
    strategy. How would you advance the Department of Commerce's role in
    strengthening our Nation's cybersecurity, and how would it facilitate
    developing best practices and building secure systems?
        Answer. Our nation's cybersecurity is of paramount importance, and
    if confirmed I look forward to working with NIST, the Department of
    Commerce's lead agency on cybersecurity issues, to help advance our
    national cybersecurity posture. If confirmed, my plan is to ensure the
    Department will continue to build on NIST's proven record and
    capability of research and collaboration with the private sector,
    academia, standards development organizations, other government
    agencies, and national and international stakeholders, in order to
    deliver the most up-to-date cybersecurity standards and guidance.

        Question 5. The ``space economy'' is expected to grow from $350
    billion to nearly $1 trillion by 2040. A tremendous opportunity exists
    for American space companies to capitalize on growth in a variety of
    sectors such as space launch, communications, on-orbit servicing,
    remote sensing, research and development, and even tourism. If
    confirmed, I hope you will support the Office of Space Commerce (OSC).
        What is your understanding of the roles and missions of the Office
    of Space Commerce? Do you believe that the OSC can play an important
    role in fostering American economic leadership and opportunities in
    space?
        Would you consider organizational change within the Department to
    ensure that OSC is properly prioritized and resourced?
        Answer. I understand that NOAA and the Office of Space Commerce
    (OSC) play a key role in working with the commercial space industry. If
    confirmed, I look forward to learning more about the Office of Space
    Commerce and to working with Congress to ensure that it is properly
    resourced and can continue to serve this important function.

        Question 6. Today, over 2,000 active satellites serve functions
    that underpin much of our modern digital economy and enable the
    technology we so often take for granted. But those satellites, as well
    as astronauts aboard the International Space Station, are threatened by
    hundreds of thousands of pieces of ``junk'' or space debris. Some of
    that debris is large enough to track with radar telescopes, but most of
    it is not.
        With the space domain increasingly congested, opportunities for
    collisions, spectrum interference, and other ``traffic management''
    challenges have likewise increased. In light of this, the National
    Space Council announced Space Policy Directive 3 in June of 2018, which
    designated the Department of Commerce as the lead civil agency for
    space situational awareness and notification of satellite operators of
    potential conjunctions or collisions--functions previously carried out
    by the Department of Defense.
        Further examination of the issue by this Committee and a study
    conducted by the National Academy of Public Administration affirmed
    that conclusion, and resulted in Senator Cantwell, Senator Sinema, and
    I introducing the SPACE Act of 2020. That legislation would transfer
    civil SSA and STM authorities from the Department of Defense to the
    Department of Commerce and establish a center of excellence for SSA and
    STM research.
        Do you agree that congestion in space requires urgent U.S.
    Government action to protect the space environment through better space
    situational awareness and traffic management?
        Senator Cantwell and I plan to reintroduce the SPACE Act soon. Will
    you review that legislation and work with us to protect the space
    environment?
        Will you consult with Congress before advocating for any change to
    SPD-3?
        Answer. I understand the importance in providing space situational
    awareness and traffic management to ensure safe and productive
    development in the space economy. If confirmed, I look forward to
    working with you as you develop legislation on this important topic.

        Question 7. I introduced and passed the bipartisan Modern Fish Act
    to improve the management of recreational fisheries by incorporating
    the best available science. In the Gulf of Mexico, states like
    Mississippi have invested significant time and money to develop a more
    accurate understanding of how much recreational fishermen harvest. NOAA
    is rejecting the high quality state data, and instead the agency is
    prioritizing the less accurate Federal data from the Marine
    Recreational Information Program. This could unfairly decrease
    Mississippi's share of the Red Snapper fishery by 60 percent in 2021.
    Will you work with me to ensure Mississippi is not unfairly punished by
    directing Federal fishery managers to work with the states and use the
    more accurate and timely state fishery data in the Gulf recreational
    red snapper fishery?
        Answer. As Governor of the Ocean State, I recognize that saltwater
    recreational fishing is an integral part of American coastal life,
    communities, and economies. I also understand the importance of stock
    assessment data and the need for it to be grounded in the best
    available science. If confirmed, I would commit to learning more about
    NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program and to working with you
    and NOAA on this issue as the program pertains to Gulf of Mexico
    fisheries.

        Question 8. Regional Ocean Partnerships are made up of coastal
    states and promote the effective stewardship of our oceans and coasts
    by giving those states a strong voice. Last Congress, Senator Cantwell
    and I introduced the Regional Ocean Partnership Act to codify the
    existing regional ocean partnerships. Do you commit to working with me
    to ensure the states have a strong voice in the stewardship of their
    oceans and coasts? Additionally, as a Governor of a coastal state, do
    you see benefits to state partnerships for taking care of our marine
    resources and promoting the blue economy?
        Answer. As a Governor, I recognize the need for states and tribal
    governments to have a strong voice in the shared stewardship of our
    Nation's coasts and oceans. NOAA coordinates closely on the management,
    resilience, and restoration of ocean and coastal areas through
    collaborative regional efforts led by Regional Ocean Partnerships.
    These partnerships have enabled my state of Rhode Island and other
    states to successfully guide and manage appropriate development and
    conservation within our coastal and marine resources. If confirmed, I
    will work with NOAA to strengthen our partnerships with States and
    tribal governments to address coastal and marine issues across our
    shared ocean resources.

        Question 9. Southern Mississippi and the University of Rhode Island
    both play important roles in supporting NOAA's work on this issue.
    Uncrewed maritime systems are a highly cost-effective way for NOAA to
    increase the number of observations it collects. Will you work with me
    to increase NOAA's use of uncrewed maritime systems? Additionally, can
    you talk about the synergies you saw in Rhode Island when NOAA
    leveraged the strength of its university partners?
        Answer. I recognize the importance of the safe, efficient, and
    cost-effective operation of uncrewed systems, which NOAA uses to
    collect high-quality environmental data for the agency's science,
    products and services. Rhode Island is a nexus for the industrial
    revolution in autonomous technologies and the University of Rhode
    Island (URI) is a leader in ocean exploration. If confirmed, I look
    forward to working with you and other partners to advance modern ocean
    technology and increase NOAA's use of uncrewed maritime systems.

        Question 10. Governor Raimondo, one of the most immediate tasks for
    the incoming Administration is to ensure global telecommunications
    networks are safe and secure, especially with 5G networks coming
    online. What is your view on how the Administration should go about
    exploring all options for the development and deployment of secure
    global telecommunications networks?
        Answer. Given our increased reliance on broadband due to the COVID-
    19 pandemic, our need for safe and secure domestic and global
    telecommunications networks for education, healthcare and business is
    critical. The work to enhance the security of communications networks
    at home and abroad will require a range of efforts from across the U.S.
    government, working in close collaboration with our international and
    industry partners.
                                     ______

         Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John Thune to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Global copyright theft undercuts the U.S. economic
    recovery, the global competitiveness agenda, and the high-paying jobs
    and vendors that the copyright industries support. Small businesses in
    the copyright industries heavily rely on copyright protection and
    enforcement to create, finance and grow. What will you do to ensure
    that our trading partners effectively protect and enforce copyright?
        Answer. If I am confirmed, I will support robust Intellectual
    Property (IP) protection and enforcement frameworks in our Free Trade
    Agreements and our continued engagement in international organizations,
    including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the
    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to ensure
    that our trading partners can effectively protect and enforce
    copyright.
        In addition, I will leverage the Department of Commerce's extensive
    expertise and resources, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
    and the International Trade Administration, to promote the protection
    and enforcement of copyright around the world by providing training and
    technical advice to foreign trading partners.
        Furthermore, I will support continued outreach and assistance to
    U.S. creators and copyright owners, including small businesses, in the
    protection and licensing of U.S. movies, music, literature, software,
    and other creative works, including through our network of Intellectual
    Property Attaches in embassies, consulates, and missions around the
    world.

        Question 2. Advanced communication systems such as 5G and Wi-Fi 6
    are critical to facilitating U.S. competitiveness in a wide variety of
    industries. How do you see the Department of Commerce and NTIA working
    to facilitate and promote 5G?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure the full technical expertise of
    the Department and NTIA is available to lead U.S. government efforts to
    help ensure that 5G standards are state-of-the-art, fit-for-purpose,
    and developed through open, bottom-up, industry-led, consensus-based
    processes free of the influence of state-actors or their proxies.

        Question 3. The Department of Commerce's own data shows that in
    U.S. firms that export goods and services, sales grow faster, more jobs
    are created, and employees earn more than in non-exporting firms. An
    ever-growing number of these exporters are small businesses.
    Unfortunately, even in the countries where we have free trade
    agreements, our companies continue to face trade barriers such as
    inadequate intellectual property protections, data localization rules,
    and price controls that violate these agreements. Much of the
    responsibility of enforcing these agreements and protecting U.S.
    businesses falls to the Department of Commerce. Governor Raimondo, can
    you commit that you will be as vigilant in the execution of the
    responsibility of holding our trading partners to account on behalf of
    our U.S. exporters as the Department will be in protecting our
    businesses from imports that violate our laws and trade agreements?
        Answer. If confirmed, Commerce will continue to level the playing
    for American workers and businesses. The Department of Commerce is
    committed to holding our trading partners accountable when they violate
    our laws and trade agreements by proactively monitoring, identifying
    and resolving trade barriers. I commit to working with allies and
    likeminded trading partners to promote policies that support U.S.
    exports and encourage foreign investment into the United States. I also
    commit to rigorously enforce the U.S. trade remedy laws to address
    unfair dumping and subsidization of imports from foreign trading
    partners that injure the domestic industry.

        Question 4. As you know, the United States continues to face
    growing cybersecurity threats. Last year, NTIA and other Federal
    agencies were breached in a supply-chain attack by malicious hackers.
    An attack at this scale has an enormous effect on our economy and
    national security. It provides our adversaries with unauthorized access
    to sensitive data, intellectual property, and critical infrastructure.
    If confirmed, how would the Department respond to this economic
    espionage and work with industry to combat ongoing cyber threats?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department continues
    to play an active role in helping industry and government agencies
    better defend against a range of cyber threats by working with experts
    and stakeholders to constantly advance the collective tools, standards,
    and expectations in the marketplace.

        Question 5. A week and a half ago marked the one-year anniversary
    of the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade deal. China committed to purchasing a
    significant amount of U.S. exports--an additional $200 billion of U.S.
    products over a two-year period. How does the Commerce Department plan
    to respond to China if it does not meet its Phase 1 commitments,
    particularly the purchase of U.S. exports?
        Answer. China's actions toward U.S. businesses are coercive and
    abusive and if confirmed, my plan is to ensure the Department of
    Commerce (Commerce) continues supporting U.S. exports, including those
    purchases agreed upon by China as part of the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade
    deal. Commerce will continue to work with USTR to hold China
    accountable and use our full tool kit, including export promotion
    resources of the Foreign Commercial Service.

        Question 6. With agriculture being South Dakota's biggest industry,
    my state relies on reliable and accurate weather prediction, especially
    when it comes to drought and flood risk monitoring. For that reason, I
    requested that the most recent WRDA bill include a provision to build
    out a network of weather monitoring stations across the Upper Missouri
    River Basin and require NOAA to acquire the data and develop a pilot
    program to improve existing climate and forecasting models with the new
    data. If confirmed, can you commit to working with me to stand up this
    important pilot program at NOAA, which will greatly benefit flood
    control and drought monitoring for much of the Great Plains region?
        Answer. I recognize the importance weather has on industries, like
    agriculture, to the economy of South Dakota and our Nation. If
    confirmed, I will ensure that NOAA leads with data and sound science. I
    look forward to working with you on this program, and to ensuring that
    NOAA and its National Weather Service are the gold standard for
    weather, water, and climate forecasting.
                                     ______

         Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roy Blunt to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Do you intend to conduct a review of the steel and
    aluminum tariffs implemented under section 232 of the Trade Expansion
    Act of 1962

        a. Will the Department study the impact on downstream industries
    that consume goods impacted by the tariffs, specifically the decisions
    of companies to build facilities and production capacity in the United
    States?

        b. Will the Department make any changes to the tariff exclusion
    request process? What will the Department do to avoid backlogs and
    delays?

        c. Will the Department consider giving exclusions to industries
    that have no impact on national security, such as food and beverage
    processing or consumer automobiles?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary, I plan to review any work the
    Department of Commerce (Commerce) has already done on the impact of the
    tariffs and will ensure that any review is up to date. It is my
    understanding that the Commerce Department is continually reviewing the
    process and scope of the 232 Exclusions Process to increase its
    efficiency and transparency.

        Question 2. How will the Department of Commerce protect American
    workers and main street businesses against China's unfair trading
    practices? How will the Department work with our other trading partners
    in the region to facilitate trade and counter China's influence?
        Answer. If confirmed, I am committed to addressing unfair and
    abusive trading practices by China and other nations through its
    network of trade experts and commercial diplomats. I will work with
    allies and likeminded trading partners to identify and address trade
    barriers in order to promote policies that support U.S. exports and
    continue to vigorously enforce existing U.S. trade laws, including the
    antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws, to ensure that
    U.S. workers, farmers and businesses are not harmed by unfair imports
    from China.

        a. American innovation in technology continues to create high-tech
    manufacturing jobs and reduce our dependence on China. Will you commit
    to working with Congress to vigorously protect American intellectual
    property from unfair competition?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will work with Congress to protect U.S.
    intellectual property. The Department will address the challenge of
    protecting U.S. intellectual property from theft and unfair competition
    by helping our innovators and creators, providing information on how to
    obtain protection, maintaining high standards for protection in any
    future trade agreements, using tools at the Department's disposal to
    ensure our trading partners abide by their international commitments,
    including those respecting IP protection and enforcement, and
    participating and defending U.S. intellectual property interests in
    international forums and standard setting processes.

        Question 3. How will the Department of Commerce enforce our trade
    agreements? What actions will the Department take against entities that
    violate our trade agreements?
        Specifically, on intellectual property, how will the Department
    fully and effectively defend U.S. companies' IP rights around the world
    and ensure that foreign governments live up to their trade agreement IP
    obligations?
        Answer. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) has the statutory
    responsibility to monitor trading partners' trade agreement compliance
    and as such, proactively monitors, investigates, and resolves non-
    tariff trade barriers. If confirmed, I will work with Commerce staff,
    and when appropriate the Office of the United States Trade
    Representative, to expeditiously address non-compliance matters and
    refer for dispute settlement as needed.

        Question 4. The COVID-19 pandemic created a disruption in global
    supply lines and led to a shortage of semiconductor chips. Many
    American manufacturing workers and main street businesses produce
    products that include semiconductor chips to enhance safety and
    efficiency. The current shortage is slowing down American factories and
    may result in a total work stoppage.

        a. Will the Department of Commerce work with our trading partners
    to help alleviate the shortage of semiconductor chips?
        Answer. The Department of Commerce will play an active role in
    President Biden's whole-of-government approach to semiconductors. In
    the short term, we should work with trading partners to explore options
    for alleviating this shortage. In the long term, we must take steps to
    ensure a resilient and secure supply chain for semiconductor chips,
    including continued assistance to firms expanding their semiconductor
    manufacturing investments in the United States. If confirmed, I look
    forward to working with Congress to these ends.

        Question 5. In July of 2020, the European Court of Justice struck
    down the Privacy Shield program, invalidating a mechanism for
    transferring personal data to the U.S. from the EU. This has raised
    significant concerns about the continued viability of trans-Atlantic
    data flows, which are estimated to generate more than $7 trillion in
    economic activity, at an important moment for both U.S. economic
    recovery and EU-US relations.

        a. As Secretary of Commerce, will you support and prioritize the
    on-going negotiations to replace the Privacy Shield program with the
    goal of ensuring the continued viability of trans-Atlantic data flows?

        b. Given the potential economic impact of interrupted data flows
    across the U.S. economy, are you planning to be directly involved in
    these discussions? Are there additional steps you intend to take?
        Answer. If confirmed, one of my top priorities as Commerce
    Secretary will be to quickly conclude an enhanced Privacy Shield
    framework that fully addresses the European Court of Justice's concerns
    and enables the EU-U.S. transfers of personal data that underpin the
    $7.1 trillion transatlantic economy. I will work closely with my
    counterparts in the U.S. government, in particular the Office of the
    Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Justice, and the
    Department of State, in order to ensure that these whole of government
    negotiations are successful and the 5,400+ Privacy Shield participants,
    more than 70 percent of whom were small and medium enterprises, can
    efficiently and effectively do business with Europe once again on firm
    ground.

        Question 6. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is
    proliferating and important considerations are being brought to light
    about both the benefits and challenges of these technologies. Most
    notably, the European Commission is making significant progress toward
    an AI regulatory approach. The Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense
    Authorization Act included a bipartisan requirement for the National
    Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a
    collaborative trustworthy AI framework, akin to their landmark
    cybersecurity and privacy frameworks.

        a. As the leading producer of AI in the world, do you agree that
    the U.S. should be part of the global conversation on AI standards,
    management practices, and regulation?
        Answer. Yes. I agree unequivocally that the U.S. should be part of
    the global conversation on AI standards, management practices, and
    regulation. If confirmed, I look forward to working with NIST and
    others across the Department to ensure that the U.S. maintains its
    strong voice in these important global conversations on AI.

        b. Given that it received considerable bipartisan support in
    Congress, will you support and prioritize the on-going and important
    work by NIST to launch to create a trustworthy AI framework?
        Answer. Yes. If confirmed, I will be a strong supporter and
    advocate for NIST's work to create a framework for trustworthy AI. I
    understand that NIST has received funding from Congress that will
    support this important work.

        Question 7. I served on the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2009
    when Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which
    sent billions of dollars to the Department of Commerce to provide
    broadband grants. I was concerned in 2009, and I remain concerned that
    we are not doing enough to protect taxpayer money from being used to
    overbuild existing broadband networks.

        a. Will you commit to the Committee that under your leadership at
    the Department of Commerce, you will ensure that NTIA works with all
    government and industry stakeholders to mitigate the threat of using
    Federal money to overbuild existing broadband networks?
        Answer. Yes.

        b. How will you work to ensure that Federal resources are used for
    the construction of broadband networks in wholly unserved, rather than
    underserved, parts of the country?
        Answer. As Governor, I have had to watch the challenges many
    families and individuals have in my state without access to broadband
    or have very limited bandwidth. If confirmed, as Secretary, I will work
    to ensure that broadband grants are directed to the communities most
    deserving and in need, consistent with the intent of the statute.

        Question 8. As you may be aware, within the Department of Commerce
    is the National Travel & Tourism Office and the U.S. Travel and Tourism
    Advisory Board, which inform the Commerce Secretary on emerging issues
    in travel and tourism, including travel facilitation, transportation
    infrastructure, and aviation security. The travel industry has been one
    of the hardest hit by the pandemic, and the Department has a critical
    role to play in the balancing of public health and safety in air travel
    with the need to support the viability of the travel industry.
        The U.S. must lead the global community in implementing a multi-
    layered, risk-based approach to restarting travel. Though I am glad to
    hear President Biden will advance the CDC's new testing requirement for
    inbound, international travelers, I believe that more can be done to
    ensure that this rule is implemented smoothly.

        a. Will you commit to addressing these concerns and considering the
    interests of the travel industry as you work with your colleagues in
    the Administration to tackle this crisis?
        Answer. I believe it is critical for our economic recovery that the
    United States prioritize the safe opening of domestic and international
    travel in a way that mitigates the transmission of disease. On January
    21, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19
    Safety in Domestic and International Travel that mandates testing of
    travelers entering the United States and directs the Departments of
    Transportation, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services,
    through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other
    agencies to provide additional recommendations to the COVID-19 Response
    Coordinator (Coordinator) on measures to support the safe reopening of
    international and domestic travel. If confirmed, it is my intention to
    offer the assistance of the Department of Commerce in bringing the
    perspective of the travel and tourism industry, communicating to the
    travel trade in the United States and international markets, and
    coordinating across government.

        Question 9. Before leaving office, President Trump signed an
    executive order that seeks to grant the Department of Commerce
    authorities to impose data collection requirements on cloud providers.
    It is unclear how this action will effect relationships between cloud
    providers and their customers overseas. These outcomes may put a major
    sector of the U.S. economy at risk without clarity on how this action
    advances data security.
        Do I have your commitment to carefully review this EO and to work
    with impacted industry stakeholders on this topic and others relating
    to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will carefully review the Executive Order
    and work with impacted industry stakeholders on this topic and others
    relating to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
                                     ______

          Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ted Cruz to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Governor, in your confirmation hearing I asked you
    several questions about an ongoing review of China policy by the Biden
    administration, which includes the potential to remove several entities
    from the Department of Commerce's ``Entity List.'' This list, as you
    may know, houses foreign parties--such as an individual, business,
    research institution, or government organization--which engage in
    activities contrary to U.S. national security and/or foreign policy
    interests. Specifically, I asked about entities that the Chinese
    Communist Party (CCP) uses to conduct their surveillance campaigns of
    the Uighurs in Xinjiang, which is part of their campaign of genocide in
    the region, and about Huawei, which is a global espionage tool of the
    CCP masquerading as a technology firm.
        Additionally, on Jan 19 then-Secretary of State Pompeo announced
    that the State Department had determined that ``the People's Republic
    of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in
    Xinjiang, China, targeting Uyghur Muslims and members of other ethnic
    and religious minority groups.'' The same day, now-Secretary of State
    Blinken confirmed that he agrees with that assessment in testimony to
    the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: ``That would be my judgment as
    well . . . I think we're very much in agreement,'' he said. ``The
    forcing of men, women and children into concentration camps; trying to,
    in effect, re-educate them to be adherents to the ideology of the
    Chinese Communist Party, all of that speaks to an effort to commit
    genocide.''
        In response to my questions about companies used by the CCP for
    their surveillance campaigns of the Uighurs, you said----

            ``I will commit that should I be confirmed and I am there, I
            will review the policy, consult with you, consult with
            industry, consult with our allies and make an assessment on
            what is best for American national security.''

        This answer is both troubling and does not address my questions.
    I'd like to now more specifically ask you----

        a. Do you believe that the CCP's targeting of the Uighurs in
    Xinjiang constitutes a genocide?

        b. Will you commit to ensuring the entities that were placed on the
    Entity List because of their involvement in the CCP's human rights
    abuses against the Uighurs and others in Xinjiang remain on the Entity
    List, should you be confirmed as the Secretary of Commerce?

        c. Will you commit to ensuring Huawei and its subsidiaries and
    affiliates that are currently on the Entity List remain on the Entity
    List, should you be confirmed as the Secretary of Commerce?
        Answer. Secretary of State Blinken has made clear his judgement
    that China's actions in Xinjiang constitute an effort to commit
    genocide, and he speaks on behalf of the President on this issue. I
    agree with him that the U.S. government has tools, including some that
    Congress has provided, to take actions to not import products that are
    made with forced labor from Xinjiang, or exporting technologies and
    tools that could be used to further Uighurs' repression. If confirmed,
    I will review how the Bureau of Industry and Security's (BIS)
    authorities can be leveraged to promote the protection of human rights,
    as Congress directed in the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA), including
    through review of licenses for human rights concerns and Entity List
    actions. I will also ensure any proposed additions or removals comply
    with the policies and procedures of the Export Administration
    Regulations (EAR).
        With respect to Huawei, let me be clear: telecommunications
    equipment made by untrusted vendors is a threat to the security of the
    U.S. and our allies. We will ensure that American telecommunications
    networks do not use equipment from untrusted vendors and will work with
    allies to secure their telecommunications networks and make investments
    to expand the production of telecommunications equipment by trusted
    U.S. and allied companies.
        In addition, Huawei's ties to China's military, human right abuses,
    and theft of intellectual property have rightly been a source of
    bipartisan concern, regulatory action, and legislation in the United
    States and among U.S. partners and allies. I also am fully aware of and
    support the provisions of the FY2020 NDAA and Secure and Trusted
    Telecommunications Networks Act that contain restrictions on Huawei,
    and look forward to working closely with the Director of National
    Intelligence, Secretary of Defense, and Director of the FBI to ensure
    that administration policies and actions related Huawei reflect their
    national security concerns and judgements as well.

        Question 2. The government of the People's Republic of China and
    the Chinese Communist Party have established an ecosystem of public-
    facing businesses and military infrastructure, sometimes described as a
    civil-military fusion, to advance China's national security interests.
    Utilizing public and private assets, they have among other things made
    great strides in globally advancing their civilian nuclear industry.
        a. Governor, what is your understanding of China's civil-military
    fusion policy and its implications for the national security of the
    United States? Please answer with as much detail as possible.
        Answer. I am aware of the substantial challenges China's military-
    civil fusion policy poses to U.S. national security. If confirmed, I
    plan to leverage the full breadth of the authorities under the purview
    of the Department of Commerce in order to protect U.S. national and
    economic security interests. I also look forward to working with the
    Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence to fully
    implement related provisions of the FY2021 NDAA (Section 1260H) and
    other relevant legislation.

        b. Will you commit to denying any licenses or permits that would
    allow the export or reexport of technology that would be used to
    advance China's civil nuclear sector, if you are confirmed?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I would ensure the
    rigorous implementation of the existing framework for U.S. civil
    nuclear exports to China and also support U.S. companies that raise
    concerns regarding Chinese behavior. The entire U.S. government
    continues to closely monitor Chinese behavior in the civil sector and
    the Department of Commerce will use all of the tools at its disposal,
    including the Entity List and license denial, where there is evidence
    of wrongdoing and threats to economic and national security.

        Question 3. Huawei, the ZTE Corporation, the Semiconductor
    Manufacturing International Corporation, the Hangzhou Hikvision Digital
    Technology Co., the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Beijing
    Skyrizon Aviation, and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China
    have been correctly listed on the Entity List and on Military End User
    Lists because they pose e national security threats to the United
    States. I'd like to ask you some questions about those companies and
    those threats.

        a. Do you agree these companies pose national threats to the United
    States? If you do not, please describe why you do not believe so.

        b. Will you commit to keeping all of these companies on the Entity
    List? If not, please explain why not.

        c. Will you commit to keeping all of these companies on the
    Military End User List? If not, please explain why not.
        Answer. The United States is engaged in strategic competition with
    China, and technology is a central domain of that competition. We
    should have no illusions about China's objectives, which I believe are
    to undercut America's longstanding technological advantage and to
    displace America as the global leader in cutting-edge research and
    development and the industries of the future. The national security and
    economic consequences of allowing that to happen are simply
    unacceptable. That is the bottom-line perspective I will bring to this
    role, if confirmed.
        With respect to the Entity List, I understand that parties are
    placed on the Entity List and the Military End User List generally
    because they pose a risk to U.S. national security or foreign policy
    interests. I currently have no reason to believe that entities on those
    lists should not be there. If confirmed, I look forward to a briefing
    on these entities and others of concern. I further understand that the
    Department has an ongoing process in place to identify and review
    activities of the Chinese government, commercial entities, and their
    affiliates to determine whether placement of additional entities on the
    Entity List and/or the Military End User List is warranted. I
    understand that this is an interagency process. As Secretary, I will
    not hesitate to encourage the use of the Entity List, the Military End
    User List, and other appropriate tools within the scope of Commerce
    authorities to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy
    interests.

        Question 4. Are there currently entities listed on the Entity and
    Military End User Lists you do not consider to be national security
    threats to the United States? If so, please specify--

        a. Which entities those are; and

        b. How you reached that determination for each party.
        Answer. I understand that parties are placed on the Entity List and
    the Military End User List generally because they pose a risk to U.S.
    national security or foreign policy interests. I currently have no
    reason to believe that entities on those lists should not be there. If
    confirmed, I look forward to a briefing on these entities. I further
    understand that the Department has an ongoing process in place to
    identify and review the activities of entities and their affiliates to
    determine whether addition to the Entity List and/or the Military End
    User List is warranted and that this is an interagency process. As
    Secretary, I will not hesitate to encourage the use of the Entity List,
    the Military End User List, and other appropriate tools within the
    scope of Commerce authorities to protect U.S. national security and
    foreign policy interests.

        Question 5. If you will not commit to ensuring foreign parties
    engaged in activities contrary to U.S. national security and/or foreign
    policy interests will not be removed from the Entity and/or Military
    End User Lists, please list, specifically----

        a. Which parties on the Entity List and/or Military End User List
    you would consider removing and allowing access to sensitive U.S.
    technology; and

        b. Your rational for removing each party from the Entity List and/
    or Military End User List.
        Answer. I understand that the Commerce Department's Bureau of
    Industry and Security (BIS) has an ongoing process in place to identify
    and review activities of entities and their affiliates to determine
    whether addition to the Entity List and/or the Military End User List
    is warranted and that this is an interagency process. I currently have
    no reason to believe that entities on those lists should not be there.
    If confirmed, I look forward to a briefing on these entities and the
    interagency process. As Secretary, I will not hesitate to encourage the
    use of the Entity List, the Military End User List, and other
    appropriate tools within the scope of Commerce authorities to protect
    U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

        Question 6. The re-export of illicit technology to Iran poses an
    acute and complicated challenge to the enforcement of American export
    and re-export laws. The Iranian regime consistently seeks to circumvent
    American efforts to curb its support for terrorism and expansionism by
    acquiring technology through third countries, including sensitive
    military technology. Information that has been declassified across
    multiple administrations and indictments which have been unsealed
    indicate the regime using front companies and other means to evade
    detection. Please describe----

        a. How you evaluate the challenge posed by Iran's acquisition of
    prohibited technologies through third parties, including specifically
    aviation and aeronautical technology.

        b. The priority you intend to place, if confirmed, on enforcing
    American re-export restrictions to Iran.

        c. Specific steps you would take to stop the flow of prohibited
    goods to Iran, if you are confirmed.
        Answer. Currently, a license from the Department's Bureau of
    Industry and Security (BIS) is required to export or reexport most
    items (commodities, software, and technology) on the Commerce Control
    List (CCL) to Iran pursuant to EAR Section 746.7. In addition to BIS
    license requirements, the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign
    Assets Control (OFAC) prohibits exports and reexports to Iran of items
    subject of the EAR pursuant to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions
    Regulations (ITSR) (31 CFR Part 560). Taken together, the two agencies'
    authorities broadly restrict the provision of items subject to the EAR
    to Iran, whether by U.S. persons or non-U.S. persons, and including
    from third countries. If confirmed, I commit to working alongside
    Treasury Secretary Yellen to ensure appropriate coordination between
    our agencies to ensure strict compliance with these restrictions.

        Question 7. The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing
    U.S. anti-boycott laws which impose penalties for participating in
    boycotts that run contrary to American interests, including and
    especially boycotts of Israel that Congress has consistently sought to
    discourage

        a. If confirmed, you will oversee the Office of Anti-boycott
    Compliance. Will you commit that you will fully and actively enforce
    U.S. anti-boycott laws and regulations, and prioritize protecting
    American companies from foreign boycotts?

        b. In dealings with countries that participate in the boycott of
    Israel, will you commit to making it a priority to encourage them to
    end their boycott?
        Answer. I commit to fully and actively enforcing all U.S. anti-
    boycott laws and will always prioritize protecting American companies
    and the American worker.

        Question 8. On his first day in office, President Biden rejoined
    the Paris Agreement, a binding international treaty on climate change.
    Similarly, you signaled intent to enact climate change policy should
    you be confirmed as Secretary of Commerce.

        a. What role will the Department of Commerce have in implementing
    the stringent requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement?

        b. Under what statutory authority does the Department of Commerce
    have the ability to do so?
        Answer (a and b). Like President Biden, I know the climate crisis
    poses an existential threat to our economic security, and we must meet
    this challenge by creating millions of good, union jobs that power a
    more sustainable economy. The Commerce Department has the tools, data,
    and expertise to help communities and businesses address the climate
    crisis and become more resilient in the face of climate change. As one
    of the agencies under the Congressionally mandated U.S. Global Change
    Research Program, the Department of Commerce, through NOAA, plays a
    leadership role in the development of the quadrennial National Climate
    Assessment, which analyzes trends in global change and its effects on
    various sectors.

        Question 9. Economic analysis estimates that as many as 2.7 million
    jobs could be lost as a result of complying with the terms of the Paris
    Accord. Additionally, President Biden revoked the permit for the
    Keystone XL pipeline on January 20, 2021, eliminating 11,000 jobs.
        What will the Department of Commerce do to support the workers
    whose jobs have already been cancelled by the Biden Administration or
    will be eliminated in the future?
        Answer. Should I be confirmed, I will work closely with the
    Economic Development Administration (EDA) to continue to create new
    well-paying jobs in distressed areas and ensure that all Americans are
    well-equipped to compete for jobs of the future. Within the Department
    of Commerce, EDA leads the Federal economic development agenda by
    promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing our communities for
    growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA's portfolio of
    flexible programs is designed to assist communities at every stage,
    allowing for innovation and responsiveness to changing economic
    conditions that lead to job creation.

        Question 10. During your hearing, you stated that the United States
    needs to formulate a national strategy on spectrum in order to win the
    race for 5G, in addition to making spectrum available from public and
    commercial uses. As agencies disagree over spectrum allocation, can you
    commit that the Biden Administration will never pursue a government-
    owned telecommunications network?
        Answer. United States commercial telecommunications networks are
    the envy of the world. Commercial telecommunications service providers
    routinely and reliably deliver a sophisticated, complex, hi-tech
    service, and they work hard to keep their networks best-in-class. As I
    stated in my hearing testimony, I do not support nationalization of a
    5G telecommunications network and I am unaware of any present intention
    to pursue a government-owned telecommunications network.

        a. Does the Biden Administration plan to rescind the ``Defense
    Spectrum Sharing Request for Information'' issued on September 18, 2020
    by the Department of Defense?
        Answer. That Request for Information was issued by the Department
    of Defense under the previous Administration. The responses to that
    Request for Information have already been submitted, and I respectfully
    submit that this question would be more properly directed to the
    Secretary of Defense.

        Question 11. Family and friends of President Biden are deeply
    enmeshed in the Washington, D.C. lobbying industry. His son, Hunter
    Biden, has been paid for consulting and lobbying services by multiple
    foreign governments. Given the role of the Department of Commerce in
    promoting America's businesses abroad, what procedures or safeguards
    will you have in place to guard against impropriety should you be
    approached by a Biden relative or long-time associate?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department of Commerce
    adheres to the highest ethical standards. I would also direct you to
    Executive Order 13989 of January 20, 2021, which affirms a strong
    ethics pledge for all political appointees in the Biden Administration.

        Question 12. In 2009, prior to her confirmation as Secretary of
    State, then-Senator Hillary Clinton approved a memorandum of
    Understanding between the Clinton Foundation and the Obama
    Administration that, through transparency, assure Americans the
    Foundation was not receiving undue donations as a means to curry favor.
    Does the Biden Administration plan to require a similarly-transparent
    plan from the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware, the Biden
    School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of
    Delaware, long-time Biden associates who may or may not have previously
    registered as lobbyists, and Biden family members?
        Answer. This question is outside the scope of the Department of
    Commerce. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department of Commerce
    adheres to the highest ethical standards. I would also direct you to
    Executive Order 13989 of January 20, 2021, which affirms a strong
    ethics pledge for all political appointees in the Biden Administration.

        Question 13. Governor, the previous Administration invoked Section
    232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose duties on imports of
    steel products that pose a threat to national security. At the time,
    Democrats publicly stated their position\1\ that the rationale used was
    inadequate. The new Biden Administration has signaled that they may use
    trade policy and law as a way to combat climate change around the
    world, possibly using existing trade law to impose `carbon' tariffs on
    imported products. What is your position on using existing trade law to
    implement President Biden's environmental agenda? Do you believe that
    there is existing authority to impose duties using the rationale of
    combatting climate change? If so, please specify which statutes and
    regulations provide that authority.
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I intend to work
    closely with Congress on the issue of climate change and can commit to
    use the tools available under the law and work with our interagency
    partners and other stakeholders to implement the Administration's
    environmental policies, as appropriate.

        Question 14. The previous Administration has been criticized for
    relying too heavily on duties to combat the abusive trade practices
    used by China that have harmed American business for decades. Governor,
    what trade enforcement mechanisms do you plan to use as head of the
    Department of Commerce to protect American businesses and interests
    from China?
        Answer. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) recognizes the need
    to confront unfair trade practices directly, whether those by China or
    other countries. Accordingly, if confirmed, I will employ all relevant
    and appropriate trade enforcement mechanisms to protect U.S. workers
    and businesses. For example, Commerce will proactively monitor and
    investigate China's non-compliance with its WTO trade obligations and
    work with other agencies, such as the Office of the United States Trade
    Representative, to implement the most effective strategy to address
    these issues.

        Question 15. Many of our trading partners are simply not living up
    to their commitments with the U.S. This problem spans the globe and
    affects every American industry. But in particular, I want to focus on
    the need to enforce trade obligations for America's highly innovative
    industries that rely on American intellectual property. We cannot allow
    the rest of the world to steal or freeride on the inventions of
    American workers. How do you intend to use the trade enforcement tools
    at the department to ensure that we truly combat this issue?
        Answer. I recognize that protection and enforcement of U.S.
    intellectual property rights is a trade policy priority. If confirmed,
    the Commerce Department, under my direction, would remain actively
    involved, with USTR and other agencies, in challenging countries to
    commit to highest standards of intellectual property protection in
    their agreements with the United States and to fully implement and
    abide by those commitments. U.S. trading partners must abide by IP-
    related trade commitments and I am committed to use of Commerce tools
    and authorities where warranted to bring this about.

        Question 16. Biopharmaceutical innovators--and the millions of jobs
    they support in the United States-have worked mightily over the last
    year to combat the COVID epidemic, and to good effect. In order to
    drive discovery and to maintain the global competitiveness of our
    innovators, how will Commerce work to further strengthen U.S. industry
    in this fight, as well as in other public health battles in the future?
        Answer. EDA has demonstrated support to the Nation's response to
    the COVID pandemic through initiatives such as the launch of the
    Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT)
    Challenge funded through the CARES Act. It is my understanding that the
    SPRINT Challenge enables EDA to invest in regional innovation economies
    to address the economic, health, and safety risks caused by the
    coronavirus pandemic through entrepreneurship such as scaling and
    delivering innovative biotechnology and health security technologies.
    EDA plans to continue to leverage innovation to reduce the threat
    caused by extremely dangerous pathogens to local economies through
    related initiatives.

        Question 17. The purpose of Section 232 tariffs is to stimulate
    domestic steel production and capacity. In December 2020, the Commerce
    Department published an interim final rule on the Section 232 product
    exclusion process, which included the adoption of General Approved
    Exclusions (GAEs). These GAEs allow covered products to be imported
    free from Section 232 tariffs, even though the GAE list contains
    numerous products that the domestic industry can and does produce. Can
    you describe what action you would take as the Secretary of Commerce to
    ensure that the GAEs are modified to cover only those products that the
    domestic industry is not capable of producing?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department continues
    to evaluate all aspects of the 232 Exclusions Process, including
    General Approved Exclusions (GAEs).

        Question 18. The Biden Administration has said he will pursue a
    ``worker-centered trade policy.'' In the past, this term has been used
    to pursue a trade agenda that disregards the concerns and interests of
    businesses, leading to U.S. companies operating at a disadvantage
    compared to their international counterparts. Given that over 40
    million jobs in the United States depend on international trade, it is
    vital that the trade agenda also be centered around protecting American
    businesses which supply those jobs. Governor, do you commit to only
    advancing a trade agenda that protects American businesses' ability to
    continue employing American workers?
        Answer. If confirmed, it would be my job as Secretary of Commerce
    to use our trade tools to the fullest extent possible to protect
    American workers. This includes both enforcing our trade laws and
    holding our trade partners accountable, but also creating opportunities
    for U.S. companies to access overseas markets and investment. We must
    ensure that American workers can compete fairly on the global playing
    field.

        Question 19. The Obama/Biden Administration recognized that there
    is a massive global overcapacity issue affecting the steel industry,
    involving not just China, but many other countries as well.
    Unfortunately, multilateral efforts to address this significant
    problem, such as the ongoing Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity and
    the OECD Steel Subsidy negotiations in the early 2000s, have simply not
    worked. Can you describe what actions you would take as the Secretary
    of Commerce to address this serious global steel overcapacity issue and
    ensure a vibrant domestic steel industry, which is critical to U.S.
    national security?
        Answer. The Department of Commerce's approach to global steel
    excess capacity includes active international engagement as well as
    strong enforcement regarding unfairly traded steel imports. If
    confirmed as Secretary, I intend to continue to coordinate with trading
    partners on information regarding, and solutions to address, the excess
    capacity crisis. Additionally, if confirmed, it is my intention to
    continue to rigorously enforce the U.S. trade laws, including the AD
    and CVD laws, to help ensure a level playing field for the critical
    U.S. steel sector.

        Question 20. I know as a Governor, you have been very focused on
    attracting new investments in Rhode Island and in particular foreign
    direct investment. As Commerce Secretary, you will have the nearly
    exclusive role of leading America's campaign for increased foreign
    direct investment in the US. What is your plan for helping to encourage
    such investment and the job creation that comes with it?
        Answer. It is essential to retain and grow the more than 15 million
    U.S. jobs directly and indirectly supported by FDI. If confirmed, I
    will fully support and resource the SelectUSA Program--a group whose
    work in the last 10 years has supported over $82 billion in FDI into
    the U.S. supporting over 100,000 U.S. jobs.

        Question 21. The semiconductor industry is often called the ``holy
    grail'' of capital investment. A new fab (manufacturing plant for
    semiconductor chips) can cost upwards of $10 billion for a green-field
    new investment. Taiwan's TSMC recently announced that they plan to
    build such a plant here in the US, in the State of Arizona. The largest
    foreign direct investment in the U.S. in more than a decade. Do you
    agree that the semiconductor industry is important for the U.S. economy
    and national security and what kinds of actions would you take as
    Commerce Secretary to further incentivize similar investments in this
    key sector?
        Answer. I agree that U.S. leadership in semiconductors is a
    cornerstone of U.S. economy and national security as well as the
    innovation ecosystem that keeps the United States on the cutting edge
    of technology. The President has highlighted that the United States
    needs to close supply chain vulnerabilities across a range of critical
    products on which the U.S. is dangerously dependent on foreign
    suppliers. If confirmed as Secretary, I will promote policies that will
    lead to stronger, more resilient domestic supply chains in a number of
    areas, including energy and grid resilience technologies,
    semiconductors, key electronics and related technologies,
    telecommunications infrastructure, and key raw materials. I commit to
    working with you on this critically important issue.

        Question 22. As Commerce Secretary you will lead America's efforts
    to protect cutting edge technologies and military systems from being
    shared with countries that threaten our national security. This is a
    critical mission, but one that requires careful balance. As Secretary,
    how would you work to ensure enforcement of our export control laws
    without undermining investment in the U.S. or inadvertently hurting
    American technology companies and preventing them from competing
    globally?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will assess the current process for
    obtaining input from industry to assure effective export controls that
    protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests while
    mitigating negative effects on U.S. technological leadership. As
    Secretary, I will also prioritize multilateral and plurilateral
    engagements that harmonize U.S. export controls with those of like-
    minded nations, which will strengthen our ability to maintain an
    effective export control system while limiting the ability of our
    foreign adversaries to continue to access sensitive U.S. technologies
    for malign purposes.

        Question 23. The mission of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and
    Security has traditionally been focused on preventing the sale or
    export of munitions and weapons components. Together with our key
    allies this has been a shared effort/priority. More recently, some
    critics have said that U.S. only export controls have been used to
    accomplish other policy goals, far from this specific national security
    mission. Do you worry that recent expansions of export control
    applicability may drive key innovation off-shore and exacerbate the
    erosion of key foundational technologies like chip manufacturing and
    semiconductor design?
        Answer. As Secretary of Commerce, I will be dedicated to working
    with our partners to harmonize export controls and work together to
    prevent the proliferation of dual use technologies that can benefit
    foreign adversaries' military capabilities to the detriment of U.S.
    national security. U.S. technological competitiveness is a key concern
    of mine, and my goal is to ensure that our defense of U.S. national
    security and foreign policy interests does not come at a cost to U.S.
    long-term leadership in technology and innovation.

        Question 24. The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic
    Analysis recently disclosed that expenditures by foreign direct
    investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled
    $194.7 billion in 2019, down 37.7 percent from $312.5 billion in 2018.
    This is a worrying trend. What would you like to do to reverse this
    trend and make America a more attractive place to create or expand new
    businesses and create jobs for Americans? Is this a part of the
    Administration's COVID recovery plan?
        Answer. It is essential to retain and grow the more than 15 million
    U.S. jobs directly and indirectly supported by FDI. If confirmed, I
    will fully support and resource the SelectUSA Program--a group whose
    work in the last 10 years has supported over $82 billion in FDI into
    the U.S. supporting over 100,000 U.S. jobs.

        Question 25. The Department of Commerce is charged with
    strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and
    investment and ensuring fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of
    our trade laws and agreements. With that in mind, how will you work to
    ensure that our trading partners are enforcing existing commitments and
    how will you work to deter countries from weakening their standards in
    their own IP regimes?
        Answer. The Department of Commerce is committed to ensuring that
    U.S. trading partners abide by IP-related trade commitments and I
    assure you that, if I am confirmed, I am committed to using Commerce
    tools and authorities where warranted to bring this about. I will also
    be committed to deterring countries from seeking to weaken standards in
    their IP regimes that effectively protect U.S. intellectual property
    rights and the interests of U.S. intellectual property rights holders.

        Question 26. The Department of Commerce promotes job creation and
    economic growth, and one way to do that is to work with our trading
    partners to promote high intellectual property standards
    internationally. Never have the benefits of strong IP been as relevant
    as they are today, in how our pharmaceutical companies, for example,
    have worked so quickly to develop a COVID vaccine. How will you use
    your role within this administration to ensure that America's highly
    innovative industries are treated fairly by our trading partners and
    that a level playing field exists in order to support the millions of
    American jobs they create?
        Answer. I agree that we need the benefits of a strong IP, and that
    this issue is as relevant today as it has ever been. I will always push
    for fairer laws and practices for American companies. If confirmed, I
    will work with the Congress to protect U.S. intellectual property. The
    Department will address the challenge of protecting U.S. intellectual
    property from theft and unfair competition by helping our innovators
    and creators, providing information on how to obtain protection,
    maintaining high standards for protection in any future trade
    agreements, using tools at the Department's disposal to ensure our
    trading partners abide by their international commitments, including
    those respecting IP protection and enforcement, and participating and
    defending U.S. intellectual property interests in international forums
    and standard setting processes.

        Question 27. Despite the fact you reportedly resigned in 2011 from
    Point Judith Capital (PJC), your former investment firm, in 2020
    journalists reported that PJC had recently added your name, image and
    bio back to its website after it had been removed for ``for a decade''
    and PJC listed you as the ``General Partner Emerita.'' It appears that
    your former firm was using your name and government position in its
    marketing. The ethics concerns are obvious and serious.\2\

        a. When did you formally resign from PJC?

        b. Specifically, what did this resignation entail? Did you step
    down from the day-to-day decision making at the firm? From that date to
    present, have you been involved in any decision-making or management
    decisions of PJC or otherwise given PJC input with respect to any
    business or investment decisions or strategies?

        c. Have you ever served on PJC's Board of Directors or on the Board
    of any related entity, affiliate, business partner, or other entity
    that is an investor with PJC? If so, what dates did you serve on such
    Board(s)?

        d. Please describe in detail the steps you took as part of your
    resignation/separation from PJC as a partner, from management, from the
    Board, as an investor, and in any other capacity.

        e. Is it true that you have had no involvement in any decision
    making at PJC since the date you listed in Question 1(a) above?

        f. What financial remuneration have you received from PJC, any
    related entity, affiliate, business partner or other entity that is an
    investor with PJC in each year since 2010?

        g. Did you give anyone at PJC either oral or written permission to
    use your name, bio, and image on the website at any point following the
    date of your resignation/separation that you identified in Question
    1(a) above, including either in 2019 or 2020?

        h. Are there any existing employment, consulting, personal service
    contracts, or other financial arrangements currently in place between
    yourself and PJC or any related entity, affiliate, business partner or
    other entity that is an investor with PJC?
        Answer. Following my election as General Treasurer in 2010, I
    resigned from Point Judith Capital and its investment committee. Prior
    to assuming office, I placed the interests in Point Judith venture
    funds that I maintained into a blind trust. Under the blind trust, the
    trustee made decisions as to when and to what extent the original
    assets of the trust were to be sold or disposed of and in what
    investments the proceeds of sale would be reinvested, without any
    participation in, or knowledge of, such decisions by me or my husband.
    In order to ensure I adhered to the highest possible ethical standards
    and in order to avoid even the appearance of any conflict, I sought and
    received an opinion from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission concerning
    my prior work at Point Judith Capital and the creation of the blind
    trust. The Ethics Commission concluded that my resignation from the
    firm and my creation of the blind trust were appropriate measures to
    help avoid potential conflicts of interest. Aside from the assets in
    that blind trust, I have had no involvement with Point Judith,
    including with any decisions, management, or investments, since that
    time.
        I have also submitted all financial information requested by the
    Senate Commerce Committee as a part of the committee's questionnaire,
    and have filed a publicly available financial disclosure form 278 with
    the Office of Government Ethics.

        Question 28. According to an advisory opinion, you promised the
    Rhode Island Ethics Commission that you had ``taken appropriate
    measures to distance [yourself] from Point Judith and [your]
    investments in its funds.'' Please describe, in detail, what those
    measures were.
        Answer. See response to Question 27.

        Question 29. In addition, there appear to be very serious questions
    about potential conflicts of interest given you that you named David
    Martirano, a former PJC colleague of yours, to a board overseeing the
    University of Rhode Island?

        a. Did you seek the advice of any ethics attorneys in the
    Governor's office or in State government before making this
    appointment? If so, with whom did you consult?

        b. Did you receive anything in writing, recommending either for or
    against or otherwise commenting on the proprietary of the Martirano
    appointment either before or after the appointment?
        Answer. Mr. Martirano is a graduate of the University of Rhode
    Island with a history of advising and supporting his alma mater. His
    nomination to the Board of Trustees of the University of Rhode Island,
    a volunteer position, was approved by the Rhode Island State Senate
    with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority.

        Question 30. In 2014, it was reported that while you were Rhode
    Island State Treasurer your former firm, PJC, made money from Envista,
    a company that was hired to work for the Providence Water Supply Board
    (PWSB), at the same time that your husband was chair of the PWSB.

        a. Did you have any conversations with your husband about the PWSB-
    Envista contract prior to the awarding of the contract?

        b. To your knowledge, did the PWSB put this contract out for public
    bid as reportedly required by law?
        Answer. Neither I nor my husband had any role in the awarding of
    this contract.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Dan Sullivan to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. If the Administration chooses to pursue the 30x30
    concept (blocking 30 percent of the EEZ from extraction by 2030), I
    have significant concern for the physical or economic displacement that
    something like this may cause. As the largest seafood producer in the
    nation, Alaska is home to a myriad of small, rural and Alaska Native
    communities that are highly fishery dependent. I am concerned for how
    many people's livelihoods may be affected by this concept and what
    inequalities this could exacerbate.

       Should the Administration choose to pursue this, how will
            you consult with stakeholders to ensure for clear 30x30
            objectives that aren't destabilizing to small and remote
            coastal fishing economies?

       Can you commit to me that if 30x30 goes ahead: 1) all
            stakeholders will be involved in the decision making on areas
            designated; 2) special consideration will be given for remote,
            fishery dependent and subsistence communities; 3) clear
            objectives for designations will be developed, and that a
            definition will be developed for areas and activities that are
            allowed in MPAs so that it is consistent with these objectives?

        Answer. I recognize the importance of this issue to you and the
    state of Alaska and agree that robust stakeholder engagement is
    critical to the success of this process. On January 27, 2021, President
    Biden released the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at
    Home and Abroad. Sec. 216 of this Executive Order calls for the
    Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretaries of
    Agriculture and Commerce, the Chair of the Council of Environmental
    Quality and other relevant agencies, to develop a report within 90 days
    of its issuance on the steps to achieve the goal of conserving at least
    30 percent of the Nation's lands and waters. The Executive Order calls
    on 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 addition, section 216 (c)
    specifically calls on the Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA, to work
    in the first 60 days to collect input from fishermen, regional ocean
    councils, scientists, fishery management councils, and other
    stakeholders on how to make fisheries and protected resources more
    resilient to climate change.

        Question 2. In 2019, more than 79 million international visitors
    spent $155 billion in the U.S., supporting nearly 1.2 million American
    jobs. This made international travel to the U.S. our Nation's largest
    service sector export and our Nation's second largest industry export
    overall. Our competitors around the globe have recognized the economic
    importance of international travel and many have cabinet-level
    positions overseeing travel and tourism to support and grow the
    industry. Despite its economic importance in the U.S., we do not have a
    cabinet level position for travel and tourism.
        That's why, in the last Congress, I introduced the Visit America
    Act, along with Senator Schatz and Senator King. This committee
    approved that bill with overwhelming support in the last Congress.

       If confirmed as the Secretary of Commerce, will you work to
            set a national goal of welcoming 116 million annual
            international visitors by 2028 and commit to work with other
            Federal agencies on a national strategy to achieve that goal?

       If confirmed, would you support the establishment of an
            Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism?

        Answer. If confirmed, I will look at the way that the Department of
    Commerce engages and addresses the interests of the stakeholders in the
    travel and tourism sector to ensure that we are both effective and
    efficient in these efforts, including whether the establishment of an
    Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism would be the best mechanism
    to meet these needs.

        Question 3. Federal law mandates the NOAA research vessel
    FAIRWEATHER be homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. However, the NOAA pier
    in Ketchikan was condemned in 2008, and since that time the FAIRWEATHER
    has been homeported outside of Alaska. I have been urging NOAA for
    years to repair the pier and return the FAIRWEATHER to Ketchikan. To
    help pay for this project, I included a provision in the 2018 Coast
    Guard bill that authorized NOAA to accept non-federal funds for the
    construction of a new pier. My state gave the Department of Commerce
    $6.5 million for this project, but that money will only cover the
    destruction of the existing pier structure. An additional $11.5 million
    will be needed to complete construction of the new pier. Congress just
    appropriated $43 million for NOAA construction with report language
    directing NOAA to prioritize infrastructure projects that support
    research vessels like the FAIRWEATHER pier in Ketchikan. Since my state
    has put up the majority of the money so far, I'm looking to you to
    dedicate the necessary funding to see this project through to
    completion.

       Will you commit to make the Ketchikan pier construction
            project a funding priority until we have succeeded in
            permanently returning the FAIRWEATHER to its congressionally
            mandated homeport of Ketchikan, Alaska?
        Answer. I understand the importance of bringing jobs and economic
    activity to communities to ensure the well-being of its people.
    Additionally, being from a coastal state, I understand how critical
    pier construction projects are to the well-being of coastal communities
    and the important role that NOAA plays in such targeted investments to
    grow the American economy. If confirmed, I look forward to learning
    more about the Ketchikan pier construction project and working with you
    to prioritize this and other infrastructure projects that support
    research vessels like the NOAA Fairweather and the NOAA mission.

        Question 4. NOAA has far-reaching authority to ensure that wild
    commercial fisheries follow sustainable harvest limits. Once fish are
    harvested, however, NOAA can and should be doing more to help our
    sustainable and responsible commercial fisheries compete and thrive in
    seafood markets. Seafood as a commodity does not get the Federal
    attention or expert promotion of other U.S. food commodities, which
    essentially undercuts and fails to deliver the value of all our
    investment in safe, sustainable production.
        Specifically, DOC should (1) dedicate staff to understanding
    seafood as a commodity and promote consumer awareness of our
    sustainability. (2) It should work with food commodity experts at USDA
    to effectively integrate knowledge of seafood production and processing
    into USDA food support programs. (3) It should take USDA's findings of
    the neonatal and other health benefits of seafood as another benefit to
    maximize for U.S. fisheries. In short, we need Federal leadership to be
    accountable for supporting seafood as a commodity. My goal would be to
    work with you to develop a clear strategy for making sustainable
    seafood competitiveness a high priority, both within DOC and through
    interagency efforts.

       If confirmed, will you execute an internal review of DOC
            programs and competencies on seafood as a commodity, and follow
            up with me and my staff regarding your findings in this area?

        In the global seafood marketplace, the U.S. seafood industry has
    suffered significant losses in ongoing tariff wars. Essentially shut
    out of the seafood market in China, a global seafood hub with ever-
    increasing domestic consumption, U.S. products face steep Chinese
    tariffs--while seafood producers in other nations do not. U.S. seafood
    destined for Japan, the EU and UK face steep tariffs, but we import
    seafood from those countries tariff-free. Russia has an embargo on our
    seafood, while we import hundreds of millions tariff-free from them.
    This is shocking and unacceptable.

       As Commerce Secretary, can you commit to further analysis of
            these seafood trade dynamics at ITA, specifically focusing on
            the removal of trade barriers and promotion of reciprocity?

       Can you commit to having DOC work with USTR to ensure
            seafood products receive priority attention as USTR pursues
            future trade agreements?
        Answer. I recognize the importance of ensuring the ability of the
    U.S. seafood industry to compete fairly in the international
    marketplace. If confirmed, I will ensure that ITA, NOAA and other
    relevant DOC entities continue to work closely with USTR to ensure U.S.
    seafood products receive priority attention. I look forward to learning
    what other opportunities DOC has to support seafood as a commodity.

        Question 5. Fisheries are the number one employer in Alaska and a
    critical component for food security within the State and across the
    Nation. I believe that there is not nearly enough attention paid by
    Commerce on the role that seafood plays in food security. Currently,
    many USDA programs exclude fishermen, even as they provide food
    security to the Nation alongside farmers and ranchers.

       Should policy regarding local foods and communities that are
            fishery dependent be considered as a part of the Magnuson
            Stevens Act to ensure that fishery dependent communities are
            able to maintain access to the commercial fisheries they rely
            on?

       What steps would you take to factor in pandemic effects and
            climate change initiatives as we build resilient food systems
            and work to maintain access to fisheries for communities who
            provide food to the nation?
        Answer. As a coastal Governor, I recognize the importance of the
    fishing and seafood sector to coastal economies, food security, and the
    communities that rely on a maritime economy. If confirmed, I look
    forward to working with NOAA to support the fishing and seafood sectors
    as they face the impacts of the pandemic and from climate change.

        Question 6. Alaska has a longer coastline than the rest of the
    lower 48 states combined, so as an Alaskan I have a particular interest
    in combatting marine debris. I have led two bipartisan bills on the
    issue--Save Our Seas and Save Our Seas 2.0. NOAA has been a close and
    cooperative partner in these efforts.
        The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive marine debris
    legislation ever passed by Congress, was signed into law in December
    2020. The Commerce Department, primarily NOAA, has a large role in
    implementing the marine debris response efforts in SOS 2.0. This role
    includes establishing the Marine Debris Foundation, a Congressionally
    chartered private foundation. It also includes recommending candidates
    for the 12-person Board of Directors.
        As NOAA prepares to do establish the Marine Debris Foundation, I
    would like them to consider establishing the Foundation headquarters in
    Alaska. In particular, two campuses of the University of Alaska
    Fairbanks, one in Juneau and one in Kodiak, are strategically located
    and already house institutes that would provide good synergy to
    Foundation efforts, although there are other potential Foundation
    locations in Alaska as well. Additionally, I would like the Board of
    Directors to have a diversity of views and expertise, and potentially
    include some Alaskan experts.

       Can you commit to actively reaching out to Alaska-based
            officials and exploring the possibility of establishing the
            Marine Debris Foundation in Alaska?

       Additionally, do you agree that Alaskan experts on marine
            debris would complement the makeup of the Board?
        Answer. Thank you for your leadership on addressing marine debris.
    If confirmed, I look forward to working with NOAA and other experts,
    including from Alaska, to implement your legislation.

        Question 7. The need to fight Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated
    (IUU) fishing is important, as such foreign fishing practices can
    damage global fish stocks and fisheries economies. At the same time,
    it's just as important to be sure that the U.S. understands the true
    nature of this IUU threat, so that we can develop strategies based on
    actual risk and evaluated through meaningful metrics. It's tempting to
    overreact to this threat, seeking expansive and expensive measures that
    may have only marginal benefit. One example is the Seafood Import
    Monitoring Program (SIMP), a NOAA regulation intended to ensure
    traceability for fish stocks in U.S. commerce and fight IUU fishing.
    While SIMP may work for some species, it doesn't work well for Pacific
    cod, which is harvested sustainably and responsibly in Alaska. While
    there is little to no risk of IUU for Pacific cod, NOAA is forcing our
    domestic producers to undertake burdensome, unnecessary, and redundant
    steps to comply with SIMP--at great cost but for negligible benefit.

       Do you agree with the idea that regulatory efforts,
            including those to enforce rules against IUU fishing, should be
            risk-based and reviewed against empirical data and actual
            performance metrics?

       Do you agree that cost/benefit analyses should help inform
            SIMP regulatory program design, even if it means acknowledging
            that not all species warrant SIMP coverage?

       If NOAA pursues changes to SIMP, can you assure me it will
            work with Coast Guard, USTR, and our domestic fishing and
            seafood industry to identify and incorporate necessary changes
            to SIMP?
        Answer. As a coastal Governor, I understand the importance of the
    seafood industry and of ensuring the industry is able to compete with
    other countries on an even playing field. Should I be confirmed, I will
    work with you and NOAA to better understand the issues that the Alaskan
    producers are facing with respect to the Seafood Import Monitoring
    Program.
                                     ______

      Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Marsha Blackburn to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. As a Governor, I'm sure you have had to deal with
    numerous Federal regulatory hurdles before completing or starting a
    simple infrastructure project.

       What are your thoughts on the Federal regulatory permitting
            process?

       Do you believe this process should be more transparent for
            mayors and state officials?
        Answer. Through my experience as a state official both in my
    capacity as State Treasurer and Governor of Rhode Island, I fully
    understand the need for transparency in the regulatory process, and, if
    confirmed, I pledge to work with you to learn more about how we can
    continue to provide government transparency in the commercial world. I
    would welcome hearing more of your ideas on this issue.

        Question 2. In your testimony, you laid out three policy areas
    where the DOC ``must be a partner to business and their workers.'' The
    third area was focused on climate change

       If confirmed, at what point would you reassess climate
            change-related policies if they hurt businesses or hamper job
            growth?

       Also, what metrics would you use to assess the costs to
            businesses and job growth in relation to policies focused on
            climate change?
        Answer. Climate change poses an existential threat to our economic
    security, and I recognize the benefits of understanding the full
    impacts of climate change on U.S. businesses. If confirmed, I would
    look across all the Commerce Department's bureaus to continue providing
    the tools, data, and expertise to help communities and businesses
    address the climate crisis and become more resilient in the face of
    climate change.

        Question 3. You clearly believe that climate change should be among
    the top issues of Department of Commerce.

       Can you please tell this committee what percentage of the
            Department's budget you would allocate to climate change-
            related policies?
        Answer. Climate change poses an existential threat to our economic
    security. If confirmed, I would look across all the Commerce
    Department's bureaus on how to better forecast, understand, and
    mitigate the impacts of climate change for all Americans. I look
    forward to working with the Congress on improving and resourcing the
    Department's tools to address climate change.

        Question 4. The biggest obstacle to bringing advanced manufacturing
    jobs back to states and communities is educating new workers.

       How do you plan to work with businesses, states, and local
            entities to promote advanced manufacturing education?
        Answer. If confirmed, one of my top priorities will be making
    American workers and businesses competitive. There are many tools that
    the Commerce Department use to promote manufacturing and good paying
    jobs through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the
    Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), as well as the
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).I look forward to working
    with you on this important issue.

        Question 5. Currently, the United States faces some profound supply
    chain problems with microchips in the Auto sector.

       Could you give me a perspective of how you might approach
            this issue should you be confirmed to be the next Secretary of
            Commerce?
        Answer. The microchip supply chain is a concern across many
    sectors. I support the strategic efforts of NIST, Manufacturing USA,
    the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, and the Department of
    Commerce to establish meaningful programs that incentivize competitive
    U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and contribute to U.S. economic
    security.

        Question 6. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is
    proliferating and important considerations are being brought to light
    about both the benefits of the technology as well as the challenges.

       If confirmed, will you support and prioritize the on-going
            work by NIST to create a trustworthy AI framework, and how
            specifically will you engage with allies to encourage their
            utilization of it?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will support, prioritize, and expand upon
    the on-going work by NIST to create a trustworthy AI framework.

        Question 7. Trade talks with China will be continuing under the new
    administration.

       Do you support the current round of Tariffs? If so, do you
            plan to make changes to the exemption process?

       How do you plan to confront Chinese attempts to steal
            intellectual property (ITA/I&A/OSIP input on specific IP
            aspects inserted below)
        Answer. If confirmed, I will encourage the Commerce Department to
    continue to apply appropriate measures to counter anti-competitive
    behavior by China that hurts American workers and companies. Regarding
    intellectual property, Commerce will continue to recognize protection
    and enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights as a trade policy
    priority.
                                     ______

          Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Mike Lee to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Governor Raimondo, as Commerce Secretary you will be
    charged with overseeing the National Telecommunications and Information
    Administration (NTIA), which manages spectrum assignments among Federal
    government users.

        a. Do you think Federal agencies currently use their spectrum
    efficiently?
        Answer. Federal agencies engage in an enormous number of spectrum-
    dependent missions, of which many are directed by statute or are
    critical to the Nation's security, public safety, and well-being,
    ranging from national defense, law enforcement, air traffic control,
    space exploration, and severe weather detection and warning.
    Nevertheless, our Nation continues to drive advances in technology and
    innovation. If confirmed, it will be a priority to ensure that our
    Federal agencies can leverage technological advances to ensure that
    spectrum, a valuable national resource, is used as efficiently as
    possible.

        b. Should government agencies be immune from oversight of their use
    of the electromagnetic spectrum?
        Answer. If confirmed, I commit to a transparent Commerce
    Department, and I believe our Federal agencies greatly benefit from
    proper oversight.

        c. I think Congress and Executive Branch agencies need the best
    available data to identify inefficiencies in both the Commercial and
    Government contexts. Will you support my legislation, the Government
    Spectrum Valuation Act, which would require NTIA to calculate the value
    or the ``opportunity costs'' associated with Federal spectrum so that
    we can make more informed decisions?
        Answer. NTIA's technical and scientific spectrum analysts and
    engineers are among the best in the world, and rightly so given the
    agency's important responsibilities for managing our Nation's Federal
    spectrum. If confirmed, I would be happy to work with you on your
    legislation.

        Question 2. Governor Raimondo, should NTIA or a Federal agency be
    able to ``veto'' an FCC decision to license a band for a commercial
    purpose, even after those Federal agencies have been able to weigh in
    on the FCC's review?
        Answer. Under the Biden Administration, we would expect the FCC to
    properly coordinate with NTIA prior to the issuance of any decision
    implicating the use of Federal spectrum. Such prior coordination
    hopefully will preclude the issuance of any decision that improperly
    impacts Federal spectrum use.

        a. How would you handle disputes with the FCC over the licensing of
    a band for a commercial purpose?
        Answer. In the event a dispute between the FCC and the NTIA arises,
    it is my intention, if confirmed, that such disputes would be resolved
    prior to the issuance of any FCC decision.

        b. In making spectrum determinations, should NTIA defer to a
    Federal agency's spectrum findings or should NTIA make their own
    independent, scientific judgments?
        Answer. NTIA's technical and scientific spectrum analysts and
    engineers are among the best in the world, and rightly so given the
    agency's important responsibilities for managing our Nation's Federal
    spectrum. NTIA's analyses and conclusions accordingly should be given
    extraordinary weight. If NTIA concludes that its own independent,
    scientific judgments control on a particular matter, then NTIA should
    exercise such.

        c. In your opinion, is the current FCC/NTIA Memorandum of
    Understanding sufficient to govern interagency spectrum decision-
    making?
        Answer. If confirmed, I believe it would be appropriate for us to
    review the current FCC/NTIA Memorandum of Understanding and consider
    suitable, mutually agreeable revisions. It is my understanding that the
    MOU is nearly 20 years old, and it seems appropriate for us to examine
    lessons learned over these 20 years and see if improvements can be
    made.

        Question 3. Governor Raimondo, do you agree that China poses both
    economic and security threats to the United States?

        a. Why has China had such success attracting U.S. businesses--
    particularly U.S. manufacturing? And what recommendations will you make
    to revive U.S. manufacturing?

        b. We know U.S. manufacturing costs are generally higher than China
    as well as other Asian markets. What contributes to these costs? Do
    U.S. regulations? Do U.S. labor costs? Are there areas of our domestic
    laws that make the United States an unattractive market for
    manufacturing?
        Answer. China does pose both economic and security threats to the
    United States, and how we wage competition with China will define this
    century.
        China has pursued industrial policies that have enabled the unfair
    development of its manufacturing sector, which harms U.S. workers and
    firms. The Department of Commerce seeks to rebalance the trade
    relationship by encouraging U.S. manufacturers to expand their exports
    to China and other markets, thus growing the U.S. workforce and economy
    as a whole. Chinese economic policies have encouraged excess capacity
    in several industry sectors and have subsidized a number of critical
    industries in its pursuit of economic growth to the detriment of U.S.
    and global interests. I look forward to working with Congress on a
    broad range of measures, including proposals under in consideration in
    the America LEADS Act and STRATEGIC Act, to boost America's
    competitiveness in manufacturing, research and development,
    entrepreneurship, and other areas.

        Question 4. Governor Raimondo, Article 1, Section 8 of the
    Constitution clearly gives Congress the authority to ``lay and collect
    taxes, duties, imposts and excises'' and ``to regulate commerce with
    foreign nations.'' How do you view Congress' role in levying tariffs
    and duties on trade, and would you support Congress exercising
    increased control over the approval process for such measures?

        a. When should tariffs be imposed? And how do you weigh the costs
    of increasing such a trade barrier as opposed to the benefits of free
    trade?

        b. Do you agree that any broad-based increase in U.S. tariffs tend
    to have the biggest negative impact on low-income American households,
    which spend a larger share of their budgets on imported shoes,
    clothing, food, and household goods?
        Answer. President Biden is committed to international trade that
    benefits all Americans and that creates high paying jobs here in the
    United States. He has asked that we take a step back and review our
    approach to trade and trade agreements. If confirmed, I commit to
    working with Congress on tariffs and other trade issues to create a
    more prosperous America where the benefits of trade are shared equally
    by all Americans.

        Question 5. Governor Raimondo, one of President Biden's first
    executive actions was to reverse President Trump's July memorandum
    ordering the U.S. Census Bureau to exclude illegal aliens from the
    census count. Last month, the Supreme Court declined to decide the case
    because it was not ripe. During oral arguments, it was admitted that
    the Census Bureau at the time did not know whether the number of
    illegal aliens would affect apportionment. Do you support President
    Biden's decision?

        a. If the illegal alien population of a particular state was
    sufficient enough to affect apportionment, would you at all be
    concerned that this illegal activity could benefit certain states with
    additional representation in the House of Representatives over others?

        b. Do the American people deserve an answer as to whether the
    illegal alien population affects the proportion of members in the U.S.
    House of Representatives?
        Answer. I do support President Biden's Executive Order and believe
    that everyone should be counted. I agree that the policy of the United
    States should be that reapportionment be consistent with the
    Constitution and based on the total number of persons residing in the
    several states, without regard for immigration status, as well as with
    the determination that it is essential that the census count must be
    accurate and based on reliable high-quality data.

        Question 6. Governor Raimondo, states oftentimes use Federal money
    only for simple projects, for compliance reasons, and they tend to use
    their own funds for difficult, complex projects because the regulatory
    burden that comes with Federal requirements can raise the cost of the
    project by 20 percent. This is especially challenging in my home state
    of Utah where most of Utah's land is owned by the Federal government.
    As governor, you appeared to champion cutting red tape and slashing
    regulations that were getting in the way of private entrepreneurship
    and innovation. How would you bring this deregulatory philosophy to the
    Department of Commerce?

        a. Can you identify any regulations or areas of policymaking at the
    Department you would like to see reduced?
        Answer. As Governor of Rhode Island, I helped create an environment
    where businesses could succeed and create jobs. My state had the
    highest unemployment rate in the Nation when I entered office and today
    the economy is thriving with much few individuals looking for work. I
    support cutting regulation if it is unnecessary, but I also believe
    some regulation is vital to a safe and functioning society.
                                     ______

        Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ron Johnson to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. What is the Biden administration's plan for the steel
    and aluminum Section 232 tariffs? If confirmed as Secretary of the
    Department of Commerce, will you continue the tariffs?
        Answer. It is my understanding that Biden Administration will
    review the steel and aluminum Section 232 tariffs and that the
    President has the authority to make revisions to the tariffs. While it
    would be the President's prerogative, if confirmed as Secretary of
    Commerce, I would expect that the Department of Commerce will provide
    advice and technical assistance in that review and decision.

        Question 2. Will you commit to making all Section 232
    investigations publicly available within the time-frame required by
    law?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will review this issue with the Department
    of Commerce's (Commerce) Office of General Counsel and ensure that
    Commerce complies with all statutory requirements while protecting the
    presidential communications privilege and the deliberative process
    privilege.

        Question 3. Is the Biden administration considering any changes to
    the Section 232 exclusions process? If so, what are those changes?
        Answer. It is my understanding that the Department continually
    reviews the 232 Exclusions Process to identify and implement changes to
    improve its efficiency and transparency. I further understand that the
    Department of Commerce's timeliness of exclusion decisions has
    substantially improved over the past year.

        Question 4. As Secretary of Commerce, will you commit to conducting
    and publicly releasing a complete analysis on the economic effects to
    downstream industries for every Section 232 investigation?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary, I will work to ensure that all
    Section 232 investigations are conducted in accordance with statutory
    requirements.

        Question 5. Will the Biden administration commit to keeping Huawei
    on the designated entities list and designated a national security
    threat?
        Answer. With respect to Huawei, let me be clear: telecommunications
    equipment made by untrusted vendors is a threat to the security of the
    U.S. and our allies. We will ensure that American telecommunications
    networks do not use equipment from untrusted vendors and will work with
    allies to secure their telecommunications networks and make investments
    to expand the production of telecommunications equipment by trusted
    U.S. and allied companies.
        In addition, Huawei's ties to China's military, human right abuses,
    and theft of intellectual property have rightly been a source of
    bipartisan concern, regulatory action, and legislation in the United
    States and among U.S. partners and allies. I also am fully aware of and
    support the provisions of the FY2020 NDAA and Secure and Trusted
    Telecommunications Networks Act that contain restrictions on Huawei,
    and look forward to working closely with the Director of National
    Intelligence, Secretary of Defense, and Director of the FBI to ensure
    that administration policies and actions related Huawei reflect their
    national security concerns and judgements as well.
                                     ______

         Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Todd Young to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. President Biden promised the American people that he
    would work with our allies to focus on mutual problems and concerns
    with respect to trade policy--specifically China's overproduction of
    steel and aluminum that undermines global metal industries. China's
    unfair trade actions have had a devastating impact on American
    businesses and manufacturers. Like previous administrations, President
    Biden will have executive authority to impose or remove tariffs. I
    support holding China accountable in a way that does not hinder the
    growth of American businesses.
        Knowing the lengthy list of unfair trade actions committed by
    China, can you elaborate on how this administration will hold China
    accountable?
        If confirmed, what strategies or trade tools (like Section 232
    actions) are you considering to spur growth, while simultaneously
    keeping China's illegal practices in check.
        Answer. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) confronts unfair
    trade practices, whether those by China or other countries.
    Accordingly, if confirmed, I will employ all relevant and appropriate
    trade enforcement mechanisms to protect U.S. interests while
    aggressively promoting U.S. exports that benefit American workers and
    businesses, particularly our small and medium sized businesses.
        In addition, if confirmed, Commerce will continue to rigorously
    enforce the U.S. trade laws, including the AD and CVD laws, to help
    ensure that U.S. workers, farmers and businesses are not harmed by
    unfair imports from China. Commerce is committed to helping all U.S.
    companies, and the Department will work diligently to ensure U.S.
    companies have the market access and proper protections provided by our
    trade agreements.

        Question 2. The Department of Commerce promotes job creation and
    economic growth, and one way to do that is to work with our trading
    partners to promote high intellectual property standards
    internationally. Never have the benefits of strong IP been as relevant
    as they are today, in how our biopharmaceutical innovators for example,
    have worked so quickly to develop a COVID vaccine.
        How will you use your role within this administration to ensure
    that America's highly innovative industries are treated fairly by our
    trading partners in order to support American jobs?
        How will you work to ensure that our trading partners are enforcing
    existing commitments and deter countries from weakening their standards
    in their own IP regimes?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce, I am committed to
    ensuring that U.S. trading partners abide by IP-related trade
    commitments and to the use of the Department of Commerce (Commerce)
    tools and authorities where warranted to bring this about.

        Question 3. The Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) program within the
    Department of Commerce is a tool used by industries to facilitate and
    expedite international trade. Special customs procedures are offered as
    a public service to help firms conduct international trade related
    operations in competition with foreign plants. The FTZ program also
    helps attract offshore activity and encourages retention of domestic
    activity while assisting state and local economic development efforts.
        In your role, how do you envision the role of the FTZ program? Do
    you believe the FTZ program is an effective way to attract foreign
    direct investment (FDI) and create jobs in the United States?
        Answer. If confirmed, I will ensure the effective administration of
    the FTZ program to ensure that it continues to support investment and
    jobs while safeguarding against potential negative impacts to American
    businesses and workers.

        Question 4. It is very important to me that we ensure no Hoosier or
    American is left behind as we adjust to automation, urbanization, and
    globalization in our dynamic economy. Indiana is the most manufacturing
    intensive state and as we discussed, your own father lost his
    manufacturing job to China.
        If confirmed, what steps will you take at the Department of
    Commerce to ensure no Americans are left behind by this economic shift?
        Answer. As Governor of Rhode Island and in my personal life, I have
    seen the impacts on working Americans as our economy has moved away
    from a manufacturing economy to one based on services. If confirmed, I
    will ensure that the Department of Commerce continues to provide
    resources and programs to U.S. businesses and their workers to help
    them innovate and grow, especially those in regions and communities
    that have often been left behind.

        Question 5. Even in the countries where we have free trade
    agreements, our companies continue to face trade barriers such as
    inadequate intellectual property protections, data localization rules,
    and price controls that violate these agreements. Much of the
    responsibility of enforcing these agreements and protecting U.S.
    businesses falls to the Department of Commerce. Like previous
    administrations, President Biden will have executive authority to
    impose or remove tariffs. I support holding China accountable in a way
    that does not hinder the growth of American businesses.
        Can you commit that you will be as vigilant in holding our trading
    partners accountable on behalf of our U.S. exporters as the Department
    will be in protecting our businesses from imports that violate our laws
    and trade agreements?
        Answer. Yes. In addition to continuing the strong enforcement of
    U.S. trade laws, including the Antidumping and Countervailing Duties
    (AD/CVD) laws that protect U.S. firms from unfairly traded imports, if
    confirmed, I will ensure the Department of Commerce will work
    diligently to ensure U.S. exporters have the market access and proper
    protections provided by our trade agreements.
                                     ______

         Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Rick Scott to
                             Hon. Gina M. Raimondo
        Question 1. Communist China continues to openly flout U.S laws and
    refuse to hold up their ends of trade deals with the United States.
    They are dead-set on being the dominant world power, and can't be
    trusted to play fair. And, every single U.S. dollar spent in China
    supports a regime that jails its people for religious beliefs and
    denies basic human rights to its citizens.

        a. What is your plan to ensure that U.S citizens and taxpayer
    dollars are protected from Communist China, and how do you plan to hold
    them accountable in any future trade commitments?
        Answer. China's aggressive and coercive trade policies hurt
    American workers and businesses. Holding China accountable in future
    trade commitments requires a whole-of-government approach, in
    partnership with the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of
    State, and other U.S. Government agencies, to ensure that U.S. workers
    and firms benefit from trade agreements signed with other countries. If
    confirmed, I will work diligently to ensure U.S. exporters have the
    market access and proper protections provided by our trade agreements.

        Question 2. Seasonal produce farmers, especially in my state of
    Florida and throughout the southeast, have been badly hurt by unfair
    trade practices surrounding Mexican produce imports. While this was not
    addressed in the USMCA, I have worked closely with USTR in the past two
    years to ensure that this issue is heard and addressed so Florida
    growers have the chance to succeed.

        a, The Trump Administration made it a priority to ensure every deal
    was fair to our Nation's growers. What is your plan to continue this
    work so domestic growers can compete on an even playing field?
        Answer. If confirmed as Secretary, Commerce will continue its
    outreach with growers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables
    on unfair trade practices to enhance their understanding of applicable
    trade remedy laws and processes and will continue to monitor foreign
    subsidy practices that have a direct impact on U.S. producers of
    seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables.

        Question 3. I've been fighting to protect American national
    security and intellectual property by preventing the U.S. government
    from purchasing technology, like drones, with American tax dollars. I
    was glad to see the Department of Commerce add Chinese drone company,
    DJI to the Entity list because of national security concerns. And
    earlier this year, former President Trump issued an EO directing U.S.
    agencies to prioritize removing Chinese-made drones from our
    government's fleets due to security risks.

        a. Can you confirm you plan to keep DJI on the Entity List?

        b. What further action can the Commerce Department take against
    companies like DJI, and any other Chinese-based company, that pose such
    obvious national security threats?
        Answer. I understand that parties are placed on the Entity List
    generally because they pose a risk to U.S. national security or foreign
    policy interests. I currently have no reason to believe that entities
    on that list should not be there. If confirmed, I look forward to a
    briefing on these entities. I further understand that the Department
    has an ongoing process in place to identify and review activities of
    entities to determine whether addition to the Entity List is warranted
    and that this is an interagency process.

        Question 4. Our nation is competing against known adversaries like
    Communist China and Russia in the space launch industry, and we must
    put American interests and national security first. I co-sponsored the
    American Space Commerce Act to bolster the domestic space industry and
    to ensure the U.S. remains a leader in space exploration.

        a. What is your plan to bolster the domestic space industry?
        Answer. I understand the commercial space industry is growing at an
    incredible speed--creating jobs, innovating, and fostering public-
    private partnerships across the country. I know that NOAA and the
    Office of Space Commerce (OSC) play a key role in working with the
    commercial space industry. If confirmed, I look forward to learning
    more about the Office of Space Commerce and to working with Congress to
    ensure that it is properly resourced and can continue to serve this
    important function.