00:00Canada's economy leans on the 30, the incredible $30 trillion economy of America.
00:08There's no doubt about that, Mr. Secretary, but insulting our closest ally and neighbor who provides a lot of business.
00:17We have a lot of businesses in New Hampshire, small businesses who work on both sides of the border.
00:22We have all those Canadian visitors who are not coming because of your comments and comments by the administration.
00:29Yes, thank you, and great idea, Mr. Chairman.
00:32Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for being here today.
00:35Last year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the United States saw a 5.5% decline in
00:42international visitors.
00:44We were the only major economy to see any decline.
00:48In my home state of New Hampshire, tourism is the second largest industry both by revenue and it supports 70
00:54,000 jobs.
00:55Canada has long been our largest share of foreign visitors, but last year we saw a 30% drop in
01:03Canadian tourism, largely due to the loss of trust and goodwill because of this administration's rhetoric around Canada.
01:11Secretary Letnick, last week you said about Canada's economic strategy, and I quote, they suck.
01:19I believe your spokesperson then said this was about Canada's economy leeching off of the U.S.
01:26How does insulting our closest ally and neighbor help the businesses in my state of New Hampshire and states all
01:34across this country who are hurting because of the loss of Canadian business and tourism?
01:43Canada's economy leans on the incredible $30 trillion economy of America.
01:50There's no doubt about that, Mr. Secretary, but insulting our closest ally and neighbor who provides a lot of business,
01:59we have a lot of businesses in New Hampshire, small businesses who work on both sides of the border, we
02:05have all those Canadian visitors who are not coming because of your comments and comments by the administration.
02:11How does that help our economy?
02:13It is outrageous that Canada will not put U.S. spirits on the shelf.
02:21It is insulting.
02:22And they won't do it because of the insults from this president and comments like yours.
02:29So I want to go on to another question.
02:32But can I have just one small comment, which is dairy is treated so badly and your state cares about
02:38dairy and we are trying desperately to get them to live to the deal that they have on USMCA and
02:45stop treating our dairy farmers so poorly and your state cares about that and we are fighting for that.
02:51We do.
02:52But we are not going to get agreement when we keep insulting people, when we have allies and partners, we
03:01should try and work with them, not insult them.
03:03And I find your rhetoric insulting to the people in my state who are working so hard to try and
03:11ensure that they can do business.
03:12I want to move on to BED and the non-deployment funds because Secretary Letnick, as I said the last
03:19time you were here, Senator Collins and I led the negotiations around the bipartisan infrastructure law and those broadband provisions.
03:28And when we enacted BED into law, as Chairman Moran said, we understood that any remaining funds after broadband deployment
03:40would be used for adoption.
03:42New Hampshire was promised nearly $200 million in BED funding, yet only $18.6 million has been awarded for deployment.
03:51That means New Hampshire has nearly $180 million left for non-deployment activities.
03:56So when can we expect guidance from NTIA on how states can spend the estimated $21 billion in remaining non
04:05-deployment BED funds?
04:08We finished our listening tour.
04:12We took the comments, over 280 comments and 1,000 people who spoke to us.
04:18We are narrowing the gap.
04:20We will make sure that we are covering all broadband access.
04:24And we will have a plan that we would be happy to discuss with you, as I said, within the
04:30coming months.
04:32And do you have a deadline for when you're hoping to get that plan to us?
04:39Other than soon?
04:40Well, my objective was to start by getting the money out and getting America the benefit of the bargain, which
04:46we've done.
04:4654 states and territories executed and out the door finally, right?
04:51This is getting the money out the door.
04:53But I would expect over the next two months we will have our plan in place, and we will be
04:57happy to discuss it with you.
04:59Okay.
04:59I only have a few seconds left.
05:01But in your confirmation hearing last year, you said that the United States needed to stop China from, and I
05:07quote,
05:08using our tools to compete with us, and you specifically called out U.S. companies for advancing Beijing's AI ambitions.
05:17Since then, the administration has allowed powerful chips to be exported to China.
05:23Can you assure us today that the administration is going to stop those chip sales to China that would advance
05:30its military modernization?
05:32We heard yesterday at the Armed Services Committee from Admiral Paparo, who expressed concern about China being able to access
05:43those advanced chips.
05:50There is a delicate balance in the relationship with China.
05:55President Trump has the best relationship with President Xi, and he balances that.
06:00I want to be crystal clear.
06:02We are not selling our best chips to China under any circumstance.
06:06We are not even selling that best scale of chips, meaning they're called Blackwell.
06:11They're not even that brand.
06:12This is multi-years ago, and there's that balance, and I understand that balance, but the president understands it the
06:19best,
06:20and he is trying to balance in between there.
06:22I would tell you they have not bought any as of today.
06:26Well, I'm out of time, Mr. Secretary,
06:29but I would urge you to look at the intelligence on the chips,
06:33because that is not what the intelligence says about what we are selling to China.
06:38Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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