00:00Canada's economy leans on the incredible $30 trillion economy of America.
00:08There's no doubt about that, Mr. Secretary, but insulting our closest ally and neighbor
00:13who provides a lot of business.
00:16We have a lot of businesses in New Hampshire, small businesses who work on both sides of
00:21the border.
00:21We have all those Canadian visitors who are not coming because of your comments and comments
00:27by the administration.
00:28How does that help our economy?
00:31Yes, thank you, and great idea, Mr. Chairman.
00:34Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for being here today.
00:37Last year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the United States saw a 5.5%
00:43decline in international visitors.
00:45We were the only major economy to see any decline.
00:49In my home state of New Hampshire, tourism is the second largest industry both by revenue
00:55and it supports 70,000 jobs.
00:58Canada has long been our largest share of foreign visitors, but last year we saw a 30%
01:04drop in Canadian tourism, largely due to the loss of trust and goodwill because of this
01:10administration's rhetoric around Canada.
01:13Canada.
01:13Secretary Letnick, last week you said about Canada's economic strategy, and I quote,
01:19they suck.
01:21I believe your spokesperson then said this was about Canada's economy leeching off of the
01:27U.S.
01:27country.
01:28How does insulting our closest ally and neighbor help the businesses in my state of New Hampshire
01:34and states all across this country who are hurting because of the loss of Canadian business and
01:41tourism?
01:44Canada's economy leans on the incredible $30 trillion economy of America.
01:52There's no doubt about that, Mr. Secretary, but insulting our closest ally and neighbor
01:58who provides a lot of business, we have a lot of businesses in New Hampshire, small businesses
02:04who work on both sides of the border.
02:06We have all those Canadian visitors who are not coming because of your comments and comments
02:12by the administration.
02:13How does that help our economy?
02:16It is outrageous that Canada will not put U.S. spirits on the shelf.
02:22It is insulting.
02:24And they won't do it because of the insults from this president and comments like yours.
02:31So I want to go on to another question.
02:34Can I have just one small comment, which is dairy is treated so badly and your state cares
02:39about dairy and we are trying desperately to get them to live to the deal that they have
02:45on USMCA and stop treating our dairy farmers so poorly and your state cares about that and
02:52we are fighting for that?
02:53We do, but we are not going to get agreement when we keep insulting people.
03:00When we have allies and partners, we should try and work with them, not insult them.
03:05And I find your rhetoric insulting to the people in my state who are working so hard to try
03:12and ensure that they can do business.
03:14I want to move on to BED and the non-deployment funds because, Secretary Letnick, as I said
03:21the last time you were here, Senator Collins and I led the negotiations around the bipartisan
03:27infrastructure law and those broadband provisions.
03:30And when we enacted BED into law, as Chairman Moran said, we understood that any remaining
03:40funds after broadband deployment would be used for adoption.
03:44New Hampshire was promised nearly $200 million in BED funding, yet only $18.6 million has been
03:52awarded for deployment.
03:53That means New Hampshire has nearly $180 million left for non-deployment activities.
03:58So when can we expect guidance from NTIA on how states can spend the estimated $21 billion
04:05in remaining non-deployment BED funds?
04:10We finished our listening tour.
04:14We took the comments over, 280 comments and 1,000 people who spoke to us.
04:20We are narrowing the gap.
04:22We will make sure that we are covering all broadband access, and we will have a plan that we would
04:28be happy to discuss with you, as I said, within the coming months.
04:34And do you have a deadline for when you're hoping to get that plan to us?
04:40Other than soon?
04:42Well, my objective was to start by getting the money out and getting America the benefit
04:47of the bargain, which we've done, right?
04:49Fifty-four states and territories executed and out the door finally, right?
04:53This is getting the money out the door.
04:55But I would expect over the next two months, we will have our plan in place, and we will
04:59be happy to discuss it with you.
05:01Okay.
05:01I only have a few seconds left.
05:03But in your confirmation hearing last year, you said that the United States needed to
05:08stop China from, and I quote, using our tools to compete with us.
05:12And you specifically called out U.S. companies for advancing Beijing's AI ambitions.
05:18Since then, the administration has allowed powerful chips to be exported to China.
05:25Can you assure us today that the administration is going to stop those chip sales to China that
05:32would advance its military modernization?
05:34We heard yesterday at the Armed Services Committee from Admiral Paparo, who expressed concern about
05:43China being able to access those advanced chips.
05:52There is a delicate balance in the relationship with China.
05:57President Trump has the best relationship with President Xi, and he balances that.
06:02I want to be crystal clear.
06:03We are not selling our best chips to China under any circumstance.
06:07We are not even selling that best scale of chips, meaning they're called Blackwell.
06:13They're not even that brand.
06:14This is multi-years ago.
06:17And there's that balance.
06:18And I understand that balance.
06:20But the president understands it the best.
06:22And he is trying to balance in between there.
06:24I would tell you, they have not bought any as of today.
06:28Well, I'm out of time, Mr. Secretary.
06:31But I would urge you to look at the intelligence on the chips, because that is not what the intelligence
06:37says about what we are selling to China.
06:40Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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