Welcome. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Be a strong voice for Indiana and the first one and the last four years, 30. And we look forward to working together. Like why. Thank you, subcommittee members, to the Secretary. Look like for joining us to join that fiscal year 27 Department of Commerce budget request. The request for the Department of Commerce totals $9.2 billion, a one-point billion-dollar and a 16.5 percent decrease from the current level. The request reiterates and it builds on the budget submitted to Congress last year. And it seeks to reinforce and expand on efforts to counter the effects of China and focuses with the department's activities on investments that create jobs in America and protect national security. The Department of Commerce has a wide-ranging portfolio. Much level international trade landscape with America foster economic growth and conduct weather research in response and produce statistics about how the nation and the economy. These responsibilities are bound together for the common goal of ensuring Americans' prosperity. His investments in the resources are invaluable to rural communities like areas like eastern Pennsylvania. The weather forecasters provide severe weather warnings when the second scout, essential work to grow economic opportunity in the feed programs expansion of. [Inaudible]. Of high-speed, reliable broadband to rural areas and opening opportunities and improving lives. The department's vital mission requires strong leadership and strong oversight. I would like to note that the committee only just this week received the department's complete fiscal year 26 spend plans and the detailed budget request documents the fiscal year 27. And additionally, the department must ensure response to written questions on subcommittee, hundred subcommittee members. Secretary Howard Lutnick, these areas of communication responsiveness and responsiveness should be a priority. And with that said, I look forward to hearing how this budget request furthers our chair goals. He recognized out the ranking member of the subcommittee, Misty.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to join you in welcoming Secretary Lutnick back to the subcommittee, and also welcome our new member and subcommittee, Mr. Freeman. At a time when American families are struggling with a high cost of gas and groceries and housing and other essentials, the Trump administration is proposing a Commerce budget that would make things worse. The fiscal year 27 budget request would hurt American jobs, small businesses, and economically distressed communities by completely eliminating economic development and administration grants, gutting the ICA efforts to expand U.S. exports. And the administration is once again proposing to cut out the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, which helps small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers create and preserve U.S. manufacturing jobs. Predated also is again proposing to defund the Minority Business Development Agency after attempting to illegally shut it down. And the administration is proposing to rescind all of the remaining funding for the digital equity program, which Congress appropriated on a bipartisan basis to help veterans, seniors, rural communities, and people with disabilities afford make full use of high-speed internet. Predict the American economy and hard-working Americans are getting squeezed at get at the same time. Howard Lutnick has really benefited from the many deals that have been arranged by the Commerce Department over the past year. And according to the New York Times investigation in November, modern U.S. history never have the office of Secretary of Commerce intersected so broadly and deeply with the financial interests of the Commerce Secretary's entire family. And for the mark on the Commerce Department has been mismanagement of the past year, getting with damage done by Elon Musk, Doge. Last year, Secretary Howard Lutnick, you said no weather meteorologist was part of many, many meteorologists were fired. And we learned that before the subcommittee come of it last month, the department at the National Weather Service still have not backfilled all of the National Weather Service frontline staff positions that were so needlessly lost last year. The department's responsiveness to this committee has also been concerning. More than ten months after our subcommittee submitted questions for the record following the Secretary's last appearance, we still have received no answers. The department also failed to submit the fiscal year 26 plan in accordance with the legal deadline, as all the plans were for more or more weekly. Doing only this, we come up received the plans for the department's largest bureau, no one for Minority Business Development Agency, which were legally due to our appropriations committee a month and a half ago. The department's fiscal year 27 budget justification documents were also late to be publicly released, and all these delays are completely unacceptable and obstruct your committee's ability to conduct oversight and to make informed decisions about the federal budget on behalf of the American people. And finally, I was disturbed to learn from the disclosures in the Epstein files that Secretary Howard Lutnick had personal interactions with Jeffrey Epstein for years after Epstein was registered as a sex offender. Secretary Lutnick previously claimed that he cut ties with Mr. Epstein in '05, but the Epstein files showed the Secretary took a trip to Epstein's private island in 2012, four years after Epstein's conviction was prostitution from a minor. Argued the secondary causing to question the truth when other name as he has made to Congress on the record. And the American people deserve honesty from those of the privilege of holding public office. Pretty animals. And once again, the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's horrific crimes, they deserve truth and accountability and justice. And I look forward to the Secretary's testimony and the many questions that my colleagues and I have. Thank you, and I yield back.
Thank you. I would like now ranking member of the full committee.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, and for convening this hearing today. Thank you, Secretary Howard Lutnick. I listened to your testimony and back-and-forth and give-and-take and questioning. From where I'm sitting, it is difficult to view the Trump administration's trade policies as anything short of disaster. The President ignited a global economic crisis by imposing significant taxes on American consumers, without any thought to whom they were taxing, why they were imposing these taxes in the first place. As my colleagues have forgotten, April last year, the President, as he was imposing 10 percent tariff almost every country in the world, and according to the Office of Population, number of people, but I penguins. This would be amusing if that the fact is, this application of tariffs had such a harmful effect on American consumers. Data from the Budget Lab, they found that the President's trade war increased the cost of food for the American families by $1,700 throughout 2025. And minor changes in our trade deficits are ━-dash to anyone he has to pay attention to the price of groceries, although we understand there are not many people in the President's cabinet who fall into this category. And if the purpose of implementing these tariffs and price hikes on consumers was to promote U.S. job growth, it failed. The U.S. economy created less than 600,000 jobs in 2025, and in 2024, before the President took office and put these tariffs in place, that number was 2 million. When all was said and done at the end of 2025, unemployment went up in the economy, had the worst year for job growth since 2020 and the last year of President Trump's prior term. And earlier this year, we learned that tariffs the President chose to charge American consumers, they were not only ill-advised, but also illegal, according to the Supreme Court. And as never charging higher prices because of these illegal tariffs, American companies are trying to get the money back from the government. And American consumers, on the other hand, working families who are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, they get no relief. I've introduced legislation, the Tariff Relief Consumer Act, to ensure the refund dollars provide really for the consumers and small businesses, not line the pockets of large corporations and other importers. The American people are fed up with this administration's growth of the economy and uphold release earlier this week. Associated Press poll found that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of the President's handling of the economy, while only 30 percent approve. Mr. Secretary, I appreciate that you were here today to tell what you believe the administration's accomplishments are on the economy, but seven in ten Americans are not buying it. But this administration has done pretty given the increasingly dire economic outlook, the Trump administration, I would hope they would look to shore up this domestic economic program to find ways to pull it out of this hole that they have been taking a virtually the President's budget request does just the opposite. And the administration is proposing to eliminate all economic development administration grants, pretty callback another another $62 billion in grant funding that was already approved on a bipartisan basis. Into EDA help to create jobs, especially in the rural areas. And from 2018 until 2024, the media created received more than 71,207,000 jobs and spread more than $80 billion in private investments. And another, they do not need to sell you money economic development. And is administration during your confirmation hearing, you would express the program ten at ten said that you intended to maintain it. Had the President's budget also proposes eliminating the extension part of the program, which is designed to help small and medium-sized American manufacturers grow, creating more jobs and stimulating local economy. The whole point of the trade war was to support American manufacturers, and obviously it failed in that respect. So why eliminate long-standing program that actually help solve the problem? It does not make any sense prudent to eliminate the Minority Business Development Agency. And again, in a confirmation test money, you assured us that you did not support dismantling the program. And currently, there's a permanent injunction blocking the implementation. Still, the administration proposes the elimination of the Minority Business Development Agency to cut the funds the International Trade Administration. The administration proposes calling back a total of more than $2.3 billion from funding part of the Commerce Department. And in addition to the EDA, come the administration proposing to rescind funding. And I want to repeat this, passing appropriations committee, the Democrats, Republicans, House and Senate. They appropriated this on, and it was part of the bipartisan infrastructure law. As well as falling back money, the spending funding for operations research and facilities. And lastly, President's request for the cutting the budget for the Office of Inspector General, gutted by $10 million and more than a fifth of the current funding. And we have seen how officials in this administration have five again deeply concerned that the internal oversight office charged with preventing waste, fraud, and abuse is defunded under budget. And the market people should have faith that government officials are working for their interest and not just out to make a quick buck for themselves. I look forward to hearing your testimony and again the answers to our questions. And thank you very much for being here, Mr. Sec. I thank the Chairman and yield back.
Thank you. And I would like to recognize our witness, Secretary Howard Lutnick, for an opening statement. And with that objection, your registered it will be entered into. And Mr. Sec., we're delighted to have you with us. This is your official congressional oversight subcommittee. Be helpful for your duties, and we want to know some answers that we all have. Thank you for being here, and the floor is yours.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I thank you for having me here. And thank you, Representative Making, and the members of the subcommittee. I appreciate you having me here today, and welcome. Welcome. The past 15 months, President Trump has proven that the American economy is the strongest and the most resilient in the world. And when businesses look of the place to expand, manufacturing of the gravity innovation in higher, more workers, they are decisively choosing the United States. Micron, for example, $200 billion in memory semiconductor connecting in Idaho, upstate New York, and Virginia, and $165 billion advanced manufacturing invested in American semiconductor logic sector in Texas Instruments, $60 billion investment, seven U.S. semiconductor fans across three manufacturing mega sites in Texas and Utah. They're just a few examples. Trump administration's commitment to driving semiconductor investment and bringing jobs back to the United States. And I can spend their entire time together listing the record-setting commitments in company after company and industry after industry building America. Trillions of dollars of capital investments are pouring into America, followed by President Trump and the United States Department of Congress. And I'm proud of the leadership 400 roll the of Commerce played in providing the support and encouragement to revive the mid-American manufacturing. And we have only just begun. And over the past few months alone, the Department of Commerce has announced multiple cometh 15 billion-dollar plus record-setting critical energy investments across this country, from Pennsylvania and Georgia to Texas and Tennessee. They accelerate economic growth and ensure U.S. energy dominance, poster critical supply chains, and strengthen U.S. national economic security. And in addition to the trade agreements, Korea and Taiwan, the impressive $500 billion trade deal for Japan is an ounce six project in the past six months, which include $40 billion small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, and $33 billion, 9.2 gigawatts natural gas in Ohio. In $17 billion natural gas prior power generation in southwest Pennsylvania, is $18 billion natural gas in east Texas. Pretty that goes on top of two billion dollars for crude oil export terminal and Americans is hundred million dollars for critical high-pressure, high-temperature 700 facility in Georgia. And just last month, Secretary Wright and I were in southern due under Ohio's breakdown of that gigawatts natural gas facility. This project will develop the largest facility in history, lower electricity costs from across the region, and create thousands and thousands of American jobs and strengthen our national security. Then help U.S. energy needs have our future beyond these historic investments. On the Department of Commerce continues to work around the clock to implement President Trump's America First trade policy. Under Section 232, the Commerce Department is taking action on steel, aluminum, copper, pharmaceuticals, auto, and semiconductors, and investing in other sectors to protect and restore and revive manufacturing. These actions have applied to multibillion-dollar commitments to the resort steel and aluminum manufacturing and restore American excellence in critical industry. In the first year of the second term, President Trump has dramatically reduced the trade deficit, entering imports and increasing exports. And exports went to $3.4 trillion, which is a 6 percent increase over 2024 and 2025. From the trade deficit was the lowest it we have seen it six seniors freedom. Proud of the role I played in negotiating our most important trade agreement, including the largest delivered on which was her trade deal and investment deal with the European Union. And DRS is working hand-in-hand the Department of Health and Human Services, and we have arranged historic agreements to lower the drug prices for American consumers, negotiating most every nation deals and ensuring Americans have the lowest prices for innovative medicines. And there is a result of these deals, additionally, secured ever $400 billion in commitments to resort for massoud he calls. And manufacturing in America. In the budget includes tuna 50 million-dollar increase NDIS through 2026 level, which support the hirings of hundreds of new special agents, law enforcement officials to address American technological leadership by that actor's needs. Officers are critical to protecting and defending America's innovation. Ninety-eight, we are driving record foreign direct investment, cracking down on harmful foreign trade practices, is averting our .3 billion market jobs from export investments in 2025. Boeing and APTech, another major American company, secure a record $244 billion contract a foreign public by ascent. This proceeds a 17 billion the Biden administration gave in the first year. In the budget included him in la and dollar increase going to 2026 and acted level, enforcement $9,800,000,000 for the United States investment to accelerate. The budget slashes unnecessary wasteful spending while eliminating any fracturing extension partnership, and I'm sure we will talk about. The U.S. PTO rapidly modernizing and leveraging technology to cut classification dramatically. We want to get rid of the massive backlog that we had into a much better job and found that we have launched a new era of modernization of NOAA. During the process of transferring the agency's IT system from a decades-old hardwired technology to modern distributed cloud in the sub, they will improve our testing capabilities, transform we are forecasting to the do their jobs and will make Americans safer. Redo budget also includes 1305 billion-dollar increase to the 2026 and acted level for NOAA shipbuilding and improvement of unmanned systems program. Then for far too long in status quo, leaving Americans consumers producers like with under killing him and to implement trade deals and outsource jobs and poultry investments have failed to meet our country's potential. President Trump is committed to ushering in the golden age of commerce and bringing jobs back to the United States. That's exactly what he said in his first 15 months of this administration. I look forward to working with you in light of the department continues to spur economic growth and secure unprecedented prosperity to the American people. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Secretary. And we will now proceed under five-minute rules for questions. I will begin recognizing myself. This or Secretary, request for the Bureau of Industry and Security, which is instrumental to the nation's export control system. Sixteen, nearly double the size of year-old's annual appropriations. And how would this historic investment help counter China?
Thank you. This is the front line and keeping from China try to get her investment dollars, which we have export control. We do not allow them to get. But if we don't have the law enforcement and we cannot stop, then they will find a way around our rules. And so we want to significantly grow our law enforcement special agents. This and the returns are remarkable. I know the budget we talk about extent, but these agents bring between three and ten times the revenue heard annually. And not only do they stop these companies have a bit and we find the 70s and we make way way more revenue for the United States of America. But the budget is to side like the revenue is not part of my budget, just expense. But but I want you to know that these agents are massively economically and intellectually important to the United States.
On this topic, how is the department using its export control authority to prevent sensitivity of U.S. technologies from ending up in the hands of our adversaries?
We use our export control to make sure that our countries of concern and countries that are our adversaries cannot get our investment technology. We do not want them to get our best chips, best software, and we want to make sure that we, the innovator of the world, remain far in the lead. And so this group is the front line that holds those back. We continuously discuss across his administration each and every product. Work together as a administration to make sure that those countries are not getting our best technology and innovation.
Has a dis partnering with other law enforcement agencies?
We work extremely well. Customs and Border Patrol is a key place. DHS works closely with us, and the FBI works closely with us in the DOJ. We just had a criminal action. Great company was a large company was trying to ship billions of dollars for best chips to China, and they were arrested with the DOJ. So we work very closely with the law enforcement, and these are intellectual law enforcement of the U.S. government. They have badges and guns, but they work closely with other law enforcement to make sure those who are trying to steal our best cannot get away with it.
That's me talking with you briefly about the important work of DDA and rural communities. The assistance to coal communities supports area date under areas negatively impacted by changes in the coal economy. And I've seen the devastation of the local economic downturn and cause to a small community and the positive impact that economic development program the aftermath to support recovery and cause for economic growth.
I think the coal program can and is very important. And we can help these communities. And the Trump administration just announced a deal in Pennsylvania to open two very large coal mines. We are very pro clean, beautiful coal, as you know. The ADA has significant appropriations. I will make sure to get that money out the door efficiently, effectively, and deep consideration. If you appropriated come, I will make sure that our department will make sure that we do it test smart and efficiently as possible. Prior administration, sadly, that is not this department, and this department will have the appropriated money that you have given us for EDA smartly, efficiently, and effectively out the door by the end of this year.
MTA, under your leadership, is able to refocus the broadband equity access and employment program on maximizing taxpayer value. None, Kentucky was allocated at $1.1 billion under the program. Had plans approved for about $400 million to expand broadband. The access, and when will they provide Kentucky guidance on eligible uses for the remaining 700 million?
For the BEAD program, Congress had allocated $42 billion when I walked into the door. We had a set of rules to cover each stage, and their teams were amazing. Working with the states was amazing, and working with Kentucky was very impressive, and your team did a great job. But they were only going to give it to fiber, and a whole $42 billion in a one-size-fits-all model, which made no sense. And then some people, $150,000 fiber run to a house is worth $100,000. That was crazy. And so we regret it with that any technological limitations. And if it is satellites, wireless, or fiber, or whatever is best, Henry executed the plan, $21 billion exactly according to the statute. Half of the money that we now have a high-class problem. We've executed what you wanted to do exactly right for $21 billion, and yet 21 billion creek main. And here's what we did. I do listening tour of over a thousand people and give us hundreds and hundreds of comments. We're sorting through those under his apartment under comments. We're going to come out with a plan for the high-class problem I'm having. Absolutely executed the model you gave us to go out and now to new and exciting things with that money in the model of the statute that you have given.
Thank you, sir. Miss May.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So before beginning my question, come I just wanted to say it's great to hear you, Mr. Secretary. The Trump administration are continuing the great investments that were made into our domestic chips manufacturing, started by the Biden administration, by the Harris administration. Whether it is TSMC, Micron, Texas Instruments, billions were invested during that Biden administration, and I was grateful as a New Yorker to the investments in Micron in my home state, in your home state of New York. Braided welcome presidential Joe Biden to announce them during his administration. But I do want to say, Mr. Sec., mentioned in my opening statement that we had learned in recent months that contrary to your earlier statement in which you suggested that you would cut off all contact with Epstein in '05, you and your family had in fact lunch with Mr. Epstein out about during a trip to his private island in 2012. An exchange business e-mails with him as recently as 2018. This was years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Breeder just wanted to ask why you publicly claimed following your nomination that you were never in a room with him after 2005.
So I voluntarily agreed, less ━ to sit with your colleagues in the House and answer any and all questions on this topic. Nothing to hide, and I'm glad to answer the questions. The question you have on this topic, I will be glad to answer in less than two weeks, and we set aside the time to do that. Predict so whatever questions you have, if you would give them to your colleagues, I will answer them. But today, I'm here to testify about the budget. Set aside voluntarily the time to answer those questions in less than two weeks. Today, I'm here to testify up about there.
I appreciate that. My will definitely make sure message and offers emphasized worried when Senator Van Hollen in February asked if you would be willing to share records that you have come. You told him that you would surely talk about that, and you have nothing to hide. And what if anything heavy done Emma since that hearing to ensure that you are sharing all of your records? Yes.
I have set aside less than two weeks, the time that your House colleagues had me answer these questions. I'm here to testify about the budget, but I have set aside on terribly the time to answer these questions. And as you correctly have said, have nothing to hide.
Why just what you know, I'm asking is because our American public deserves honesty and accountability from those of us who have the privilege of holding public office. This is a budget hearing, but it also is about the taxpayers' money. The survivors of Epstein and his associates are the crimes deserves a much better from this government. And I'll use the rest my time to ask about the gold card visa program. President Trump directed you in coordination with State Homeland to establish a gold card visa program. As you know, people were able to pay $1 million in a commerce accounts are eligible for permanent and legal residents and potentially citizenship. And I wanted to ask how many of these applications have been approved and how many gifts have been received by Commerce.
The process was recently resolved with DHS, who runs the program. They do a $15,000, the most serious vetting and analysis of any potential applicant the history of government, and usually $600 in these paid $15,000 for an extraordinary density have improved recently, and there are hundreds in the cucumber that they're going to the process. But this is a new program, and I have just set it up and wanted to make sure they did it perfectly. And so we have worked through the output. It is a DHS program that is done the rigorous, rigorous vetting.
And do you know how the department would spend the billions of dollars in the gifts account?
That will be determined by the administration. That is terms are for the betterment of the United States of America needs and from Commerce and the betterment of the United States of America.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
Thank you, Miss May. And next. Thank you, Chairman, and thank you, Ranking Member Making, and Ranking Member of a full committee. And it's good to see you. I thank his Secretary for being here.
Here today, we depend upon the Department of Commerce. Congress plays a central role in supporting American competitiveness through weather forecasting, standards development, trade enforcement, and economic development in communities all across our great nation. As we are of the FY27 proposal, it reflects the administration's effort to streamline operations, to prioritize core missions, to make sure that taxpayer resources are focused where you have the greatest impact.
Proposed budget adjustments across NOAA and EPA and others. I look forward to hearing how the Department will continue delivering strong, reliable services while advancing productivity and modernization. I want to talk a little bit about whether nothing less on that. You are here. We had a very robust conversation about... I know what led to say that our operation in Missouri is still operating with humans. Thank you for that read, and we have this tornado season in Missouri. We had an EF1 hit not too far from my home last week in Belton, Missouri. It did minimal damage. The next two days could become an outbreak for tornadoes in the Kansas City area, so money is not looking good. The FY27 budget proposal includes $70 million in procurement funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including investments in the next generation weather satellites. How will these planned upgrades translate into benefits for my constituents?
The National Weather Service had gained sort of had balls around itself. We had satellites and read the data from satellites. We launch balloons, review the data that we captured from balloons. We have tracking aircraft. We are now going to buy data. $70 million allows us to buy data available on commercial satellites. So taking more data and give up none but add data. And have unmanned aircraft that can go into the hurricanes and stay there without the risk of loss of life. And think about how much better that is, being inside of that hurricane. And you know how horrifically scary tornadoes are. The ability to warn early of the tornadoes, that is absolutely critical.
You know, the people of the National Weather Service have been the most impressive, and they are the most dedicated and the most loyal. They work their tails off, and when it becomes risky, you've never seen people run in to try to help. This is why we need to have an automated model so that the people in the next town and those forecasters can get the same data set, that we can have the whole set of meteorologists and hydrologists help. That's what I'm going to lead this department with: the most modern National Weather Service ever, that will help protect them and all of us because we rely upon it. It's important to you and to me.
I appreciate that. I'm also proud to support the University of Missouri's research reactor, one of the most powerful university-based reactors in the country, as a critical national supplier. As you know, the lifesaving medical isotopes to treat cancer patients each and every year. We were trying to raise money now to recycle the reactor. It is a game changer in medicine. How will Congress continue to support the university research facilities such as reactor operations?
University systems are one of the great assets of our country, and our tech hubs and our biology work and medical work. These are extraordinary opportunities. We are focused on making sure that the university gathering consortium to create a better outcome. We are very, very focused on that. That is what matters the most to Commerce: is that we want to make sure that however you appropriate the money, we're going to get the benefits for the American people. Great stewards of the money given.
Mr. Secretary, thank you for your service, and with that, I yield back, Chair.
Mr. Secretary, during the campaign, the President made a lot of promises about trade policy: put more money into our pockets and create millions and millions of manufacturing jobs. I mentioned earlier in my opening remarks that I think that hardworking families are not really feeling this reality, and the President's tariffs have exacerbated the cost-of-living hikes that people are experiencing today. And the President is not addressing the affordability crisis that is hitting working Americans every day. You're living paycheck to paycheck. American families paid more than $1,700 in tariff costs last year, and so things are no better because of the President's choice with Iran and the price of gasoline going up. The President made promises also about manufacturing. His trade deficit in manufacturing goods was $62 billion higher in 2025 than again in 2024, and not exactly the manufacturing renaissance that was promised. So let me ask you, Mr. Secretary, and I asked Ambassador Greer the same question last week, and let me ask it of you. Do you know how many manufacturing jobs the United States lost per day last year, the first year of President Trump's second term?
Okay, let me just say this is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: manufacturing lost more than 100 jobs per day from February 2025 through February 2026, and that is more than 88,000 jobs in total. That is not a trade policy that delivers for working people.
I do not calculate the number of jobs lost. And what we think about that. And you know, this is really pretty extraordinary, you know, producing all these manufacturing jobs. I would just say that the other thing with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to them, there was an increase of over 500,000 manufacturing jobs under the Biden administration.
I really don't want to talk about the Biden administration, but you have been here for well over a year, and we now need to measure performance against the standards that you have set. There was a decline in manufacturing jobs that we've seen in the first year, so let me ask you what your response to that is on the manufacturing jobs.
The tariff and trade policy of President Trump and this administration is to bring manufacturing back to America. But as Representative Main points out, when we were up at Micron, groundbreaking on a $100 billion plan that will have 40,000 construction jobs, and TSMC in Arizona, and again, 40,000 construction jobs, and above ground in Ohio, 25,000 construction jobs. And so the manufacturing is going to start in two or three years when these factories come online. Construction and bringing this back: $400 billion in pharmaceuticals, $200 billion in auto, and these are huge numbers.
I reclaim a moment for a moment because you can't even tell us how many jobs you lost. So I don't know about what we see in the future, but this is a good segue for me. Your budget suggests that this committee... well, you abandon the program through the work of trying to promote Americans in manufacturing. You know, just look at the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which provides small businesses with the tools and training and resources to grow and innovate and remain competitive. And you also eliminate the Economic Development Administration grants, supporting workforce development, innovation, entrepreneurship. And I also say it's worth noting that in your confirmation hearing, you opposed cuts to EDA, the International Trade Administration, the Global Markets program. How do you propose small businesses to survive and thrive if you're not going to give them the tools they need to be able to perform and to support development and workforce development? And it's just incomprehensible. You mentioned these very large projects, cutting all of these efforts off to deal with small businesses and their ability to succeed and to grow manufacturing. Comments.
I just wanted to ask if you want me to respond.
I just want to try to answer the question, Mr. Secretary.
No answer to the question.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And Secretary Howard Lutnick, thank you for appearing before our committee today. And I want to thank you for the Bureau of Industry and Security's decision to rescind the Biden-era interim final rule on export controls. It placed an undue burden on American firearm manufacturers, with overseas markets shut out, and rescinding it was the right call. And so I support the administration's decision on this, and I want to say thank you for that. I also want to mention the example that you gave of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, the savings of $21 billion. Did I get that right? $21 billion.
$21 billion is incredible, and that is a great testament to someone who comes in and says, you know, I think we need competition in this, and we need to be able to look at it as one size does not fit all. So I think this highlights the President's constitutional authority. Here you have done something with 50 percent of the money, and you have 50 percent of the money saved. Therefore, I think that should be able to go back to the Treasury or be unspent, because in the end, it's all being borrowed money. So I think you know, I want to talk a little bit about this program. Blue Ridge Mountain in my district is a member-owned cooperative, and the electric cooperative received $3.8 million towards their $31 million project to connect 37 hard-to-reach households in northeast Georgia with broadband. Generally, in December of this year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration quietly added new language to the general terms and conditions requiring cooperatives to comply with FCC attachment rules across the entire service footprint, not just the funded areas, but for the entire service footprint. This is serious, and I'll go through that. In the first place, Congress explicitly exempted electric cooperatives from FCC rules under Section 224 of the Communications Act, and it is my understanding that NTIA has no mandate to undo that exemption. And I would say, most critically, the Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission, which governs test memories for all 153 served utilities using a standardized valley-wide methodology. And so, as I see it, demanding that this cooperative violate its obligations to unconditionally authorize federal regulators in order to accept a federal grant from a different agency, which Mountain EMC has included, the compliance burden may already outweigh the benefits, and they may be forced to walk away from the grant entirely. I don't want to see that happen at all. At all. So, are you familiar with this kind of issue?
I am familiar with all of these issues.
