Blumenthal & Raimondo Discuss Priorities for Department of Commerce at Nomination Hearing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During today’s Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the nomination of Governor Gina Raimondo to be Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Raimondo discussed a number of urgent priorities facing the Department of Commerce.

Fisheries & Coastal Communities

Blumenthal asked Raimondo for a commitment to improve fishery management to ensure the success of coastal communities like those on Connecticut’s coast, saying “As you know, the quotas for fishing in our respective waters are outdated, and I would like your commitment that you will be working with me to get the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and relevant fishery management to update the outdated quotas which affect the fishing industry in our respective states.” Raimondo agreed, saying “You have brought it up with me a few times, and I definitely look forward to working with you on this.”

Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine

National Monument, Oceans & Climate Change

In his opening remarks, Blumenthal thanked Raimondo for her commitment to the health of oceans, including her commitment to the idea of a Blue New Deal—a phrase coined by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)—and praised President Joe Biden for signing an Executive Order to restore protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, saying “That is a cause that I champion, President Obama signed the order establishing it, President Trump reversed it, and now, fortunately, President Biden has reinstated it.” Blumenthal also praised an upcoming “30 by 30” Executive Order, expected to be soon signed by President Biden and supported by Raimondo, to conserve 30 percent of all United States land, fresh waters, and oceans by 2030.

Minority-Owned Businesses & Workers

Blumenthal emphasized the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on minority-owned businesses and questioned Raimondo on how the Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) can aid these businesses, asking: “what should be the role of the minority business development agency to help vulnerable and thriving minority owned businesses?” Raimondo stated: “COVID has shined a light on the inequities in our economy and the president has been very clear we will build back better and more equitably and I strongly support that. I believe MBDA can play a vital role in that.”

Broadband Connectivity & Census Data-Gathering Tools

Blumenthal stressed the need to close broadband connectivity gaps affecting students during this pandemic, saying: “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’s another problem highlighted by the pandemic.” Blumenthal touted the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), as an invaluable tool in understanding digital divides and asked Raimondo for her commitment to strengthen the program and to close the homework gap for students. Raimondo agreed, stating: “Yes, I will commit to prioritizing that and working with you on that.”

Transcript

The transcript of Blumenthal’s remarks and exchange with Raimondo is available below.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): I am really admiring and grateful on 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 champion, President Obama signed the order establishing it, President Trump reversed it, and now, fortunately, President Biden has reinstated it. I understand he is contemplating and will soon sign an Executive Order to establish a goal 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 management to update the outdated quotas for fishing, which affect 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 should be updated to enable them to keep some of that produce.

Secretary-designate Gina Raimondo: Thank you, and I know this is a vitally important area for you. You have brought it up with me a few times, and I definitely look forward to working with you on this. I would say, that I understand, again, being governor of the ocean state, more than 4,000-5,000 people make a living fishing here, having quotas, dock assessments that are accurate based on data, science is important, and I prioritize it and that’s how I’ll lead, and I look forward to a dialogue with you on this.

Blumenthal: Thank you. I know 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 business, 32 percent of Latinx-owned businesses have gone under. What would be -- what should be the role of the Minority Business Development Agency to help vulnerable and thriving minority owned businesses?

Raimondo: Thank you. COVID has shined a light on the inequities in our economy and the president has been very clear we will build back better and more equitably and I strongly support that. I believe MBDA can play a vital role in that. Certainly, I have a lot of experience as governor in place-based economic development. I’m very proud of the fact that more than half of the people who have participated in our job training and placement effort because of COVID are women and people of color. So you have my commitment to lead in this area and to use the MBDA as a very important player in the rebuild effort.

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’s another problem highlighted by the pandemic. The Census’ ACS program is one of the most reliable sources 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 digital divide are so necessary for closing that gap.

Raimondo: Yes, I will commit to prioritizing that and working with you on that.

Blumenthal: Thank you. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

-30-