WASHINGTON – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies yesterday invited 10 experts from the U.S. Department of Commerce to testify on the President’s FY 2020 budget. The panel responded to two hours of questioning before the Senate by both majority and minority members. The Department of Commerce also made those same Department officials available to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies for a hearing today. However, Chairman Jose Serrano (D-NY) has refused to hear testimony from these Department experts who are well qualified to testify on the budget. In a letter Tuesday evening to Chairman Serrano, Secretary Ross encouraged the Chairman to accept these witnesses at the House’s budget hearing tomorrow.

In the letter to Chairman Serrano, Secretary Ross said: “Unfortunately, the House Subcommittee appears unwilling to receive any of these witnesses to answer its budget and operations questions. Instead, the Subcommittee apparently intends to recognize an ‘empty chair,’ thereby forgoing the opportunity to ask meaningful questions about the Department’s budget and operations priorities. This development affirms that my appearance at this time would unfortunately distract from the Department's important business before the Subcommittee.

 “Therefore, out of respect for this Subcommittee, its mission, and the mission of the Department, I ask that you reconsider my offer to allow the bureau heads who testified today before the Senate Subcommittee to testify at the House Subcommittee’s hearing tomorrow. I am confident that they will answer the Subcommittee’s questions as clearly and effectively as they did today before the Senate Subcommittee.

“You and I both care deeply about the Commerce Department’s mission and budget, and I know our bureau heads can provide all the information your members need to carry out their appropriations duties. Thank you for your consideration of this request.”

The following officials from the Department of Commerce were prepared to testify:

• International Trade Administration (ITA), Gilbert B. Kaplan, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Dr. Walter G. Copan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director
• Census Bureau, Dr. Steven Dillingham, Census Bureau Director
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Andre Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Dr. Neil Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, performing the nonexclusive duties of Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), David J. Redl, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator
• Economic Development Administration (EDA), Dr. John Fleming, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development
• Department of Commerce, Michael Platt, Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Henry Childs II, National Director
• Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration

 
Text of the Letter
April 2, 2019 
   
The Honorable Jose Serrano  
Chairman  
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies  
Committee on Appropriations 
United States House of Representatives  
Washington, D.C. 20510 
 
Dear Chairman Serrano,

I write regarding the Department’s testimony before the Subcommittee on the President’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget request. After careful consideration, I offered to make the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and my “number two” at the Department, Karen Dunn Kelley, available to testify. Deputy Secretary Kelley is the Chief Operating Officer of the Department and has provided leadership in managing the development of the Department’s FY 2020 budget.  

When I learned that the Subcommittee found Deputy Secretary Kelley unacceptable as a witness, despite her deep expertise in Department-wide budget and management issues, I directed the Department to make nine bureau heads available to testify on budget issues. Indeed, pursuant to the Department’s agreement with the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies, these witnesses today appeared at that Subcommittee’s budget hearing and answered all of the majority and minority members’ questions.  

Unfortunately, the House Subcommittee appears unwilling to receive any of these witnesses to answer its budget and operations questions. Instead, the Subcommittee apparently intends to recognize an “empty chair,” thereby forgoing the opportunity to ask meaningful questions about the Department’s budget and operations priorities. This development affirms that my appearance at this time would unfortunately distract from the Department's important business before the Subcommittee.  

Therefore, out of respect for this Subcommittee, its mission, and the mission of the Department, I ask that you reconsider my offer to allow the bureau heads who testified today before the Senate Subcommittee to testify at the House Subcommittee’s hearing tomorrow. I am confident that they will answer the Subcommittee’s questions as clearly and effectively as they did today before the Senate Subcommittee.  

You and I both care deeply about the Commerce Department’s mission and budget, and I know our bureau heads can provide all the information your members need to carry out their appropriations duties. Thank you for your consideration of this request.  

Sincerely, 
Wilbur Ross 
 
Cc: Robert Aderholt, Ranking Member