Commerce Secretary Lutnick Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Committee

Commerce Secretary Lutnick Testifies Before Senate Appropriations Committee

On February 10, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee. The purpose of the subcommittee’s hearing was to review the Department’s broadband deployment funding plans. However, subcommittee members also asked Secretary Lutnick about other programs under the Department’s jurisdiction, including the U.S. Census Bureau.

Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the CJS Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction of the Census Bureau, asked Secretary Lutnick several questions related to the 2026 Census Test. Specifically, Senator Peters expressed concern about the Department’s decision to cancel 4 of the 6 test sites. In addition, he asked the Secretary to clarify if a citizenship question was going to be part of the 2026 Census Test questionnaire. Their exchange can be viewed in a recording of the hearing– https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-broadband-deployment-funding-at-the-department-of-commerce (around 1:22 mark).