And ice and the Important Role that these important agencies play and making the Us Mexico Border a competitive usmexico border so we are excited to have our guest are here today. Whether youre in the private sector, trade organization , if youre here, if you have anything to do with the border, you care very much about your ongoing relationship with cbp but certainly the case for us as a border trade alliance, our relationship, our partnership, the communication is critical. As cbp ensures Border Security and the efficient movement of people across our ports of entry. Were grateful for cbps work to increase border wait times which is one of the most challenging barriers to trade. Today yesterday and hopefully not tomorrow. Its my great pleasure to introduce john wagner, hes debbie assessed and commissioner for the Field Operations at us customs and border protection. He began his federal lawenforcement career in 1991 when he joined the Us Customs Service as a customs inspector and wor
Efficiently, effectively, and understanding how you can do that what you balance that with security challenges at the border and that is of fundamental importance for border communities and our economies as a whole. However, i do not think that is enough. Not enough for u. S. Border communities or for Mexican Border communities to really have the vibrant communities that we want and the quality of life that people in the Border Regions aspire to. This requires strategies for Economic Development that leverage the unique position of those communities along the border as a way to attract companies to do business in the region. There is a unique Value Proposition there. The combination of the competitive advantages of the two countries sidebyside that makes working and producing in the border region particularly attractive and interesting. If we look back over time and go border say the Industrialization Program of the 1960s, the beginning of free trade between the countries, andsed on th
What we should do with used nuclear fuel thats accumulating at our Nations Nuclear reactors. As a starting point, we should recognize Nuclear Energy is an important part of our countrys electric generation. I believe it is a vital part of our mix. Large reactors that dot the landscape provide reliable power to communities across the country. The Nuclear Industry is critically important, but also faces a number of challenges and one that has impact since the first reactors began operation is Nuclear Waste disposition. Beginning with passage of the Nuclear Waste policy act of 1982, congress has attempted several times to address the back end of the fuel cycle, in an effort to resolve earlier stalemate, the federal government was supposed to begin taking title to use fuel and moving it to a repository at yuca mountain in nevada beginning in 1988. The governments failure to deliver on this promise is costing taxpayers up to 2 million per day. This hearing is an opportunity to consider the
Aspects of security. Security at the ports of entry is just as important as security between the ports of entry. And, you know, since then weve seen efforts and i think trade community has responded. Congress has responded. Weve seen bills to add more officers. We need other resources at the border. I think at first the only resource were being drawn from southern ports of entry and our first point was what about the airports . What about the seaport . What about the northern ports . You cant pick just one area and say well thats the only area that will get hurt. So beyond that weve seen may 7th, tomato duties went into effect. Now duties on mexican tomatoes. When tariff threat came up, that would have equalled 25 tariffs, 3 billion in tariffs just on what we eat and that constitutes a food tax. In the meantime we had these issues. Thats a glimpse into what we see at the border but we cant stop and think that we cant move forward because theres a lot of things we can move forward on. I
I would not provide information beyond that which is already public in any appearance before congress. Former special Counsel Robert Mueller is set to appear before two committees of congress. The House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee on wednesday july 17th at 9 00 a. M. Eastern. Hell testify in open session about his report into russian interference in the 2016 election. Watch live coverage on cspan3, only at cspan. Org or online with cspan radio app. A discussion on Economic Impact on improving management of the u. S. Mexico border. The Wilson Center in washington, d. C. , is the host of this conversation on strengthening economic competitiveness for both countries. Thanks to the few and the proud who are here. Weve got a few more in the hallway who will come in and join us. Thanks for sticking with us throughout the whole session today. We do have one more really interesting session. For me this is a really important one. Weve spoken for a lot of the day abo