Milk producers would be happy to abide. Others would as well. We are a whole lot closer. Potatoes and beans and a whole range of things are available. Apples seem to be a delicacy at christmas time. I said, we can give you christmas every day. We have a lot of opportunities. Let me ask undersecretary scuse. There is an expression that says, the first step to achieving success is showing up. I think that is really true on trade. Also, our ability to market. You mentioned the Market Access program and the other tools at the department of agriculture. I wonder if you might speak more to what how would you envision the usdas programs going forward, creating opportunities and tools for american agriculture . Mr. Scuse again, if we were allowed to use our Marketing Programs, such as our Market Access program, it is an area where we work with operators to go in, to do the trade missions, to look at ways to develop markets and what the actual needs are through the market assistance program. He
And the second thing that we need to do in a fundamentally, efficient way is to go out and produce more things in our manufacturing plants and in new manufacturing plants that we would build and export them around the world. Those are the only ways to expand manufacturing jobs in the United States. I wasnt here when the north American Free trade agreement was negotiated. I can tell in you my state its viewed as a net positive. For that region of the country. As the central Free Trade Agreement is. Senator cornyn part of the consequences, i visited with senator kaine, down in honduras recently, you remember the influx of minors moving into the United States, and our failure to have help our neighbors provide not only security but also help grow their economy where they live does have residual and impact on us in ways that perhaps we dont even recognize. So i appreciate the great work that you and the Ranking Member have undertaken on this and look forward to supporting the t. P. A. In t
Value of exports is far less than that in roughly 2950 million. U. S. Exporters see a tremendous market in cuba by the authorizations they seek from us though currently they only export a small fraction of that. Those exports go through the cuban import agency. So thrs no changes in our regulations on exports to cuba because thats limitted by the trade sanctions. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman thank you for your statement. Our next witness, johnny smith acting director, office of foreign assets control, the department of treasury. Mr. Smith serves as acting director of the department of Treasury Department of foreign assets. Control or opac is mr. Smiths acronym for which he works which is tasked with administrating economic trade sanctions to advance u. S. National security and Foreign Policy goals. Prior to joining opac he served as expert to the United Nations taliban and sanctions committee. As a Trial Attorney at the u. S. Department of justice. Welcome to your new job. Tha
Preferences and the reauthorization of the importexport bank. Key to reforming our trade policies we believe is abolishing the outdated, unaccountable and undemocratic fast track process. The Transpacific Partnership, now being negotiated by our government, includes 12 countries and about 40 of the worlds g. D. P. And the t. P. P. Is designed to be infinitely expandable. So it could be the last trade agreement we negotiate so its especially crucial that we get the terms of this one right. And mr. Chairman, the idea that fast track lets congress set the standards and goals for t. P. P. Im not talking about other agreements but for t. P. P. , is an absolute fiction. The agreement has been under negotiation for more than five years and is essentially complete. So the instructions that you send them will have no affect whatsoever. Congress cannot set meaningful negotiating objectives if the administrations already negotiated most of the key provisions. I might also add, this will be the wo
Guiding us with your powerful providence and showering us with undeserved mercies. You hear our prayers and speedily supply our needs. Bless today the work of our lawmakers, empowering them with unceasing awareness and openness of heart. Give them wisdom and courage to glorify you through their work. May their thoughts, words and actions be acceptable to you, for you are our rock and our redeemer. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The president pro tempore the democratic leader. Mr. Reid i move to proceed to calendar number 297. The president pro tempore the clerk will report. The clerk motion to proceed to calendar number 297, s. 1950, a bill to improve the provision of medical services and benefits to veterans, and for other purposes. Mr. Reid mr. Pr