trade conference chairman


Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, made the following comment on the naming of a chairman to lead the conference on House- and Senate-passed legislation to grant Trade Promotion Authority to the President. Grassley is a conferee.

"I'm glad this procedural roadblock is out of the way. Now we can get the real work of the conference done. We need to get moving. Chairman Greenspan stated just this week how important international trade is to our economic recovery. He's right. Trade is a vital part of our economy. And let there be no mistake, our continued economic security is the backbone of our homeland security. There's no time to waste. The President told me he wanted this bill on his desk yesterday. It's too important for Congress to delay."