The undersigned food, agriculture, and seafood trade associations respectfully urge the expeditious nomination of the Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. America’s farmers, ranchers, processors, exporters and food manufacturers are foundational in the strength of our country – not just in rural areas, but in feeding, fueling and clothing people in America’s cities and around the world. Key to the economic viability of our working farmers and ranchers is a fair income, and key to their income is the need to export approximately 20 percent of overall U.S. agricultural production. Our farmers, ranchers, processors, exporters and food manufacturers are the reason that American agriculture is one of the most export competitive sectors in the United States and the world. The agriculture and food sector is also critical to American jobs and made-in-America production, ranking as one of the largest U.S. manufacturing sectors, and directly supporting nearly 20 million jobs – the equivalent of more than 13 percent of U.S. employment.1 These jobs provide economic opportunity in rural communities but also for workers throughout the supply chain producing and distributing food and agriculture goods across the country. We are also increasingly focused on achieving critical environmental sustainability and climate goals, building on the work our sector has already accomplished and continues to invest in. Because of the pressing importance of improved and expanded market access for U.S. food and agriculture we request that you move swiftly to nominate an individual to serve as the Chief Agricultural Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative . The farmers, ranchers, processors, exporters and food manufacturing workers we represent rely on the Chief Agriculture Negotiator to be a vigorous advocate for all U.S. agricultural interests and for the role that well-crafted trade policy can play in opening foreign doors to…

The undersigned trade associations and private sector organizations write to express our strong support for the Endless Frontier Act, sponsored by Senate Majority Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN), which would provide much needed, and long overdue, investment in technology, entrepreneurship, science, research and development, and will promote the long-term, global economic competitiveness of the United States. We are encouraged by this bold and visionary bipartisan effort to ensure the U.S. can out-compete our foreign competitors, especially China. We encourage Congress to make passage of this bill a top priority as we move into a period of economic recovery and job growth post-COVID.

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, along with a group of business and policy leaders, sends an open letter to President Biden urging him "to demonstrate decisive U.S. leadership" to combat COVID-19 in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.