[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S5276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NOMINATION OF DEMETRIOS JAMES MARANTIS

  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, today I would like to recognize one of 
the finest members of my staff to ever work for me, the State of 
Montana, and the U.S. Senate. Demetrios James Marantis has served in 
the Senate since 2005, and on Wednesday, the Senate approved his 
nomination to be Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.
  When Demetrios first joined my staff more than 4 years ago, he came 
with a chorus of support and an impressive set of skills and 
experience. This week, he leaves the Senate for his next challenge with 
an even larger group of supporters and another impressive list of 
accomplishments.
  Demetrios was at the center of the largest expansion and reform of 
trade adjustment assistance since its creation four decades ago. He was 
critical to our granting permanent normal trade relations to Vietnam, 
and instrumental in keeping U.S.-China economic ties on track in 
challenging times. Demetrios helped me and the Senate extend trade 
preference programs to the world's poorest nations, and worked to lay 
the groundwork for the important pending trade agreements that I hope 
that the Senate will consider in the coming months.
  He did all of this with an unwavering commitment to this country, and 
an unassailable reputation for fairness and openness to supporters and 
opponents alike. And as many of my colleagues and their staff will 
always remember, Demetrios never failed to bring a little bit of fun 
and a good sense of humor to even the hardest job.
  But what I will remember most about Demetrios is his commitment to 
the people that our economic policies affect. In Montana, Demetrios 
made a point to know the ranchers in Molt, the seed potato farmers in 
Manhattan, and the wheat farmers in Three Forks. Demetrios's 
intelligence and experience helped guide me and the Senate through the 
letter of our trade laws. But his good character and heart reminded us 
what those trade laws are really about America's workers, farmers, 
ranchers, and families.
  I congratulate Demetrios on his nomination, thank him for his good 
work, and wish him the best of luck as Deputy U.S. Trade 
Representative.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I wish to speak a few words about 
Demetrios Marantis, who was confirmed last night by the Senate to be a 
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative.
  Demetrios is well known to all of us on the Finance Committee. For 4 
years, he has very ably served Chairman Baucus--most recently as the 
Democratic chief international trade counsel. So he has played a 
central role in all of the committee's efforts on trade policy during 
this time.
  Not only is Demetrios a very sharp trade lawyer and policy adviser, 
he is also a skilled negotiator. That will serve him well in his new 
position. I am grateful for the genuine spirit of bipartisanship that 
Demetrios brought to the Finance Committee, and I am sorry to see him 
depart. His energy and good nature will certainly be missed.
  At the same time, I am comforted by the fact that our Nation will 
continue to benefit from Demetrios' commitment to public service. He 
assumes a very important portfolio at the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative, as a trade Ambassador to Asia and Africa, and 
also with responsibility for the trade and development portfolio, as 
well as for labor and the environment.
  I therefore look forward to engaging Demetrios in efforts to open up 
new market opportunities for U.S. exporters in the Asian region. I also 
look forward to working with him on a reform of our unilateral trade 
preference programs. We must address these key trade priorities in the 
111th Congress, so I expect that we'll continue to see Demetrios on a 
regular basis for some time to come.
  In closing, I commend Demetrios for his outstanding service to the 
Finance Committee, and I wish Ambassador Marantis every success in his 
new position.

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