[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATING THE SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL CAREER OF BRENDA B. SMITH

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                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 17, 2021

  Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, as the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and 
Means, I rise today along with Ranking Member Kevin Brady, to 
commemorate the successful federal career of Brenda Smith, Executive 
Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) 
Office of Trade. Ms. Smith is retiring after 33 years of government 
service, including 27 years with CBP and the legacy U.S. Customs 
Service.
  Ms. Smith's leadership at CBP is marked by significant advancements 
in the agency's trade mission. She spearheaded unprecedented automation 
and modernization of the U.S. government's import/export system, a 
renewed focus on preventing duty evasion, intellectual property rights 
infringement, and importation of goods derived from forced labor, as 
well as efforts to adapt the agency's trade and revenue workforce for 
the new pace and challenges of the 21st century trade environment. Ms. 
Smith also led the development of global e-commerce standards and focus 
on new technologies like blockchain and advanced analytics.
  Under Ms. Smith's leadership, CBP modernized the international trade 
process, completing development and deployment of the U.S. Single 
Window and the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)--the electronic 
portal for exporters and importers to clear shipments across the U.S. 
border. Ms. Smith took command of the Single Window project, organizing 
the efforts of 49 federal agencies and partnering with thousands of 
importers, exports, brokers, and technology developers to successfully 
deploy the modem, automated system. The Single Window is now a global 
model, and it has revolutionized the international trade process for 
U.S. businesses and consumers. In recognition of her leadership on this 
project, Ms. Smith was a 2017 finalist in the Samuel J. Heyman Service 
to America award for management excellence.
  She also implemented key components of the Trade Facilitation and 
Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) of 2015, the first comprehensive 
authorization of CBP since the agency's creation in 2003. Ms. Smith led 
CBP's implementation of the Enforce and Protect Act of 2015, increasing 
the transparency and effectiveness of CBP's enforcement of antidumping/
countervailing duty orders, and, following the repeal of a critical 
loophole, CBP's increased focus on enforcement of the import 
prohibition on goods produced using forced, prison, and forced child 
labor.
  Ms. Smith also led U.S. delegations to several partner nations to 
strengthen relationships with customs and human rights officials, 
industry leaders, and non-governmental organizations and bolster 
international safeguards against forced labor. For this work and for 
her focus on strengthening CBP's trade enforcement mission, Ms. Smith 
was honored with a 2017 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank 
Award, the highest award in civil service. In addition to leading a 
number of U.S. delegations, Ms. Smith represented the United States on 
the World Customs Organization Council in 2007 and 2017.
  Ms. Smith also led CBP's implementation of the landmark U.S.-Mexico-
Canada Agreement (USMCA), working with the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) and other federal agencies, as well as the U.S. 
international trade community, to ensure effective and timely delivery 
of key customs provisions of the USMCA.
  Throughout her tenure at CBP and its predecessor, Ms. Smith always 
took the time to be responsive to Member questions and concerns, making 
herself available for regular briefings.
  Prior to joining Customs, Ms. Smith worked at the Department of the 
Treasury. She also served on the staff of the Congressional Office of 
Technology Assessment and subsequently in the personal office of 
Congressman Bernard J. Dwyer of New Jersey. Over the course of her 
career, Ms. Smith received numerous accolades, including a National 
Performance Review ``Hammer Award'' and countless agency awards.
  We wish to congratulate Ms. Smith on her retirement and express our 
sincere appreciation for the many years of service, leadership, and 
accomplishment she has devoted to the U.S. government and the American 
people. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

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