[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NOMINATION OF KATHERINE C. TAI

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, fortunately, the Senate will first be 
confirming a thoroughly qualified nominee to be the new 
administration's top trade official.
  Katherine Tai is just the kind of qualified and mainstream person who 
is positioned to serve President Biden and the country quite well. That 
is why she received broad bipartisan support from the Finance Committee 
and why the vote to advance her nomination yesterday was 98 to 0.
  I look forward to working with Ms. Tai to embrace trade and push back 
on abusive practices from China and other anticompetitive countries.
  Trade is a huge strength of America. It drives job creation and 
economic growth. Just look at my home State, for example. Exports 
support more than 140,000 jobs in Kentucky. Hard-working Kentuckians 
supply nearly 200 countries with everything from agricultural goods to 
medicines, to aerospace parts and motor vehicles.
  In the last Congress, we modernized our trade with our neighbors to 
the north and south through the USMCA. We gave Kentucky farmers, 
workers, and consumers a long-awaited boost.
  But our job creators still face unfair barriers, including those 
targeting American spirits. The Bluegrass is proud to craft 95 percent 
of the world's bourbon, but, currently, tariffs put Kentucky distillers 
at a disadvantage in their largest export markets.
  Ms. Tai should address these unfair international headwinds facing 
Kentuckians. I would encourage her to focus on expanding markets and 
reducing barriers for products and services from all 50 States.
  Americans would welcome the growth in opportunity and prosperity. 
And, if you ask me, the whole world could benefit from a little more 
Kentucky bourbon

                          ____________________