[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5708-S5709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING IAN F. FERGUSSON

  Mr. CRAPO. Madam President I rise today to remember and honor Ian F. 
Fergusson, Specialist in International Trade and Finance in the Foreign 
Affairs, Defense and Trade Division of the Congressional Research 
Service, CRS. Ian passed away on Thursday, June 17, after a brief 
serious illness that unfortunately struck at the height of a 
distinguished career of more than 20 years at CRS, serving Congress on 
international trade and economic policy issues.
  Ian exemplified the very best of CRS during his years of direct 
support for Congress. He achieved a remarkable record of accomplishment 
through his many reports, confidential memoranda, committee prints, and 
confidential consultative work for Members and congressional staff. Ian 
played a vital role in Congress's consideration of important 
legislation, including on export

[[Page S5709]]

control reform when I chaired the Senate Banking Committee. He also was 
intricately involved in major trade policy legislation and debates 
before the Senate Finance Committee, including its work on renewing and 
reforming Trade Promotion Authority--TPA--and the committee's and 
Senate's deliberation over the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement--
USMCA.
  There are many more examples of lan's authoritative, nonpartisan, and 
objective expertise and analysis for Congress, including his deep 
knowledge of U.S.-Canada economic relations, the World Trade 
Organization--WTO--and global trading system, and U.S. trade 
agreements. His institutional knowledge of U.S. trade policy and export 
controls was invaluable, especially to the Senate Finance and Senate 
Banking Committees and its members. The breadth and depth of Ian's 
institutional and policy expertise will be truly missed as Congress 
continues work on these important issues.
  I offer my sincere condolences to Ian's family, friends, and his 
colleagues at CRS during this difficult time and hope they may take 
comfort in the knowledge of his indelible contribution to the work of 
Congress on international trade and economic policy.
  Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, I also rise today to recognize the 
service of Ian Fergusson and his contribution to a deeper understanding 
of trade law and policy.
  For decades, Ian provided comprehensive and detailed reports on 
economic history, trade policy, and key legislative authorities. He 
worked on everything from Canada to the World Trade Organization to 
access to medicine. Ian was instrumental in assisting me and my staff 
on numerous occasions as we examined congressional delegation of trade 
authorities, such as TPA, and the workings of multilateral 
institutions, such as the WTO. He also provided clear and concise 
information to support debates on the merits and implementation of U.S. 
trade agreements, including the South Korea--U.S. Free Trade Agreement 
and USMCA and the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership--TPP--agreement.
  I join my colleague in offering my sincere condolences to Ian's 
family, friends, and his colleagues at CRS and will continue to think 
of them during this difficult time.

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