Johnny Isakson

U.S. firms remain sorely underrepresented in the region compared to our competitors.

The way the government transitioned and the Vice President was sworn into the Presidency within 6 to 8 hours and they had a smooth transition of government was a real testimony to democracy in Africa and John Mills' commitment to that.

I appreciate retransmission allowing me to be able to subscribe to cable and see those shows on TV.

The best way to get all the facts on the table are to have hearings like this.

This is an industry that means 10 million jobs $1.3 trillion in total economic activity, and 5.2 percent of the gross domestic product for our economy in 2009 alone, the last year we have data to measure it by.

It's costing American jobs. So what we would ask is, again, if you can pressure DHS and just say, 'Get the rule done.'

You understand how government has a role in making sure we remain competitive.

Well, thank you, Madam Chair.

I think I read it right in your testimony. In 2007, Congress mandated that FAA develop the rules and regulations for foreign repair stations, and they still haven't done it.

Shock, disbelief, dismay, and distrust--stages of grief? No. These are the adjectives that sum up the reaction to the news that Hawker Beechcraft has agreed to sell itself to a Chinese manufacturer for $1.8 billion.

This story underscores what this hearing is about: in a globalized economy Madam Chairman if we don't create the competitive conditions to keep manufacturing like this in the United States, well capitalized foreign entities that see great…

It's very important. And representing a state that's the home to Delta, the busiest airport in the world, Gulfstream and Lockheed Martin, there is no more critical issue in my state than aerospace.

Senator Coons and I met with her in the Foreign Relations hearing room in the Capitol, and we saw exactly that same type of commentary from her.

I would assume that if we fail to renew the third-party fabric agreement in AGOA, that gap will widen.

Senator Isakson, I think your question is absolutely spot on.

I think this would probably be for you. When talking about developing more exports from the United States to Africa, for me, the No. 1 problem in Africa in terms of business development and trade expansion is infrastructure--roads…

I know President Banda in Malawi and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson are doing a tremendous job.

Trade with Africa is important for Africa, but it is equally important for the United States of America.

Well, one of the reasons I have worked, I know Senator Coons has as well, for the extension of the third-party fabric agreement is we actually will be ceding our position and making our position on the continent worse and making China's…

The chairman had a graph showing that China had overtaken the United States as the No. 1 trading partner with Africa.

Hopefully, we will have a bunch of people that are involved in the process that have had problems.

I think it is important to include some our veterans in there.

I want to commend Senator Pryor on the consideration or alternative certification consideration for veterans' skills.

I would strongly encourage the Administration to file a formal Article 84 complaint against the EU on this issue in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

I'm a co-sponsor of the Thune-McCaskill bill and I associated myself with the remarks of Senator McCaskill from Missouri.