I think we believe, at least I believe, let me just speak for myself, that we've given you the green light.

I'm all for not picking one design and moving forward. But I'm also for giving industry some signals as to what designs could potentially be, you know, be accelerated more quickly.

We don't want to leave $1 billion or $2 billion or $3 billion on the table when it can be collected and contribute to our effort and the great challenge that is before this Congress today.

We are trying to grow jobs in America, not lose them.

Four industries accounted for 80 percent?

For that reason alone, we should be more aggressive in collecting duties we are rightly owed.

You also mentioned that China accounted for 90 percent of uncollected duties.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as we all know, has many roles as it protects our country's security, including our economic security, which is sometimes in this Department overlooked.

Our whole delegation is working on it with the other gulf coast Senators. We will continue to push it. It is extremely important.

Because they don't have an ability to surge their personnel or et cetera?

Do you have an estimate of, in your view, having done this review, of what our gap is?

I believe that the Congress should also require continued reporting on the amount of uncollected duties.

Are you hearing complaints or have any evidence to suggest or testimony to give about the health and safety risk associated with some of these products?

I think there is a bigger discussion about whether the current system... can be effectively used.

Our duty is to ensure that your agencies, funded by this subcommittee, are provided the resources needed to do an excellent job in this field to enforce our existing trade laws.

And how long does it last?

I think that is one of the things that Senator Coats and I really want to get to the bottom of in this hearing.

Is our liquidation process working or not working?

A critically underappreciated aspect of the Department's economic security role is enforcement of our Nation's trade laws.

But how long does that rate last?

We are very grateful to Senator Landrieu for her championship on this important issue.

It is an excellent example of public-private partnerships, which the two of us are very supportive of.

But no fines have been assessed. So you all reported them. You did what you were supposed to do.

You rightly noted that the next step was to ensure that all the duties owed under the orders were, in fact, being paid.

We are strong supporters of the retrospective system that we have, as long as Customs and DOC have the tools necessary to collect the duties.