Max Baucus: “I rise today to thank Greg Mastel for his work as the Finance Committee's chief trade adviser and chief economist during…”

“I rise today to thank Greg Mastel for his work as the Finance Committee's chief trade adviser and chief economist during the 107th Congress. I asked Greg to rejoin my staff in early 2001 with two specific goals in mind--significantly expanding the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and reinstating fast-track trade negotiating authority for the President. To me, these are the twin pillars of U.S. trade policy. If the United States was to move beyond the logjam that had stalled progress on trade for nearly a decade, both of these programs needed to be in place. Thanks in large part to Greg's hard work, both of those goals were achieved. In August of last year, the President signed into law the Trade Act of 2002. Not only did it restore fast track to the President, it also created the largest expansion of Trade Adjustment Assistance in that program's history. The Trade Act of 2002 is the most significant piece of trade legislation to come out of the Congress in over a decade. And it would not have happened without the skilled guidance and steady hand that Greg showed every step of the way.”