Thank you, Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Booker, and to my other colleagues, Senators Klobuchar, Hassan, Blumenthal, Young, and Hassan, who are here.

We need a strategy, and that strategy has to include what our goals are for the region.

keeping those sea lanes open obviously has a major impact on international commerce

the image we wish to project is as a country continually maintaining a commitment to the region

These are tumultuous times all over the world. Are they not? And Asia is no exception.

I am just honored to have Bobby Orr among us.

I am glad that we are here. You are a guy--although you are a Floridian now--who does hail from the Buckeye State.

You stood up, both in your roles in government and in the private sector.

You have been an advocate for balanced trade--and the importance of trade exports was talked about today, and that trade expansion is critical to middle-class jobs in my home State of Ohio.

You have the Hill experience. You also have the experience at USTR and the experience of working with the private sector on some of these tough trade issues.

There are significant management challenges that remain.