REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY - SANDY K. BARUAH, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS (NALEO) DISNEY CONTEMPORARY RESORT – ORLANDO, FLORIDA - (ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY GUTIERREZ)

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2007

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

(Introduction by Rita DiMartino, NALEO Board)

Rita, thank you for that gracious introduction. It is my pleasure to be here with the members of NALEO and to be here on behalf of Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.

Secretary Gutierrez was looking forward to being here today. But, as you know, at President Bush’s request, for months he has been intensely involved in negotiations on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. In fact, a senior White House aide recently said that Carlos Gutierrez was spending so much time on Capitol Hill talking about the immigration issue, he could qualify as a tenant of the Capitol. Let’s just hope the Congress doesn’t send us a rent bill. Clearly, this is an issue both the President and the Secretary care deeply about – and I am proud to work for these two men who are ready, willing, and able to put their reputations and political capital on-the-line in order to resolve a sensitive yet critically important issue.

Of course, the vote in the Senate yesterday on immigration reform was disappointing.

As President Bush said yesterday, a lot of people worked hard on this comprehensive immigration reform bill. In addition to Secretary Gutierrez, Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff, members of the White House staff, and others had many, many intense meetings on Capitol Hill as a bipartisan compromise was developed.

Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to reach agreement on the legislation, which would have strengthened our national and economic security and brought millions of undocumented workers out of the shadows.

The issue of immigration continues to be one of the top concerns of the American people – and the Congress needs to prove that they can indeed come together and resolve the hard issues before our nation. While action on immigration reform may not be forthcoming from the Congress, energy…health care…and the yearly budget process still await action. There is a lot of work to do in Washington.

NALEO & COMMERCE

As I stand here before you – myself a first-generation American – I am impressed with what NALEO has accomplished:

• You have established a growing constituency of over 6,000 officials – demonstrating that Latino leaders are indeed leading – earning the trust and confidence of the public.

• You have accepted the responsibilities that leadership demands – being a strong and trusted voice for America, not just a handful of Americans.

• And you are committed to building stronger and healthier communities, and raising the standard of living of those you serve, a mission I share as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development.

Each of you is making a difference for our country and I thank you for your commitment to service.

The U.S. Department of Commerce interacts with your communities in numerous ways each and every day.

• Our Economic Development Administration works with communities that are not fully participating in the American dream, and looks for ways to spur the powerful economic forces of entrepreneurship and innovation to make communities more competitive in the world-wide marketplace.

• Our Minority Business Development Agency works with minority and women-owned enterprises to help ensure they have the technical support they need to get started and access to capital.

• Our International Trade Administration works to ensure that U.S. companies – regardless of where they are – have a fair playing field in which to sell their goods and services across the globe.

• Our National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts our weather and ensures that our communities have maximum warning before dangerous weather approaches.

• Our Census Bureau counts us – every 10 years – and let me take this opportunity to stress how important this activity is to America and to the communities you serve.

CENSUS BUREAU

First, on behalf of the Secretary, let me thank NALEO and Arturo Vargas for participating in the Census 2010 Advisory Committee.

The Census Bureau is charged with counting every single person living in America – regardless of citizenship. It’s important for people to know that the Census Bureau doesn’t share its records with other government agencies. This is an important message for everyone to understand.

A complete count is needed because Census numbers are used for everything from congressional apportionment…to determining where new schools and hospitals are needed…to deciding where businesses invest and establish operations.

We are gearing up now for the 2010 Census, and I’m pleased to report that the upcoming survey is expected to be the shortest and easiest since the first Census in 1790.

And, as Mr. Vargas can tell you, the Census Bureau is working hard to determine how to best formulate questions on race and ethnic background, and how to best interact with non-English speakers.

To help the Department conduct the most accurate decennial Census ever, recent appointees include:

• Teresa Angueira, associate director for the entire Census;

• Marilia Matos, associate director for field operations, which will include the largest non-military mobilization of workers ever; and

• Gabriel Sanchez, regional Census director for Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Commerce Department and the nation are very fortunate to have these highly qualified people on the Census team.

OPENING MARKETS FOR U.S. COMPANIES

Of course, the prime focus of the Commerce Department is to help ensure that U.S. businesses are prepared for the competitive environment of the world-wide marketplace – and part of that task is opening new markets for U.S. companies.

In 2006, U.S. exports of goods and services reached an all time record high of over $1.4 trillion dollars. These exports support millions of American jobs.

When President Bush took office we had free trade agreement with only 3 countries. As of today we’ve implemented free trade agreements with 11 countries. Just this week, we’ve moved forward on an agreement with Peru, and the United States and Panama signed a Trade Promotion Agreement. And we’re also pushing for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round and for passage of Free Trade Agreements with Columbia and Korea.

More than 95% of the world’s consumers live outside our borders. And consider this: While Free Trade Agreement countries make up only 7% of the rest of the world’s GDP (excluding the USA), more than 42% of all U.S. exports go to our FTA partners.

Here’s another stat recently released by the Financial Services Forum Policy Research Group: The standard of living in the United States is $1 trillion higher per year because of our country’s engagement in the world-wide marketplace. That translates into about $10,000 in annual income to the average U.S. household.

The times in our past when we have turned inward and adopted protectionist or isolationist policies; we have suffered. Our economic growth slows. Opportunity is limited and American families pay the price.

Today, in our Tom Friedman-the-world-is-flat-reality, our competition isn’t necessarily from the company next door, or the city or county next door. Our competition comes from any person on any point on this globe with a good idea, a good education, and a good internet connection. America wins when we play – but in order to win, we must be in the game, not on the sidelines.

Trade Promotion Authority is critical to opening markets and getting American companies in the game. Selling U.S. goods and services around the world supports American jobs and American prosperity. Trade Promotion Authority is important and no president should go without it. We remain hopeful that Congress will renew Trade Promotion Authority – a tool supported by and provided to – presidents of both parties.

CONCLUSION

It’s a big agenda. There is a lot of serious work to be done in Washington. From the upcoming Census, to economic development, to opening global markets, to reauthorizing No Child Left Behind, to helping to craft immigration reform legislation, the Commerce Department is working to get things done – and with the leadership of Secretary Gutierrez and President Bush, I am confident that we can arrive at solutions that work and move our country forward.

It has been my distinct pleasure to be with you this afternoon on behalf of Secretary Gutierrez. I applaud NALEO’s accomplishments, and your commitment to advancing economic opportunity in the communities that you serve.

The President sees economic opportunity as vital to ensuring that this country extends hope to every neighborhood, and every citizen. And he and the Department of Commerce stand ready to work with you on this shared goal.

Thank your for sharing some of your time at the “happiest place on earth” with me.

# # #