President Obama Nominates John Bryson for Commerce Secretary

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June 3, 2011

President Obama announced on May 31, 2011, that he will nominate John Bryson as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s new Secretary. Bryson was Chairman and C.E.O. of Edison International from 1990-2008 and then became director of Boeing Co. and Walt Disney Co. In addition to working with manufacturing companies, he is also co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council and succeeded in making clean energy (solar and wind power) in a profitable manner. President Obama has tapped Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to be the next U.S. ambassador to China.

 

At Commerce Bryson aims to push the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the global economy, foster more trade opportunities for U.S. goods and services by liberalizing new foreign markets, and create jobs at home. He will strive to double American exports while overseeing the National Export Initiative in the next few years. President Obama believes Bryson is a good candidate because of his years of experience in both the private and public sectors, and his environmental activism.

 

Congress, however, may block Bryson’s confirmation over a dispute with the Administration regarding the President’s trade agenda. In March, 44 Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), announced that they would not accept any nominees for Secretary of Commerce until Obama submits the pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. 

 

For further information, continue to visit www.barnesrichardson.com