Exports Matter: The World Wants What We Make

Statement

Making it easier for Americans to own a small business to create jobs in our communities should be a priority in Congress. However, helping a start-up with certain tax breaks and other incentives is only part of the equation for a small business success story. Any business professional will agree; reaching out to new markets is a key factor for economic growth and sustainability of a business.

Over 95% of global economic consumers reside outside of our borders. This economic reality makes it important that small businesses here in the Inland Empire have the necessary tools and resources to tap into these markets. As a member of Congress, I have made jobs and the economy my priority to make sure that businesses in the Inland Empire receive the resources needed to export goods to this large portion of consumers that reside outside of our borders.

Last month, I led a number of requests for sufficient investments to the International Trade Administration to fund US Foreign and Commercial Service Programs that help businesses increase sales to new global markets. Every U.S. business experiences competition from foreign markets. To compete with those markets, I am fully supportive of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP). The MEP Program helps businesses improve workforce capabilities and capacity, and become more sustainable. To protect manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by international trade agreements, I have requested sufficient funding for the Economic Development Administration for Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program. This program provides technical assistance to U.S. businesses that have lost sales and employment due to increased imports of similar goods and services.

Later this month, I will collaborate with the Department of Commerce and the California Inland Empire District Export Council to host the 2014 Annual Inland Empire World Trade Conference in the city of Ontario. This conference is designed to focus on giving local businesses access to the tools and resources of exporting goods while being a great networking opportunity for local small businesses. In August, I will work with the Export-Import Bank of the United States to host a Global Access Exporter Forum in the city of Ontario. The event is tailored to address the needs of small and medium-sized businesses with 500 or fewer employees.

Expanding into the export market gives local small businesses access to a potential stream of income that protects against fluctuations in the domestic market. By diversifying sales markets to the international community, entrepreneurs in the Inland Empire have a measure of protection that insulates them from competition domestically. I am convinced that the economic potential of the Inland Empire can best be fulfilled by promoting the benefits of exporting.

I want to work with local Inland Empire companies to make sure they have the right tools, resources, and connections to start and continue exporting today. If you are a business owner interested in learning on how to export your product, do not wait any longer. Let's work together to help increase productivity in the Inland Empire by attending these future events.

For more information, please call my district office at (909) 626-2054.

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