The Hill News

The following is the text of a letter sent Wednesday to President Obama by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Dear Mr. President: 

I am writing to request a status update on your Administration’s trade reorganization efforts. During the State of the Union on January 25, 2011 you noted that 12 U.S. agencies are involved with exports and announced an Administration-wide effort to “develop a proposal to merge, consolidate, and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America. I will submit that proposal to Congress for a vote â€" and we will push to get it passed.” On March 11, 2011 you issued a Memorandum to the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies further detailing your federal government reorganization priorities that was published in the Federal Register. In that memorandum, you stated that, “The first focus of this effort shall be on t! he executive departments and agencies and the functions that support one of our most important priorities â€" increasing trade, exports, and our overall competitiveness.”

Read more...