Serving his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Henry Cuellar proudly represents Texas’ 28th congressional district, which includes the cities of Laredo, Mission, Rio Grande City, and San Antonio. Congressman Cuellar supports equal opportunity for men and women of all backgrounds. His legislative principles are based on the belief that education, family values and hard work should open doors to new opportunities for all Americans.
Congressman Cuellar serves as the only Texas Democrat on the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee. He is the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, while also serving on the Defense Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Congressman Cuellar was named Chief Deputy Whip for the 117th Congress, where he works in a bipartisan manner to serve the American people.
As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, which oversees all federal funding for agricultural programs, Congressman Cuellar has taken proactive stances on agricultural issues of critical importance to the 28th District of Texas’ rural communities. The Agriculture Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Credit Administration, Farm Credit System Financial Assistance Corporation, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It provides funding for farmers, ranchers, rural development, small business development, nutrition programs, food banks, school lunches, telemedicine equipment, computers, software and construction broadband facilities.
Over the years, he has worked closely with the Texas Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to secure funding to fight cattle fever ticks, to combat the citrus greening disease, and secure drought relief and assistance for Texas farm owners. In 2018, he strongly supported H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill. The measure extended all federally funded agricultural and nutritional programs for five additional years. This not only included support for farmers and ranchers in Texas, but across the U.S.
Congressman Cuellar continues to focus on providing ample funding to the USDA’s Rural Development Agency. Among many initiatives, this Agency helps support innovative projects that address the opioid crisis in rural America. This year, the Congressman ensured the Department received $50 million for its Rural Community Facilities Program Grants. Additionally, more than $1 billion was appropriated through the Congressman’s “10-20-30” program language. This directs USDA and the Department of Interior to prioritize and set aside at least 10 percent of federal funding through specific programs for counties where 20 percent or more of the population has lived in poverty over the past 30 years (“persistent poverty areas”).
Congressman Cuellar understands the important role the Agriculture Subcommittee plays in providing all Americans with the safest, most abundant food source in the world as well as the support it offers to America’s farmers and ranchers. His appointment to the Subcommittee will allow him to more actively take part in addressing agricultural issues of critical importance to rural communities, in the 28th Congressional District of Texas, and across the country.
Federal Funding
In the 116th Congress, Congressman Cuellar serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee as the only Texas Democrat. The Committee oversees federal budget allocations, reviewing proposed expenditures and crafting the legislation that outlines annual spending for government agencies. Within this committee, Congressman Cuellar is the Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. He also serves on the Defense Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. His legislative priorities have made him a champion for government transparency and accountability, authoring and passing measures in Congress reforming federal agency procedures and eliminating bureaucratic redundancy.
Congressman Cuellar believes education is an investment in the future of our nation. By providing necessary resources, such as student aid, he helps ensure South Texas students are afforded an education leading to professional success and the development of well-rounded individuals. Congressman Cuellar is committed to investing in schools, teachers, and students today for the future of America.
As the most degreed Member of Congress, he strongly supports the education community. He continues to ensure ample funding for underrepresented public schools, protecting low-income and at-risk students, and promote college affordability, creating a high-skilled, 21st-century workforce prepared for the rigors of a competitive global marketplace. Education is the foundation on which the U.S. economy and democracy rest.
Congressman Cuellar authored the TEXAS Grant program – the largest in Texas history – that today gives thousands of students the opportunity to achieve a college education. He helped secure funding for Pell Grants and a $100 increase in the maximum annual award per student through the Appropriations Committee. He also included funding to expand education programs for low-income students in the 28th District of Texas, such as the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and Federal TRiO programs. Furthermore, he secured language that helps establish partnerships with higher education institutions, including Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other minority serving institutions.
Additionally, he fought to secure funding towards the State Agency Program for Migrant Education. This program supports special educational and related services for children of migrant agricultural workers and fishermen. These funds are critical to families who make their living in agriculture and whose children should not be penalized in any manner due to frequent relocations. In order to fuel domestic growth and lower unemployment rates, Congressman Cuellar believes we need to support all children’s futures, while generating a thriving workforce that is globally competitive.
Congressman Cuellar supports domestic energy as a means to support U.S. energy and economic independence. By balancing our energy needs with the availability of domestic resources, we can help minimize global environmental impact and maximize American self-sufficiency. Congressman Cuellar believes the U.S. has numerous domestic energy resources which can be better utilized, and Congress must continue making investments in all forms of domestic energy production, including oil, natural gas, wind, solar and other alternative energy fuels. This will facilitate sustained economic growth in Texas and the rest of the country.
The 28th Congressional District of Texas, is both the 6th largest oil producing and 4th largest natural gas producing district in the state. It includes a large portion of the Eagle Ford Shale reserves; one of the most productive natural gas fields in the country. In order to support this production, last year, Congressmen Cuellar helped secure $13 million in federal funding towards the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). CIP is a USACE project to expand the Port’s ship channels, allowing vessels to navigate the channel safely, meeting surging global demand for U.S. produced oil and natural gas. The Port of Corpus Christi is the largest export port of U.S. produced crude oil and is a major export hub for U.S. energy products.
As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Congressman Cuellar has committed himself to allocating hard-earned taxpayer dollars efficiently, and holding the Department of Defense to a high standard in overseeing how those funds are spent and how they directly benefit those in his district.
Congressman Cuellar has helped fund the U.S.’s cybersecurity and cyber defense systems and continues to support the industry in his district. The 24th and 25th Air Force are located in Texas’ 28th congressional district at JBSA-Lackland. Additionally, San Antonio is building a Cyber Innovation Center to further public-private partnerships. This industry is fueled by local San Antonio colleges and universities and their dynamic cybersecurity programs. Furthermore, JBSA-Randolph, also located in Congressman Cuellar’s district, plays a vital role in training Air Force pilots.
Congressman Cuellar also strongly supports educational opportunities for Minority and Hispanic students within the military. He believes the U.S. must increase the science and math educational programs offered to these students. He also has urged the Department of Defense to continue to open opportunities for partnerships with local area hospitals. He is focused on the health needs of military members to ensure they have the care they deserve. He continues to work to ensure that these opportunities are created and positively influence and care for our active duty servicemen and women.
Health Care in the 28th District of Texas
The 28th District of Texas faces unique health care challenges. The district has a large number of residents who live in medically underserved minority and rural communities. These communities also have a large number of children and parents who are either uninsured or underinsured. Elderly residents depend on Medicare and Medicaid, in addition to other sources of federal funding.
While in the Texas Legislature, Congressman Cuellar was the coauthor of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) pilot program in Texas that has expanded coverage to hundreds of thousands of Texas children. Since being elected to Congress, he has worked to support America's health care system through legislation and federal grant opportunities. He is a strong supporter of our community health clinics and those medical centers which play a vital role in delivering health care, primary care and preventative care to our region.
For his continued work in health care, Congressman Cuellar has received numerous awards from the health care industry and has successfully worked to bring federal investments to local health care centers in the 28th District of Texas. To help support community health, Congressman Cuellar worked on the Appropriations Committee to secure over a billion dollars for Community Health Centers. Additionally, he pushed for the inclusion of funding for Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) in order to reduce child and youth mortality and morbidity resulting from severe illness or trauma.
Congressman Cuellar has been a champion for the expansion of health care coverage throughout his district, especially in underserved colonia areas along the border. Additionally, thousands of elderly Texans rely on Medicare to safeguard their physical health during their retirement years. Congressman Cuellar is committed to strengthening Medicare for our seniors and seeing that the federal government honors that obligation.
As a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Congressman Cuellar is dedicated to reducing the nation's deficit through increasing Congressional federal spending oversight and reforming trade and transport regulatory policies. Additionally, as Chairman and founder of the bi-partisan House Pro-Trade Caucus, Congressman Cuellar is widely regarded as a national trade expert in Washington D.C. What informs these two related policy areas is the unique needs and profile of Texas’ 28th District. As a Representative of a district on the U.S.-Mexico border, he balances the interests of communities which are dependent both on international trade and small town economies.
Congressman’s Cuellar’s district contains the nation’s largest inland port of entry. Laredo is the gateway to U.S. freight trade with Mexico and Central America. Across Texas, businesses and communities alike applaud his support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement. As the largest exporter of goods in the nation, Texas currently grosses more than $100 billion a year by conducting trade with other nations.
Separately, his district has a need for unique fiscal resources in order to supply their burgeoning small business industries. Congressman Cuellar believes in thoughtful banking and loan regulatory policies that are tailored to exclude unnecessarily constraining small financial institutions from supplying funding to his district. To supplement these private funding resources, he has committed himself to providing sources of federal funding for small businesses.
Congressman Cuellar included funding in the Appropriations Committee for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), which provided local, in-person counseling and training services for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the country. Additionally, he ensured funding was added to the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which facilitates access to the investment capital and financial services that underserved communities need to prosper. He continues to support local economies, privately owned businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines South Texas.
Standing By Veterans
Congressman Cuellar believes we have an obligation to care for and honor America’s veterans and their families for their undeniable service. This includes securing new benefits to American veterans and increasing their support systems at home. In the U.S. House of Representative’s fiscal year 2019 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, he secured language encouraging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with local service agencies, particularly in small and rural communities, to ensure that voucher recipients of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH) receive quality services.
He has worked to upgrade the GI Bill, increase funding for veteran health services, introduce caregiver support measures, and revitalize the VA Home Loan program. He has also had the privilege of honoring our veteran military personnel through the dedication of several federal post office buildings.
This year, in the House Appropriations Committee, the Congressman has helped secure over $108 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an increase of $7.8 billion – nine percent – over the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. This includes funding to increase access to services for veterans, and to increase oversight and accountability within the department. The Congressman also worked through the appropriations process to help expand tele-medicine to rural areas. His language will help promote the use of electronic and telecommunications technologies to support remote health care delivery for those veterans who cannot easily access a doctor’s office.
Congressman Cuellar has always recognized the increased need for transportation infrastructure trade facilitation in Texas’ 28th Congressional District. He continues to work in Congress to secure necessary federal funding to complete numerous critical projects across South Texas.
The Congressman has sought to allow for automated pre-screening and inspection data collection of U.S.-bound cargo earlier in the supply chain. At the border, he is funding the automatization certain functions allowing CBP Officers to focus inspection skills on high-risk enforcement, security and compliance shipments. This includes integrating technologies such as robust WIFI capability, Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID), drive through multi-energy truck portal X-ray systems and other CBP cargo processing systems into a common software package, and include modern traffic control queueing systems.
He has also helped to build an air traffic control tower with an operations center, X-Ray Image analysis stations, and cameras to monitor activities through the compound in real time and provide managers with container status at any point. This includes a state-of-the-art Inspection and Technology Training Center and Agricultural Laboratory. His goal is to maximize joint inspections with other U.S. Federal, State, and Mexico Customs partners to the greatest extent possible by providing flexible and scale-able inspection areas to meet future needs including bypass lanes.
Congressman Cuellar has helped secure over $100 million in investments for expansion and improvements of the World Trade International Bridge in Laredo, which is the largest in land port of entry of the United States. This has led to more efficient processing, increased cargo capacity and reduced wait times. Federally funded infrastructure at the border, such as this, create millions of additional dollars in economic output and create jobs, while securing Texas’ 28th District as a world trade hub. The World Trade Bridge facilitates over $300 billion in trade through the transport of over 2 million trucks crossing annually.
The Congressman has helped facilitate the awarding of over $181 million in federal grants to the Laredo International Airport. This support has allowed for infrastructure improvements that will continue to attract international trade revenue to local communities, while increasing the overall safety and efficiency of the airport. Additionally, Congressman Cuellar included funding and language in the FY20 Energy and Water Development bill to support water infrastructure projects such as Mission Reach and Chacon Creek and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP).
The Congressman wholeheartedly supports these robust infrastructure efforts due to South Texas’ continued economic boom based on surging international trade markets. He believes it is essential to continue to capitalize on the nearly $1.7 billion in goods that flow across the border every day. In 2018, trade between the U.S. and Mexico exceeded $611.5 billion. In 2018, there was $265 billion in U.S. exports to Mexico and $346.5 billion in imports from Mexico. The Congressman intends to continue to facilitate access to these sources of economic prosperity for Texas’ 28th District and the entirety of the U.S.
As past Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I am engaged and actively pursuing those security measures which better protect the American people from the spectrum of 21st Century threats we face today.
Now more than ever, we have to shore up our Homeland Security efforts in all aspects of American travel, commerce and living. As a native to the nation's southern international border, I understand how vital it is to secure our border from the security challenges of today.
This is why I believe in coordinating the collaborative efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to better protect our border and to respond to the evolving threats and violence associated with drug trafficking, human trafficking, weapons smuggling, terrorism, arms trades and cash and contraband movement across our nation's borders.
As the former Chairman to the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, I've been an active partner in preparing our nation's first responders, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as we work together to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other national emergencies.
Leadership at Home
Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, I understand how important it is to secure our nation's borders and balance our nation's trade. Since coming to Congress in 2005, I've fought hard for additional federal funding for our nation's Land Ports of Entry (LOE).
By bolstering our on the ground customs and passenger security and screening measures, we ensure what comes in and out of our country is safe for the American people.
It takes good coordination to collaborate our efforts between the United States and Mexico. This is why in 2009, the House, the Senate and the President signed into law legislation I authored calling for a high-level commission between the United States and Mexico. This partnership will create a bilateral information alliance to streamline law enforcement initiatives between our two nations as we collectively protect our shared border.
Since coming to Congress, I've authored dozens of border security-related bills, including H.R. 1437 the Southern Border Security Taskforce Act of 2009 which directs DHS to create a security task force to coordinate the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement officials to protect U.S. Border Cities from the violence associated with drug trafficking.
In December 2009, this legislation was included in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP), a bill that also falls into the jurisdiction fo the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.
Also in 2009, the House passed legislation I authored calling for a U.S. Coast Guard mission analysis to determine the Coast Guard's presence along the Rio Grande. The 1,800 mile river and international waterway separates the U.S. and Mexico and is vitally important to the interdiction of drugs, weapons and contraband.
Securing Our Communities
As former Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I called on Customs and Border Protection to move swiftly in February 2010 towards deploying an unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle along the Texas-Mexico Border to gather critical intelligence information to help secure Texas against drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and potential threats of terrorism.
After working with bipartisan lawmakers from across the state, in addition to meetings with the then head of the Federal Aviation Administration, CBP Commissioner Alan Bersin and Secretary Janet Napolitano, on June 23, 2010, FAA approved the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the Texas-Mexico border between El Paso and Brownsville, in addition to the Texas Gulf Coast.
This UAV has been the first of its kind in Texas and monitors the southern Texas Border along the Rio Grande, in addition to the coastal waters of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, this aircraft forced multiplier for our federal, state and local law enforcement on the ground. The UAV has permanently operated from and above Texas to help combat illegal activity along our border with Mexico.
Since 2005, UAVs have patrolled the Southern Border outside of Texas and I believe that having eyes in the skies along remote sections of our borders has helped us further augment the good work of CBP and help protect our nation's CBP officers on the ground.
To read more about why I'm working with CBP to bring a border UAV to Texas, please click here.
As we work to repair and restore the nation's economy, it is important to stabilize American jobs to stem the tide of rising unemployment. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress has helped fill budget shortfalls in Texas in vitally important areas such as education and transportation. This has helped save or create thousands of jobs for hard-working Texans.
In 2010, the House passed a Jobs Bill to help businesses hire and retain new workers who were previously unemployed. By giving tax credits and deductions to American businesses and small businesses, we help keep their doors open while putting Americans back to work. Tax cuts are vitally important to small businesses in hard economic times.
Congressman Cuellar is a current Member of the Blue Dog Coalition, the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition in Congress. This democratic coalition is committed to restoring responsible spending in Washington and they've worked hard to bring back the budget rules of the 1990s which helped turned then record deficits into record surpluses.
In the 111th Congress, the Blue Dog Coalition championed the return of Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Spending Rules for Congress. PAYGO spending rules helped create a projected $5.6 trillion surplus in 2001 by ensuring that every dollar spent is offset by another dollar of savings elsewhere. Unfortunately in 2002, Congress let PAYGO rules expire and by 2010, the nation saw a record $12 trillion deficit.
Congress and the President brought PAYGO back into law, by passing the vitally important legislation through both the House and Senate.
HR 2142, the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act?, is legislation authored by Congressman Henry Cuellar and was recently signed into law on January 4, 2011.
This law would require Federal agencies to set clear performance goals that can be accurately measured and publicly reported in a more transparent way. It brings accountability and more information on what works and what does not work in the government for lawmakers to make better informed budgetary decisions.
For more than 40 years, Medicare has offered critical health and financial stability for our nation’s seniors. Over 45 million beneficiaries have received Medicare coverage. Many seniors and those with disabilities rely on Medicare to improve their quality of life and I will continue to stand-up for your benefits in Washington. The health care reform law, Affordable Care Act, is intended to strengthen your health benefits and ensure Medicare’s stability for the future.
Health Insurance Reform at a Glance
Strengthening Medicare
This health reform law contains substantial payment and delivery system reforms that reward efficient delivery of quality care and change the incentives in today’s health care system to encourage value instead of simply volume. It makes investments that will enable beneficiaries to continue to access high-quality, affordable care, while encouraging prevention and care coordination for those with chronic conditions. These efforts will help modernize the program and strengthen Medicare’s financial health, protecting both beneficiaries and taxpayers.
More seniors and people with disabilities are seeing lower costs with Medicare - whether through discounts on brand-name drugs or preventative services - because of the health care reforms. Those with Medicare are afforded the opportunity to take charge of their health through the provided benefits, better choices and reduced costs.
Tax Cuts for Working Families
Everyday, hard-working Americans make hard earned dollars to provide for their families. That's why I support fiscal responsibility tax cuts that serve as an engine of economic growth. In 2009, I was proud to support legislation which created tax cuts for 95% of all hard-working Americans.
Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress in 2009, over $4.2 billion worth of low to middle income tax cuts benefitted Texans across the state, including 274,000 families in the 28th Congressional District.
Learn more about these tax cuts: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html
Tax Relief for Americans
I support tax cuts for America’s working families – especially when it leads to economic job growth. That's why I support extending the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for the middle class. In addition, I support preventing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) from hitting millions of middle income Americans.
In the 112th Congress, I authored a tax cut bill, H.R. 1601, that would make permanent tax breaks for hard working teachers, active and reserve military personnel, charitable donations and state and local sales taxes. Along with authoring legislation, I voted for small business tax cuts
in the 111th Congress.
In 2009 I helped pass a $31 million dollar tax extender bill through the House of Representatives. The individual tax deductions will bring an estimated $5 billion worth of tax credits back to Americans, providing up to 30 million homeowners with property tax relief, 4.5 million families with college tuition-related deductions and saves 3.4 million teachers money for their classroom expenses.
The bill also extends a tax credit for small businesses who continue to pay National Guard and Reserve employees when they are called up to serve.
Empowerment Zones
In Texas, our rural communities face a unique set of challenges. That's why I strongly support and sponsored several parts of important legislation extend tax credits for Texas’ low-income rural and urban community “Empowerment Zones.” These areas can apply to receive favorable tax credits to boost local job growth and stimulate local economies, jobs and development.
Parts of the Rio Grande Valley and the City of Cotulla, Texas are considered “Empowerment Zones” and currently Cotulla receives these tax breaks within the 28th Congressional District.
Tax breaks to underserved communities give them the leg up they need to spawn growth in their communities. Saving tax dollars means more money can be invested in the community to attract development and spawn economic growth within their cities.
The extensions would also serve as a boon to the sluggish real estate and retail development markets, providing property tax credits for homeowners and $5 billion worth of incentives to encourage improvements to retail stores, constructions of restaurants and improvements to local development.
Learn more about Empowerment Zones here: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/ezec/About/taxincentives2003.pdf
Common Sense Tax Credits
In 2009, I introduced H.R. 4201, a bill that extends charitable donations of books to public book inventories. We should continue to encourage and provide tax incentives to Americans who aim to improve education opportunities for our nation’s children.
I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 3758, the Teacher Tax Relief Act, which would permanently increase the maximum deduction teachers are allowed to claim for the purchase of classroom supplies from $250 to $500.
Our teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets every year on materials they and their students need in order to facilitate the learning process. In fact, according to the National School Supply and Equipment Association, during the 2005-2006 school year, teachers spent an average of $826 for supplies and $926 for instructional materials-for a total of $1,752.
With state education budgets being slashed around the country, teachers will again be called upon to purchase the supplies needed to help educate our children, and H.R. 3758 will lift some of this financial burden off their backs.
Trade and Texas
Congressman Cuellar is a proud supporter of free trade and has witnessed first-hand how free trade has transformed Texas. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has given rise to the greatest display of economic growth in the history of South Texas. That agreement, known as NAFTA, links the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Congressman Cuellar believes that the advancement of new trade policies will expand opportunities for American businesses, workers and farmers.
Trade Moving Forward
Congressman Cuellar is a proud supporter of many trade agreements, including NAFTA and CAFTA, the Andean Agreements and the Peru Trade Promotion Agreements. Congressman Cuellar has also urged the Obama Administration to pass the Panama, Colombia, and Korea Free Trade Agreements.
Moving forward, Congressman Cuellar strongly supports the re-institution of the fast-track authority for the President to negotiate trade agreements. This authority will help expedite the future of American trade and will help level the playing field so American exports can experience the same benefits we extend to other countries' imports into the United States.
Advocate for Trade
Congressman Cuellar is a member of the Friends of Panama Caucus and is co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Colombia.
In 2009, Congressman Cuellar founded the bi-partisan Congressional Pro-Trade Caucus (CPTC).
The CPTC is dedicated to building a bi-partisan coalition to advance an international trade policy that keeps America competitive in the world. The CPTC works the Administration and the United States Trade Representative as closely as it does with the organizations and businesses affected by trade and foreign embassies, hosting briefings, meetings and events that promote trade.