Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), ranking member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, issued the following statement following the confirmation by the U.S. Senate, 82-14, of Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative.

"Ambassador Lighthizer has shared my commitment to fundamentally reform U.S. trade policy and I look forward to working with him to overcome resistance to reform, particularly within his own party.  The United States cannot and should not isolate itself from the rest of the world. We need to engage our trading partners, but we must start doing so in a way that better serves American workers and our manufacturing sector by insisting on reciprocity and fair trade. I believe this Administration in particular needs Ambassador Lighthizer’s firm and steady hand."