The publication is reproduced in full below:
COMMEMORATING THE SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL CAREER OF BRENDA B. SMITH
______
HON. RICHARD E. NEAL
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, as the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, I rise today along with Ranking Member Kevin Brady, to commemorate the successful federal career of Brenda Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Trade. Ms. Smith is retiring after 33 years of government service, including 27 years with CBP and the legacy U.S. Customs Service.
Ms. Smith's leadership at CBP is marked by significant advancements in the agency's trade mission. She spearheaded unprecedented automation and modernization of the U.S. government's import/export system, a renewed focus on preventing duty evasion, intellectual property rights infringement, and importation of goods derived from forced labor, as well as efforts to adapt the agency's trade and revenue workforce for the new pace and challenges of the 21st century trade environment. Ms. Smith also led the development of global e-commerce standards and focus on new technologies like blockchain and advanced analytics.
Under Ms. Smith's leadership, CBP modernized the international trade process, completing development and deployment of the U.S. Single Window and the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)--the electronic portal for exporters and importers to clear shipments across the U.S. border. Ms. Smith took command of the Single Window project, organizing the efforts of 49 federal agencies and partnering with thousands of importers, exports, brokers, and technology developers to successfully deploy the modem, automated system. The Single Window is now a global model, and it has revolutionized the international trade process for U.S. businesses and consumers. In recognition of her leadership on this project, Ms. Smith was a 2017 finalist in the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America award for management excellence.
She also implemented key components of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) of 2015, the first comprehensive authorization of CBP since the agency's creation in 2003. Ms. Smith led CBP's implementation of the Enforce and Protect Act of 2015, increasing the transparency and effectiveness of CBP's enforcement of antidumping/
countervailing duty orders, and, following the repeal of a critical loophole, CBP's increased focus on enforcement of the import prohibition on goods produced using forced, prison, and forced child labor.
Ms. Smith also led U.S. delegations to several partner nations to strengthen relationships with customs and human rights officials, industry leaders, and non-governmental organizations and bolster international safeguards against forced labor. For this work and for her focus on strengthening CBP's trade enforcement mission, Ms. Smith was honored with a 2017 Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, the highest award in civil service. In addition to leading a number of U.S. delegations, Ms. Smith represented the United States on the World Customs Organization Council in 2007 and 2017.
Ms. Smith also led CBP's implementation of the landmark U.S.-Mexico-
Canada Agreement (USMCA), working with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and other federal agencies, as well as the U.S. international trade community, to ensure effective and timely delivery of key customs provisions of the USMCA.
Throughout her tenure at CBP and its predecessor, Ms. Smith always took the time to be responsive to Member questions and concerns, making herself available for regular briefings.
Prior to joining Customs, Ms. Smith worked at the Department of the Treasury. She also served on the staff of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and subsequently in the personal office of Congressman Bernard J. Dwyer of New Jersey. Over the course of her career, Ms. Smith received numerous accolades, including a National Performance Review ``Hammer Award'' and countless agency awards.
We wish to congratulate Ms. Smith on her retirement and express our sincere appreciation for the many years of service, leadership, and accomplishment she has devoted to the U.S. government and the American people. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 50
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