Wyden Statement on the Nominations of Robert Holleyman and Cary Pugh

As Prepared for Delivery

Today the Finance Committee will consider two nominees – Robert Holleyman, who is nominated to be Deputy United States Trade Representative at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and Cary Pugh, nominated to be a judge for the U.S. Tax Court.

First is Robert Holleyman. If confirmed as Deputy USTR, Mr. Holleyman will be responsible for a broad portfolio of issues, including trade issues affecting U.S. service providers and intellectual property rights owners, as well as the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the broader U.S. trade relationship with Asia, including China. It is essential that the U.S. has a Deputy USTR in place given the critical juncture of the TPP negotiations and the many challenges that U.S. companies face in China and across the region.

Mr. Holleyman has had a long career in the technology industry, from which he brings a valuable perspective on the importance of digital trade to the American economy. And he has years of experience on the ground working to expand access to markets such as India and China.

Digital trade has rapidly emerged as a major source of economic growth and innovation, and it is fundamentally reorganizing how goods and services are made and traded across borders. As significant trade agreements are taking shape, it is essential that USTR provide global leadership in the development of rules that make sense for a 21st century digital economy. I am eager to work with USTR, and Mr. Holleyman, if confirmed, as they work to adapt trade agreements to these new challenges.

Mr. Holleyman also has experience on Capitol Hill, where he has worked in both the majority and the minority and served as senior counsel on the Senate Commerce Committee. Understanding how to work effectively with Congress is an essential skill in the role for which he is nominated.

Also with us today is Cary Pugh, who is nominated to be a judge on the U.S. Tax Court. The Tax Court serves as the judicial backbone of the federal tax code. The 19 judges who make up the court have a challenging mission that requires them to travel all around the country. While it may be difficult, these judges do indispensable work to ensure that taxpayers’ voices are heard and the nation’s tax laws are enforced in a fair and effective manner.

Ms. Pugh comes to this task well-prepared. She has served in a variety of roles, including time at the IRS and right here on the Finance Committee staff. She has also spent time working in the private sector. Such a range of experiences and knowledge will serve her well as she adjudicates the nation’s tax cases.

I thank both of the nominees for coming before the committee this morning, and I look forward to hearing from each of you.

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