The United States has long been at the forefront of innovation. 

Senator Blunt currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion.  From this position, he advocates for streamlining the federal government’s export promotion and assistance programs, such as the International Trade Administration and the Small Business Administration.  Senator Blunt is a strong supporter of federal policies that promote international travel to the United States, an important driver of jobs in the U.S. tourism industry.  While serving in the House of Representatives, he was a key voice in passing the Travel Promotion Act of 2010. 

In the Senate, Senator Blunt is one of the lead sponsors of legislation which will make more efficient the visa application and issuance policies of the State Department for foreign travelers coming to the United States and supports legislation to expand the Visa Waiver program for countries which adopt policies that fit our strenuous security requirements.  These policies will benefit both the American tourism industry, as well as U.S. businesses that rely on extensive global business travel.

Senator Blunt understands that our modern economy is built on our ability to fairly trade and compete with other nations. As the global marketplace has expanded, Senator Blunt has remained a strong advocate for increasing economic opportunities for American enterprise all over the world.

As one of the Senate’s champions of expanding trade opportunities between the United States and other countries, he has remained focused on the benefits of breaking down trade barriers and streamlining trade policy provides for American businesses and our workforce.

For these reasons, in 2011 Senator Blunt played a key role in ensuring Senate passage of trade deals with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea, which had been languishing in Congress for many years.  These agreements will improve and streamline the United States’ trade practices with these three countries and zero out or eliminate a number of other tariffs on U.S. goods.   Senator Blunt will carefully monitor these agreements as they are implemented to ensure that they fair for American workers.