Levin Applauds Service of Chief Trade Counsel Viji Rangaswami

WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today released the following statement applauding the service of Viji Rangaswami, the Chief Trade Counsel on the Democratic staff of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade whose last day with the subcommittee is today. Ms. Rangaswami has worked for the Trade subcommittee since 2007 and previously worked for the subcommittee from 1999-2005:

“The distinguished service of Viji Rangaswami on the Ways and Means Trade subcommittee has been a vital part of major advancements in U.S. trade policy.  Ranging from the groundbreaking Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that has provided the opportunity for so many to be lifted out of the deepest poverty to the changes in the U.S.–Korea Free Trade Agreement to open a historically closed market to U.S. manufactured goods, Viji’s leadership, creativity, dogged determination and tremendous legal skills have been instrumental at every critical juncture. Viji’s talent is evidenced not only through her ability to develop underlying policy (for example, the groundbreaking May 10 agreement on labor, environment and medicines), but to follow through to implement changes in trade provisions for the benefit of workers and businesses in the U.S. and abroad.  As important, her grace and kindness throughout difficult debates and negotiations are recognized by Members and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Viji will be sorely missed on the Hill in the short-term, but I look forward to witnessing her long and distinguished career in trade and globalization in the years ahead.”

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