WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman issued the following statement regarding today's submission by the Administration of the United States - Central American - Dominican Republic implementing bill to the Congress:

"I'm pleased that the President today submitted to Congress the implementing bill for the Central American - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. I hope that the Congress will take up this agreement at the earliest possible time.

"We've made excellent progress - with bipartisan majorities in both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee approving the bill last week. We still have a lot of work to do, but we cleared a major hurdle last week. Momentum is building and I look forward to working with Congress on passing this essential compact between the United States and our friends in Central America and the Carribean.

"I have been working closely with my former colleagues -- Republicans and Democrats alike --to address their concerns and win support for this important agreement. CAFTA-DR is critical to the economic and political stability of these young democracies and will level the playing field for U.S. workers and farmers by opening up new markets in countries that already enjoy mostly duty-free access to our market."