Yesterday my colleagues Jerry McNerney, John Garamendi, and I brought together an array of small, innovative companies and premier organizations at a "Making it in America- Export to the World" event with Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sánchez. The event was part of a nationwide export tour in which the Under Secretary highlighted opportunities for businesses to expand and develop a successful trade platform.

Through learning of various ways to expand their export opportunities, these companies will gain new customer bases worldwide, and by doing so, our local companies will sell more products, grow their base and create good jobs here in America.

My colleagues and I were joined by a panel of local representatives from the Contra Costa Council, the Diablo Innovation Alliance, the Small Business Administration and the Export-Import Bank of the United States.