Kimberly Glas, former legislative director for Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, has been named deputy
assistant secretary of commerce for textiles and apparel, a post that plays a major role in
developing and carrying out the administration’s textile trade policies. She will head the Office
of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) and serve as chairman of the Committee for the Implementation of
Textile Agreements (CITA), an interagency group that administers trade agreements and takes action
in situations in which there are illegal textile or apparel imports. OTEXA supports CITA by
providing staff and collecting data that are the basis for CITA’s administration of textile trade
programs.
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), which supported Glas’ appointment, says
she helped organize the House Trading Group, which was co-founded by Michaud. That bipartisan group
of House members supports fair trade policies, and its members have been outspoken on issues
involving trade with China and loss of manufacturing jobs. NCTO says Michaud and Glas have been
helpful in connection with a number of textile trade issues, including enactment of the Kissell Buy
American amendment and measures to monitor and control Chinese textile imports.
September 1, 2009
