***Click here for photos.***
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with the three other co-chairs of the American-Canadian Economy and Security Caucus (ACES), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), U.S. Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV-02), and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), attended an event in celebration of the relationship between Canada and the United States. Additionally, the Embassy of Canada awarded congressional members of the Billion Dollar Club and Quarter Billion Dollar Club, which recognizes congressional districts that export more than a quarter billion dollars and more than one billion dollars worth of exports to Canada each year. According to the Canadian Trade Commission, North Dakota exports $4 billion in goods to Canada annually.
The relationship between the U.S. and Canada is powered by approximately $2.5 billion in trade every single day, which supports over 7.5 million jobs in the United States.
“Our neighbors to the North are our closest trade and defense partners, and the bipartisan, bicameral American Canadian Economy and Security Caucus reflects the close ties we share,” said Senator Cramer. “As a co-chair representing a Northern Border state, I am honored to bring North Dakota’s perspective to this caucus, and I appreciate the diverse perspective of my co-chairs from all over the country. Yesterday we celebrated the unique relationship and friendship between our two countries with a good old-fashioned neighborhood barbeque.”
“We are friends, partners, and allies with a shared interest in securing our neighbourhood and strengthening our integrated economies,” said Ambassador Kirsten Hillman. “We make things together. And in recognizing our shared objectives, there will always be common ground to work together and resolve issues.”
“Across our Northern Border, we have friends, business partners, family members, and neighbors who are an inseparable part of our economies and daily lives,” said Senator Angus King. “The success of the United States and Canada has always been closely tied – our alliance creates millions of jobs and supports countless industries. With common values and as the two Arctic nations of North America, we stand together on key national security issues and in defense of shared interests. I look forward to working with Senator Cramer as Senate co-chairs of the bipartisan ACES Caucus, and with the Canadian government, to strengthen our relationship as we take on shared challenges and opportunities.”’
“The United States and Canada have built an enduring and beneficial partnership. The economies of our two countries are closely intertwined, with billions of dollars’ worth of goods traded across the border every day. In addition to our shared economic interests, we are bonded by our shared national security interests, including the defense and security of North America. As co-chair of the ACES Caucus, I am dedicated to working with my colleagues in both the Senate and the House to advance solutions that support and strengthen the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Canada for generations to come,” said Congressman Mark Amodei.
“For more than a century, the United States and Canada have maintained a close partnership built on a foundation of shared democratic values and bolstered by our strong cross-border trade, integrated economies, and national security interests,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. “I was glad to join Ambassador Hillman, Congressman Amodei, Senator King, and Senator Cramer to celebrate the bilateral relationship between the United States and Canada. As a Co-Chair of the ACES Caucus, I will continue to work with my colleagues to strengthen ties and deepen the alliance between our two countries.”