is burning the residents of the border regions, even those whose own ancestors came from central america committee rad leaves of the us border next to mexico and texas. lately, they have seen more and more immigrants arriving on the us side. many of them cross their front yard and even knock on their door. they come in late asking for their at what area their at the bar phones, water, food, anything in any way that they, they could get help. it's scary because of the fact that one could get into problems. another one, how we say we don't know who they are. once a week they get to the other side of the wall to the river fishing and the rio grande. the natural border between texas and mexico has been a tradition in their family for generations. there they enjoy your beautiful landscape and a peaceful activity at a river that for many on the other side, looks dangerous and life changing. wireless thought truck, semi dominant men of me, the elements men with trump, we saw less people crossing the border since fighting. they are more my parents. they are from mexico. so i do understand them, but we jus

committee talked about u.s. policy in central and south america, and the ongoing global pandemic.his conversation was part of the annual washington conference on the americas. >> i am the president of chevron's middle east, africa, exploration and production company. chevron has been operating in the americas for over a century and we have been proud sponsors of the washington conference on the americas for many years. in fact, chevron was a founding member of the council in 1963 when president john f. kennedy asked david rockefeller to form the council. chevron deeply values the role of the council of the americas, continues to bring together policymakers from across the hemisphere to discuss and promote policies that would be for the good of all people. it is now my pleasure to introduce the honorable gregory meeks to the washington conference on the americas. congressman meeks has had a lifelong career in public service. he has served as assistant -- attorney, and chief administrative judge in new york state. he spent five years in the new york state assembly, and in 1990 eight

but here it is in our own direct national interest, i looked at the finance committee on trade related issues in central america and canada and those seeking refuge from their countries. i can just go on and on the so there's a lot to be said as we are prioritizing how we can make a difference both in the health context and in terms of diplomatic advancements on critical issues. senator rounds i understand is with us on webex. >> thank you mr. chair. i presume i'm operational now. let me think both of the witnesses here today. it's been an interesting discussion so far. i would like to continue it along the lines of what senator kane indicated as to how we focus long-term or at least with regards to a worldwide response. it's not the first time the country has been expected to respond in an emergency or serious economic crisis throughout the rest of the world. we think back even to world war ii and the aftermath where we created a marshall plan. we laid it out and then in conjunction with other allies we were able to coordinate our efforts. is it time for a marshall plan and it comes to our response or allies a

committee that knows more about this agreement or than i ever well and that would be senator portman who was the u.s. trade representative. obviously when we are facing the challenges with central americahat we are facing right now in terms of those fleeing the country it's critically important to look at every leverage of government in order to meet the challenge of economic development. it's failing for some reason and we should know what its shortcomings are at the end of the day and i will submit a question to you about a new agreement with canada. i keep hearing from housing people that it's incredibly challenging. >> thank you, senator menendez. >> mr. chairman, it is incredibly challenging right now and there's a lot of supply and demand issues and that is a conversation for a different day but the labor folks in my state say over and over again it is an issue of the benefits that are there and they have a hard time getting the supply but that is a different conversation for a different day. looking for what new markets are we going after to be able to continue to expand our markets i don't find a lot of conversation there about pursuing the nude free trade agreements. is that c