Rob Hotakainen

As a federal agency, the bank provides credit insurance, loans and guarantees to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. Critics say it’s corporate welfare, unnecessarily putting taxpayers’ money at risk.

By any measure, the U.S. hemp industry is playing a hot hand these days.

As he began one of the most high-profile assignments of his 17-year career in Congress, Rep. Adam Smith confessed to feeling a little clueless about exactly what he’ll be doing.