NU Online News Service, June 8, 2:27 p.m.EDT

WASHINGTON—Edward Rust Jr., chairman and CEO of State Farm, hasbeen elected vice chairman of the board of the U.S. Chamber ofCommerce.

Rust will serve a one-year term.

He replaces John Ruan, who was elected by the Chamber board tobe chairman.

Chamber president and CEO Thomas Donohue says one of Rust's jobswill be to persuade Congress to pass pending trade agreements.

 "By failing to act on the pending trade agreements orcreate a competitive tax environment, American businesses are beingput at a competitive disadvantage," Donohue says in astatement.

Trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia and Panama are nowbeing considered by the Senate, but are being held up by a disputeover including an extension of legislation designed to help workershurt by increased trade.

Democrats in the Senate as well as the White House are demandingan extension of the provision, called "trade adjustment assistance"(TAA), as their price for passage of the trade deals.

The legislation expired in February.

In May, 162 House Democrats called for a five-year extension ofTAA, while 41 Senate Democrats and 25 governors sent letters to theWhite House supporting a deal that includes TAA before formallysubmitting any of the trade deals to Congress.

"Ed understands that there is a lot Washington can be doing tohelp alleviate the uncertainty businesses are facing," Donohuesays. "But he also recognizes that part of Washington's job is toget out of the way. More burdensome regulations won't help theprivate sector do what it does best: expand and create jobs."

Rust also currently serves as vice chair of the BusinessRoundtable and co-chairman of the Business Coalition for StudentAchievement.

He serves on the boards of America's Promise Alliance, the JamesB. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Achieve Inc.He is a member of the boards of directors of Caterpillar Inc.,Helmerich & Payne Inc. and McGraw-Hill Cos.