MR. BAAS: Thank you, Commissioner Crawford. I just want to spend one minute to answer a question that some of you might have -- in fact, a question that was asked of me last night -- why is the State Department here. What are we doing in this trade Listening Session? The answer is actually very simple and I hope understandable.

We are here because we follow foreign policy, and trade policy is a very important part of our foreign policy. It affects our overall relations with 150 countries that are independent countries around the world. So we are here to hear what you have to say so that we can, in fact, better serve you overseas.

We have embassies in about 150 countries. Our embassies are there to promote U.S. interests, to promote U.S. trade policy among those interests. We are also there, frankly, to find out what the concerns are of foreign countries so that when we are entering into negotiations we will know that if we want to get citrus into Country X as our top priority, we may have to consider what their interest is if they want us to, you know, let widgets into the United States, or whatever the issue is. So that is what we are doing here.

We want to hear from you. Yes, we listen to foreigners, but our first constituency is right out there. Thank you very much.

(Applause.)

MR. KELLY: My name is Kevin Kelly. I'm Director of Florida for Farm Service Agency of USDA. My job is to moderate this session and to keep it moving. We have leaders, we have them here today that are second to none as far as agriculture. I'd put them up against any in the world. We have a good number of them, as you all can see. We're going to try to stay on schedule. I will report that this panel up here has stayed on schedule. We're going to try to continue that.

I recognize that when you have an allotted amount of time it's very difficult to stay exactly on that. We understand that, but we would hope that you would respect each and every one that gets up here and wants to speak. This morning we've got a schedule that is set up and then this afternoon we will give others the opportunity to present some comments after lunch. We're going to start out with a great friend of agriculture and a great friend of mine, and the best way that I can introduce her is a consistent global supporter of Florida agriculture. Would you please join me in welcoming and receiving The Honorable Karen Thurman.

(Applause.)