Panel, thank you very much.

Before the next panel comes up, Secretary Lyons has an introduction he'd like to make.

CO-MODERATOR LYON: Yes. We have an Assemblyman in the audience, Mike Briggs. Mike, I'd like to have you come up just briefly. Mike is from the 29th Assembly District in the Fresno area. Fresno is heavily involved in agriculture in Fresno County. And, Mike, if you'd like to make a comment or two before the next panel.

ASSEMBLYMAN BRIGGS: Thank you very much. I'll be very brief. Fresno County and the ancillary county areas that I represent are, what I call, the number one and number two ag counties in the nation. And I just want to bring a message and you -- I heard parts of it in the previous panel. I'm sure you've been hearing it all day. We are for expanding our markets, Fresno County and Tulare County. We want to expand our markets.

At the same time, we understand when we expand our markets into other countries, that other countries want to expand their markets into our country and that we understand. But when we begin having this trade and bringing in products from other countries, you know, there are some problems that develop. And we are very concerned in our valley with pests and diseases and vectors and problems that arise from imported products.

And we just want to be certain that our government has the opportunity to visit other countries or to help us ensure that we're not imparting fruit flies, for example, or citrus viruses or things that could really devastate our valley and the way our valley is shaped and very well contained.

You know one find of one impregnator fruit fly in our valley could really devastate our entire economy. So just as we proceed with this international trade and opening up markets for one group -- one country to another, we know the restrictions other countries have put on us when we try to export. And I'm not calling for more restrictions, but just a certain amount of assurance that everything is being done on the part of our federal government to ensure that we're well protected.

And I know this is more of an international discussion, but I just encourage our federal government to give us the resources sorely needed at our borders and inspection stations and airports as markets are open, so we can ensure against unwanted vectors.

But we certainly appreciate that you have come here to California and that you're holding this hearing right here in Sacramento and that I have the opportunity to say a few words.

Thank you very much. Most of you I've seen in the City of Orange Cove.

Thank you.

USDA DEPUTY SECRETARY ROMINGER: Thank you for your comments. I appreciate those. And we agree with you that we want to open more markets, increase our exports, but trade is a two-way street. But we also have at USDA a heavy responsibility to keep those pests and diseases out of the United States. And so we do some very thorough and scientific risk assessments to make sure that we are protecting U.S. industries and we'll keep that up.

ASSEMBLYMAN BRIGGS: Thank you.