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WTO Listening Session
Sacramento, California
June 29, 1999
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CO-MODERATOR LYONS: Thank you, Jessica, for
that overview. Before we continue, I'd like to introduce another one of our panelists.
Patti Garamendi, who currently serves as the Assistant Deputy Administrator for the Farm
Service Agency with the USDA in Washington D.C. Patti has been a good friend of mine for
many years and has been an advocate for California agriculture and agriculture in general. Patti, would you have a few comments. USDA ASSISTANT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR GARAMENDI: Secretary Lyons, I would just like to say that I oversee all of the farm programs for the nation, but everybody accuses me of keeping a very keen eye on California and how all of our programs impact here. And I want the audience here to know that your new Secretary Lyons, brings a very high energy level to Washington D.C. He's been back there meeting with all of the Congress Members and making sure that everybody is thinking California Agriculture. And of course, we are very, very fortunate in California to have Deputy Secretary Rominger, second in command for the whole USDA. And he is so respected and he's been very much a leader in all of the world trade negotiations. And I was trying to keep up with him yesterday down in the Salinas Valley with some of the cut flower industry folks, and let me tell you, we have the very best and you are well represented. And thank you for letting me be part of this listening session. And good luck to our negotiators, we're counting on you. |
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