Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin addresses the audience assembled in the Pentagon on Sept. 12, 2006, for the opening of a showcase of biobased products. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England is host for the event that features displays by thirty-seven American companies of a wide variety of products made from renewable biological resources. As the nation's largest consumer of goods and services the Department of Defense is interested in products such as biobased fuels, industrial-cleaning products, paints and paint removers, insulation materials and even toner ink. Products such as these tend to be environmentally friendly and can all be made from homegrown renewable resources. Others participating in the event include Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar and Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur.