WASHINGTON - United States Trade Representative Rob Portman today announced an addition to the USTR staff. Christin Baker begins her assignment on Monday.

Christin Tinsworth Baker - Assistant USTR for Public and Media Affairs. Ms Baker will be in charge of communicating USTR's agenda to the media. Before joining USTR, Ms. Baker was communications director for the House Ways and Means Committee from 2001-2005, serving as senior staff and chief spokesman for Chairman Bill Thomas. During her tenure, she coordinated communications efforts with Committee Members and House Republican leadership to help advance the President's agenda, including tax relief and trade promotion authority. She has served as a spokeswoman for Rep. Anne Northup of Kentucky (2000-2001), Citizens for a Sound Economy (1999-2000) and former Congressman Dan Miller of Florida (1996-1999).

Before moving to Washington, DC, Ms. Baker resided in Nashville, Tennessee, working for an arm of Bankers Trust of New York. She also recruited business volunteers for Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee, Inc. Ms. Baker has a bachelor's degree in political science and human and organizational development from Vanderbilt University.