[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 205 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63227-63229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27221]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Service Agency


President's Commission on Improving Economic Opportunity in 
Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While Protecting Public 
Health

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Commission Forums.

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SUMMARY: Executive Order 13168, published September 22, 2000, 
established the President's Commission on Improving Economic 
Opportunity in Communities Dependent on Tobacco Production While 
Protecting Public Health (Commission). The Commission is to advise the 
President on changes occurring in the tobacco farming economy and 
recommend such

[[Page 63228]]

measures as may be necessary to improve economic opportunity and 
development in communities that are dependent on tobacco production, 
while protecting consumers, particularly children, from hazards 
associated with smoking. This notice announces forums to be conducted 
by the Commission on November 9, 2000, to be held in Raleigh, NC, and 
on November 10, 2000, in Louisville, KY. Both forums will be held to 
seek comments on tobacco and health related issues the Commission 
should consider in issuing its Reports to the President. The Commission 
may also hold additional forums and meetings. If it does, they will be 
announced. The forums are open to the public.
    This notice also announces that the Commission will make its 
Preliminary Report to the President available on the Commission's web 
site, www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom by no later than December 31, 2000, to 
solicit further public review and comment prior to issuance of the 
Commission's Final Report.

DATES: The Commission will conduct forums on November 9, 2000, from 9 
a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Kerr Scott Building--NC State Fairgrounds 
(exit 289 off I-40), Raleigh, NC, and on November 10, 2000, from 9 a.m. 
until 3 p.m. at the Executive West Hotel, Queen Scott Room, 830 
Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY (across from KY Fair and Exposition 
Center). All times are Eastern Standard Time.
    Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or 
participate in this meeting should contact Doug Richardson, on 866-804-
6698 (toll free) or 202-418-4266, Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-
8339, or Internet: www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom, by COB at least 7 days 
prior to the appropriate meeting.
    Comments: Forums: Oral comments will be taken and should be limited 
to no more than 5 minutes unless prior approval has been received from 
the Commission for a longer presentation. Two hard copies of oral 
testimony should be presented to the Commission prior to presentation. 
Hard copies of other suggestions or recommendations to be considered by 
the Commission will also be accepted. The public is also invited to 
submit comments, suggestions, and recommendations for consideration by 
the Commission to their web site, www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom.
    Preliminary Report: The Commission's Preliminary Report to the 
President will be posted to the Commission's web site by no later than 
December 31, 2000. The public is invited to respond and/or to submit 
comments, concerns, and issues with respect to the Preliminary Report 
for consideration by the Commission no later January 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and statements not submitted to the 
Commission at the forums may be sent to Doug Richardson, Executive 
Director, The Tobacco Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0574, Washington, DC 20250-0574 by no 
later than January 22, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Richardson (202) 418-4266 or toll 
free (886) 804-6694; FAX (202) 418-4270; Internet: www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Commission is to advise 
the President on changes occurring in the tobacco farming economy and 
recommend such measures as may be necessary to improve economic 
opportunity and development in communities that are dependent on 
tobacco production, while protecting consumers, particularly children, 
from hazards associated with smoking. The Commission shall collect and 
review information about changes in the tobacco farming economy and 
Federal, State, and local initiatives intended to help tobacco growers, 
tobacco quota holders; and communities dependent on tobacco production 
pursue new economic opportunities. The Commission may make 
recommendations concerning these and any other changes and initiatives 
that may be necessary to improve economic opportunity in communities 
dependent on tobacco production. The Commission shall also consider the 
public health implications of such changes and initiatives, including 
the efforts to reduce the number of people who incur tobacco-caused 
diseases and tobacco-related health consequences in the United States 
and abroad.
    In January 1998, the public health community and the tobacco 
producing community came together and agreed on a ``Core Principles 
Statement''. These communities agreed to work together in a spirit of 
cooperation and with a commitment towards (1) reducing disease caused 
by tobacco products, and (2) ensuring the future prosperity and 
stability of the American tobacco farmer, the tobacco farm family, and 
tobacco farming communities. The full text of this Statement may be 
found on the Commission's web site www.fsa.usda.gov/tobcom. The 
Commission's work will build on these Core Principles in view of recent 
tobacco program developments.
    In addition to your views and thoughts regarding the issues for 
which the Commission was established, as set forth above, the 
Commission is interested in your input and suggestions on the following 
questions and issues:
    1. Over the past 3-years, burley and flue-cured tobacco quotas have 
been reduced by 65 percent and 45 percent, respectively. Recently, 
quotas for other kinds of tobacco subject to a production control 
program have either not been reduced or not reduced as drastically. 
What do you believe is the main reason or reasons for this downward 
trend in quotas? Do your believe the downward trend is due to short-
term factors or is it likely to continue? What are the implications for 
tobacco producers if the only way to curtail the downward trend is to 
match world tobacco prices?
    2. In addition to quota reductions, tobacco producers have 
experienced significant production and marketing changes including 
contracting and concentration of production into fewer hands. What are 
the economic consequences of these actions for tobacco producers and 
their communities in your area? What Federal, State, or local 
initiatives regarding diversification of agricultural production have 
worked well in your community? What changes to existing initiatives or 
new initiatives do you recommend? How is your State using funds from 
the National Tobacco Settlement (Phase I) to assist tobacco producers 
and their communities and to deter tobacco use? What role, if any, 
should the Federal or State government play in contracting of tobacco 
production?
    3. What Federal, State, or local initiatives have worked well in 
your community in efforts to prevent tobacco use, including youth 
tobacco use? What initiatives have been a detriment to preventing 
tobacco use, including youth tobacco use?
    4. The Core Principles Statement provides, in part, that a tobacco 
production control program which limits the supply and which sets a 
minimum purchase price is in the best interest of the public health 
community and the tobacco producer community. Should there be a program 
that controls tobacco production and/or provides price supports? If so, 
should the government be involved? If yes, what program changes, if 
any, are needed to improve economic conditions for tobacco producers 
and their communities? Are current USDA programs, other than tobacco, 
helping or hurting tobacco producers and their

[[Page 63229]]

communities deal with economic losses?
    5. If the tobacco production control program is terminated by 
either producers voting in a triennial referendum or by legislative 
repeal, what do you see as the consequences to tobacco producers and 
tobacco dependent communities? If the tobacco production control 
program is eliminated, what health related consequences, if any, do you 
see occurring? In the absence of a tobacco control program, what 
initiatives should be taken to help maintain a level playing field for 
independent tobacco producers?
    6. Based on the many internal and external factors affecting the 
tobacco program, do you feel that a buyout of production quotas and 
elimination of the tobacco production control program is a viable 
solution? If a buyout is a solution, should it be mandatory for all 
quota holders, tenants and producers or voluntary, with some form of 
tobacco production and price support program remaining in place? If a 
buyout is a solution, at what rate per pound should the compensation be 
set?
    7. Small farms in the South have declined drastically over the past 
10 years, with tobacco now being produced on approximately 85,000 
farms, most being small farms. The reduction in tobacco quotas has 
added to the decline in small farms. Since many small farms are owned 
by African-American farmers and thus tobacco producers, to what extent 
do civil rights concerns, economic and rural conditions combine to 
further increase economic problems in tobacco dependent communities? 
What impact have recent changes in the economies of tobacco had on farm 
workers in tobacco dependent communities? What initiatives currently 
address farm workers economic and social needs created by this 
situation? What new initiatives are needed in this area?
    8. What additional measures should be taken to prevent tobacco use, 
particularly by young people, and to help reduce disease caused by 
tobacco products?

    Signed at Washington, DC, on October 18, 2000.
 Keith Kelly,
Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. 00-27221 Filed 10-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P