[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING A BILL TO MAKE LEAF TOBACCO AN ELIGIBLE COMMODITY FOR THE 
                         MARKET ACCESS PROGRAM

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2003

  Mr. ETHERIDGE.  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues from 
other tobacco producing states to introduce a bill to put an end to 
discrimination against tobacco farmers. For almost eight years, hard-
working, God-fearing, taxpaying tobacco farmers have been denied access 
to the funds provided by the federal Market Access Program, commonly 
known as MAP.
  Under MAP, agricultural industry trade associations, cooperatives, 
and state or regional trade groups each year are invited to submit 
proposals to USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to conduct 
approved foreign market development projects for various U.S. 
agricultural, fishery and forestry products. Examples include consumer 
promotions, market research, technical assistance, and trade servicing. 
MAP funds have been used to promote a wide range of products from 
sunflower seeds to catfish and cotton to hops for use in making beer.
  Since 1993 USDA has been prohibited from using MAP funds to promote 
tobacco leaf sales overseas. This is patently unfair, and it is time 
for this discrimination to end. The future of American agriculture is 
tied to international trade. Currently, 25% of farmers' gross income 
comes from exports. The futures of thousands of Tar Heel tobacco farm 
families depend on exports, and I am not going to stand by and watch 
other commodities benefit from federal funds to access these markets 
while tobacco farmers are left out in the cold.
  It is high time that tobacco is treated like the legal product that 
it is, and this legislation is a step in the right direction. I call on 
President Bush, Secretary Veneman, and my colleagues to support this 
bill and give our struggling tobacco farm families an opportunity to 
not just survive, but thrive.

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