[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19106]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   TOBACCO MARKETS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the opening of 
the 1999 tobacco marketing season in my home state of South Carolina. 
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States is 
one of the world's leading producers of tobacco. It is second only to 
China in total tobacco production. Tobacco is the seventh largest U.S. 
crop, with over 130,000 tobacco farms in the United States.
  In South Carolina, tobacco is the top cash crop, worth about $200 
million annually. It also generates over $1 billion in economic 
activity for my state. Tobacco production is responsible for more than 
40,000 jobs on over 2,000 farms and continues to account for about one-
fourth of all crops and around 13 percent of total crop and livestock 
agriculture in South Carolina.
  It has been a hard couple of years for tobacco farmers in my state. 
Last year, a settlement between the State Attorneys General and five 
tobacco companies was completed. This settlement has created insecurity 
in these farmers' lives, as well as in their communities. Once again 
tobacco quota was cut this year. The cut was 17 percent, which means 
that these farmers have seen their quota reduced by 35 percent over the 
last 2 years.
  In recent years, we have seen a rise in tobacco imports, as domestic 
purchases by companies have declined. This has had a direct effect on 
the economy of my state. Many of the rural towns in South Carolina have 
grown up around producing tobacco, and decreased demand for domestic 
tobacco has affected them greatly. I hope these companies see the need 
to purchase more domestic tobacco and decrease the amount of tobacco 
they import. It is imperative for these rural communities' economic 
stability that domestic tobacco purchases rise.
  Mr. President, in conclusion I want to wish the tobacco farmers and 
warehousemen in South Carolina the best of luck this year. I wish that 
I could be down in South Carolina for this festive occasion of opening 
day, but duty calls. Although I can't be there physically, they all 
know that I'm there in spirit. And as hard as I have worked in the past 
for them, they can expect me to work even harder to ensure farmers and 
their communities remain economically sound.

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