GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

EXTRA SESSION 2000

H	1 

HOUSE RESOLUTION 4

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Sponsors:	Representatives Redwine, Allen, Baddour, Black, Bonner, Bridgeman, Cox, Dedmon, Earle, Easterling, Ford, Fox, Hackney, Haire, Hall, Hill, Horn, Jarrell, Jeffus, McLawhorn, Melton, Miller, Nye, Oldham, Owens, Smith, Sutton, Thomas, Tolson, Tucker, Warren, Warwick, Womble, Yongue; Alexander, Allred, Baker, Barefoot, Berry, Bowie, Brown, Buchanan, Cansler, Capps, Cole, Crawford, Creech, Culp, Culpepper, Cunningham, Davis, Decker, Esposito, Gardner, Gibson, Goodwin, Hiatt, Holmes, Howard, Hunter, Hurley, Insko, Justus, Kiser, McAllister, McCombs, McCrary, Morgan, Rogers, Russell, Sexton, Starnes, Teague, Thomas, Wainwright, Warner, C. Wilson, and G. Wilson.
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Referred to:  Select Committee on Appellate Procedure.
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April 5, 2000

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO URGE MAJOR TOBACCO COMPANIES TO PURCHASE MORE NORTH CAROLINA TOBACCO.
Whereas, approximately 100,000 individuals in North Carolina are involved in the producing of tobacco on the farm; and
Whereas, North Carolina-produced flue-cured and burley tobacco are considered to be the finest tobacco grown in the world; and
Whereas, there has been an increase in the importation of lesser-quality leaf for use in domestically produced cigarettes over the last 20 years; and
Whereas, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, the purchase intentions by the major tobacco companies in 1995 for flue-cured and burley tobacco was 570 million pounds and in 2000 had dropped to 286 million pounds; and
Whereas, the basic quota available for production dropped from 934 million pounds to 543 million pounds; and
Whereas, this increase in foreign-leaf importation has caused significant reduction in tobacco quota available for North Carolina producers under the federal tobacco price support program; and
Whereas, that reduction has resulted in diminished economic viability of many of North Carolina's rural areas; and 
Whereas, in addition tobacco farmers in North Carolina have suffered significant economic harm from crop losses during the previous year as a result of droughts and Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene, suffering a loss from Hurricane Floyd alone of over $94 million; and
Whereas, tobacco farming not only represents a significant amount of income for many North Carolina families but also represents a valued and respected way of life in much of rural North Carolina; and
Whereas, any increase in the purchase of North Carolina-grown tobacco would enhance the economic well-being of tens of thousands of North Carolina farmers, their families, their communities, and our State as a whole; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
Section 1. The House of Representatives of the State of North Carolina sincerely urges the major tobacco companies to increase the amount of tobacco that they purchase from farmers in North Carolina.
Section 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption.