MEMORANDUM
To: Senator
From: David Rouzer
Date: April 25, 2003
Re: Meeting with Secretary Veneman

Topics to cover at the lunch on Friday, May 2 with Secretary Veneman:
· Tobacco Quota Buyout - The Senate tobacco state staff working group will probably have legislative language ready to present to the members by Friday, May 9. (This is our target date.) The staff will be making a decision on the attached general concept paper this coming week. I have been in constant contact with Mike Torrey and Tom Sell at USDA who are monitoring this effort for her.
· Director of Tobacco and Peanuts post - This is a decision that is in the hands of the WH at this point, but it wouldn't hurt to mention to the Secretary that this is a very important job for the state of North Carolina, particularly with the transition that is going to take place with a tobacco buyout. (See attached letter for Dial Gray.) Handwritten in margin's: Dial's resumé
· Hunger - This would be a great opportunity to engage the Secretary on this effort, particularly to help jump-start many of the initiatives on gleaning that Secretary Glickman initiated that have since been laid to the side. I would also recommend that you indicate to her your interest in sitting down with Eric Bost, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at USDA, to discuss these issues in detail.

(I have already informed Cochran's Ag Committee staff that you have a strong interest in this area and that we want to work closely with them and the Administration on this Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill to make necessary changes where applicable that will enhance these hunger efforts. It'll be the first week in June before we get into the heavy details of legislation in the Committee.)

Handwritten in margins: Co-chair Hunger Caucus?

Handwritten at bottom of page: Internat'l School Lunch - USDA! $50 mil - 300 mil