LEAF Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 23, 1997

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tobacco Community Revitalization Trust Fund Title II: Agricultural Market Transition Assistance Title III: Farmer and Worker Transition Assistance Title IV: Immunity Long-Term Economic Assistance for Farmers Act or the Leaf Act - Title I: Tobacco Community Revitalization Trust Fund - Establishes in the Treasury the Tobacco Community Revitalization Trust Fund to be used for: (1) payments for lost tobacco quota revenue; (2) industry payments for Department of Agriculture tobacco-related costs; (3) tobacco community development grants; (4) tobacco worker transition assistance; and (5) education opportunity grants. (Sec. 102) Sets forth tobacco manufacturer and importer Fund assessment provisions. Title II: Agricultural Market Transition Assistance - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make payments to: (1) eligible tobacco quota holders, lessees, and tenants for lost tobacco quota resulting from decreased domestic tobacco production; (2) reimburse the Department for tobacco program-related costs; and (3) States for tobacco community economic development grants. (Sec. 204) Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to provide for referenda on proposed tobacco quota changes within a State. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to eliminate the tobacco producer, purchaser, or importer marketing assessment. Makes a conforming amendment to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. Title III: Farmer and Worker Transition Assistance - Sets forth group eligibility requirements under the tobacco worker transition program. Authorizes through a certain date the use of specified Fund amounts for such program. (Sec. 302) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize through a certain date a higher education farmer opportunity grant program for qualifying tobacco farm families. Title IV: Immunity - Grants tobacco producers, growers associations, or warehouse owners and employees immunity from any action resulting from a tobacco product manufacturer's, distributor's, or retailer's noncompliance with national tobacco settlement legislation.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Ford, Wendell H. [D-KY] · D–KY

Committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 23, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Oct 23, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11034-11035)
Oct 23, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Oct 23, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.1310 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1310, 105th Congress: LEAF Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1310

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-10-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1310/BILLS-105s1310is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1310 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1310 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.1310, 105th Congress: LEAF Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1310

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-10-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1310/BILLS-105s1310is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1310 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1310 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.1310, 105th Congress: LEAF Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1310

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-10-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1310/BILLS-105s1310is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1310 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1310 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss S.1310, 105th Congress: LEAF Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/1310

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-10-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s1310/BILLS-105s1310is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T16:11:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1310 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.