FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

USDA - 1260 - Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1260
Original Establishment Date	4/16/1991	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	2/20/2025	Committee URL	https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/facas-adviso...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	24
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Associate Deputy Administrator
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	6/1/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Gretchen
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/1/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	R.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Deatherage
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	Pub Law 97-35; U.S.C. Sec. 61(	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(901) 384-3000
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	901-384-3032
Specific Establishment Authority*	Pub Law 97-35; U.S.C. Sec. 61(a)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	gretchen.deatherage@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	6/19/2000
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The committee physically reviews freshly prepared sets of Universal Cotton Standards for conformity with the existing standards. They also make recommendations regarding the establishment or revision of cotton standards.
How is membership balanced?*	Committee membership is balanced to represent all segments of the cotton industry. Membership consists of 12 producers and ginners, 6 merchants and 6 textile manufacturers. The overseas members are selected by merchants and textile manufacturing associations who are signatories to the Universal Cotton Standards Agreement with USDA. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and persons with disabilities. Efforts will also be made to obtain geographic balance in committee representation across cotton production areas. Candidates for U.S. committee membership are identified by USDA through outreach to U.S. cotton industry organizations, tribal governments, interest groups, historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic serving institutions, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, etc.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	This committee meets in conjunction with the Universal Cotton Standards Conference which takes place once every four years. The purpose is to physically review the Universal Cotton Grade Standards for American Upland cotton that are prepared by USDA. The committee also makes recommendations regarding the establishment or revision of the Universal Cotton Standards.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This is the only group with representation of all segments of the U.S. cotton industry and representatives of overseas cotton merchants and textile manufacturers that are directly involved in cotton trading utilizing the Universal Cotton Standards. Their recommendations are essential to USDA in maintaining cotton standards which will support the pre-eminent position of American grown cotton in the world market.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	During FY25,consistent with Executive Order14217, the Secretary of Agriculture issued Secretary's Memorandum 1078-022 to terminate this committee on 2/20/2025, as it was no longer necessary.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Facilitates the trading of U.S. grown cotton both domestically and internationally.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The Universal Cotton Standards provide the U.S. and international cotton industries with a globally accepted standard for cotton trading. The existence of the Universal Cotton Standards minimizes the need for the creation and production of other physical standards. This results in tremendous cost savings to the U.S. and international cotton industries.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	2	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Recommendations package was prepared and routed for OSEC review in 2024. Previous administration held decision for incoming administration prior to termination. In FY25, the package was routed to the new administration for consideration.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.00%	Access Committee Website	No
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Recommendations package was prepared and routed for OSEC review in 2024. Previous administration held decision for incoming administration prior to committee termination. In FY25, the package was routed to the new administration for consideration.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	NA	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	The agency web site for the Universal Cotton Standards Advisory Committee can be found at:https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/facas-advisory-councils/acucs
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback is provided to the committee at Universal Cotton Standards Conferences and by written communications directly to committee members. Feedback is also provided to the general cotton industry through presentations at cotton industry sponsored meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Committee provides the means for cotton industry input to the USDA in the development of cotton classification standards. This committee ensures that USDA's Universal Cotton Standards remain relevant to the needs of the cotton trade.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*	$0.00	2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$1,611.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$0.00	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$0.00	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*	$0.00	6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$0.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*	$0.00	8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs	$0.00	10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$1,611.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/4/2025 1:31 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.01	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks	Only 1% of an FTE for federal staff was required to handle activities for FY25 due to the termination of the committee.

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports