Reforms Would Modernize Unnecessary and Costly U.S. Sugar Program
Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2019) – The Sweetener Users Association (SUA) today praised the bipartisan, bicameral Fair Sugar Policy Act (H.R. 4521, S. 2568). Introduced in the House by Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Danny Davis (D-IL) and in the Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), with the support of 40 cosponsors, the bill would provide much needed relief to U.S. manufacturers, workers and consumers who have borne the unnecessary cost of the outdated U.S. sugar program.
“American food and beverage manufacturers applaud the Fair Sugar Policy Act for the commonsense reform it would bring to the outdated and unnecessarily costly U.S. sugar program,” said Rick Pasco, President of the Sweetener Users Association (SUA). “We are grateful to Senators Shaheen and Toomey and Representatives Foxx and Davis for their continued leadership on efforts to provide relief to the millions of Americans who enjoy sugar-using products — as well as the U.S. manufacturers and their employees who make them.”
The Fair Sugar Policy Act would modernize the U.S. sugar program by eliminating marketing allotments that are unique to sugar production; providing more flexibility to the USDA to ensure an adequate sugar supply to the domestic market; eliminating unnecessary trade restrictions; providing for the temporary transfer of unused import quotas to other countries with import quotas; and repealing the Feedstock Flexibility Program, among other updates.
These reforms would modernize a government subsidy program that has cost American consumers $2.4 billion or more per year and has contributed to the loss of 123,000 American manufacturing jobs between 1997 and 2015 — all to provide overly generous benefits to a few privileged sugar processors.
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Frances Cox
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