Tuesday June 12, 2012

Senate Considering Farm Bill Amendments

Washington, DC — At press time, prior to the U.S. Senate vote, a proposed bipartisan amendment to the pending Farm Bill would repeal sugar import restrictions, eliminate higher price support levels and reform domestic supply restrictions, according to its sponsors.

The amendment was introduced at the 11th hour by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and co-sponsors Sens. Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Daniel Coats (R-IN). Additionally, the amendment, which is among 90 proposed Farm Bill amendments currently before the U.S. Senate, would repeal the Feedstock Flexibility program.

Toomey also is a co-sponsor of Shaheen's SUGAR Act, which proposes eliminating the sugar program in its entirety.

“The state of Pennsylvania is rich with candy companies small and large who are feeling the harmful effects of the U.S. sugar program,” says Larry Graham, president of the National Confectioners Association and chairman of the Coalition for Sugar Reform. “We’re grateful to Sen. Toomey for recognizing how important reform of the sugar program is to the economic interests of his state. We hope Sen. (Robert P.) Casey (D-PA) will join with Sen. Toomey in representing the best interests of his Pennsylvania constituents.”