WASHINGTON -- By a vote of 281 to 135, the U.S. House of Representatives today soundly defeated an amendment to the agriculture appropriations bill designed to weaken the no-cost U.S. sugar program.

Sugar industry leaders agree that this vote is significant because Congress is debating the future of U.S. sugar policy, and this vote shows strong congressional support for the current program.

“Today was a big blow to large food manufacturers and other sugar policy opponents looking to gut the existing no-cost policy,” said Steve Williams, a Minnesota sugarbeet farmer and president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association. “This was the most lopsided vote taken on sugar policy in recent memory and support for the current program is growing.”

The amendment, which would have lowered the loan rate on government loans and made the sugar program less stable, was offered by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). It was identical to an amendment offered last year that failed by a 280-146 vote.

During the floor debate, legislators pointed out that sugar policy operates at no cost to taxpayers, making it particularly appealing during times of budget deficits. Supporters also said the program keeps prices affordable for shoppers and makes sure America doesn’t have to depend on unreliable foreign sugar supplies that drive up the nation’s trade deficit.

Williams, who called the amendment “an assault on rural America,” was not surprised by the vote because he said it reflects the opinions of the American public.

A Harris Interactive poll released last week showed that nearly two-thirds of Americans supported the continuation of the current no-cost sugar program. Only 16 percent of Americans favored transforming sugar policy to a system based on government subsidy checks—the policy for which industrial sugar users are lobbying.

The House Sugar Caucus, chaired by Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Collin Peterson (D-MN), led the charge in defeating the Blumenauer-Flake amendment. The 35-member House Sugar Caucus was formed in March to maintain a strong U.S. sugar policy in the 2007 Farm Bill.

America’s sugar farmers are asking Congress to extend the current sugar program.

For more information about U.S. sugar policy, visit www.sugaralliance.org.

Phillip Hayes
703-351-5055