Coalition Letter Supporting S. 345, the Sugar Reform Act

Release Date:

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senate
520 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Patrick Toomey
United States Senate
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mark Kirk
United States Senate
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Richard Durbin
United States Senate
711 Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators Shaheen, Kirk, Toomey and Durbin:

The undersigned organizations commend you for your leadership in introducing S. 345 to reform U.S. sugar policy. Your bill promotes jobs, fights consumer price inflation, and reduces both the budget deficit and the level of government interference in private markets.

The “Sugar Reform Act of 2013” is pro-consumer because it reforms policies that have sent sugar prices to record highs over the last four years, driving up consumer costs for everything from baked goods to frozen vegetables. It is pro-business because U.S. sugar policies have created artificial shortages that hurt food and beverage makers, especially small and mid-sized companies. The bill would also reduce taxpayer exposure by eliminating a subsidy that requires the government to purchase surplus sugar and sell it at a loss to ethanol plants.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the current sugar program has contributed to the loss of thousands of jobs in the bakery, confectionery and the rest of sugarusing sector. In fact, between 1997 and 2011, nearly 127,000 jobs were lost in the sugar-using industry. Your legislation would encourage these jobs to stay in the United States and generate many new jobs in this sector. The bill would also remove new restrictions on imports, introduced in 2008, that have severely hampered trade flows and hurt both this country and our trading partners. Unnecessary government micro-management would be reduced with enactment of S. 345. In sum, your legislation advances the cause of reform in ways that would benefit America’s economy, its trade relations, its fiscal condition and the environment.

We support your efforts to reform sugar policy and look forward to working with you in getting this vital legislation adopted by Congress. Thank you for your support of America’s businesses, workers and consumers.

Sincerely,

Coalition for Sugar Reform
American Bakers Association
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Consumer Federation of America
Everglades Trust
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Independent Bakers Association
International Dairy Foods Association
National Association of Manufacturers
National Confectioners Association
National Foreign Trade Council
National Consumers League
Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association
Snack Food Association
Sweetener Users Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Read the Letter: