Daniel Inouye: “I oppose the amendment offered by Senator Shaheen and others which would phase out the Federal Sugar Program. I would…”

“I oppose the amendment offered by Senator Shaheen and others which would phase out the Federal Sugar Program. I would like to share some of my personal history with my colleagues. My grandfather and grandmother emigrated from Japan to work at McBryde Sugar Company on the island of Kauai in 1899. In my office here in Washington, I have a framed copy of the contract on which my grandfather, Asakichi Inouye, placed his ``X.'' The contract includes a photograph of this brave young man and his wife and a little baby boy they are holding, my father. Nearly a century later, Asakichi Inouye's grandson is proud to be representing the State of Hawaii in the United States Senate. With exception of one, all of Hawaii's sugar plantations are now closed. The Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, HC&S, remains operational on the island of Maui and employs nearly 800 employees. HC&S is Hawaii's largest provider of raw sugar, producing approximately 200,000 tons each year. In addition to the growing and milling of sugarcane, HC&S produces raw sugar, specialty sugar, molasses, and the generation and sale of electricity to help provide power across the island. I am proud to represent the men and women in Hawaii who still work directly or indirectly for the sugar industry, and their families.…”