Patsy T. Mink: “I must rise in great distress over a provision that has been included in this appropriation bill. That has to do with…”

“I must rise in great distress over a provision that has been included in this appropriation bill. That has to do with the sugar program. In the bill that we have today, there is a section that places a cap on the raw sugarcane prices that the growers may expect to receive. I find that decision of the committee to lay on the sugar program a limit, a cap as to what the growers can expect to receive as an unconscionable interference with the market. We have heard on the floor so many times Members belaboring the fact that we have to support open commerce, free enterprise, free trade and allow market conditions to determine the fate of our commerce, especially in the agricultural area. Yet we have before us today an amendment to the appropriations bill which is legislation on an appropriations bill, by the way, which sets a cap at 21 cents. I have sent letters to members of the Committee on Appropriations indicating that if this cap were permitted to remain in the legislation, and I hope it does not when it goes to conference, I hope it is removed, I hope the Senate does not do the same thing, because the effect in my district will be to actually eliminate the potential for our industry because we cannot produce it at 21 cents.”