Political Quotes

“if it pleases the Chair, I would like to say a few remarks about sugar, but I am not sure about the chairwoman's plans. I thank the chairwoman of the committee and the ranking member. I know they are deciding what other amendments we are going to take up later this evening and how the votes will proceed. But let me again just thank my colleague from Michigan for her great lead and leadership on the farm bill. This sugar amendment was very important to the people of Louisiana whom I represent, and I want to just thank my colleagues for their vote to keep a program in place that has worked at no cost to the taxpayer-- no direct cash. It is monitored or organized or designed through an import restriction program that allows for the robust production of sugarcane and sugar beets in our Nation. I thank Senator Shaheen for the wonderful way she handled the debate. We have different views about this, but we are colleagues and we work together very well. There are two sides to this issue. I think the evidence on our side is stronger. She would probably disagree. But I thank our colleagues for supporting the sugar caucus. In Louisiana, sugarcane is being produced on over 427,000 acres in 22 parishes. Production is about 14 million tons, which is about 20 percent of the total sugar grown in the United States. Last year, in 2012, Louisiana sugar mills produced 1.6 million tons of raw sugar, the largest amount we have ever produced in our State.…”