Bill Barrett: “here we go again. It seems like every year we have to rise and defend our American sugar producers. I think we need to…”

“here we go again. It seems like every year we have to rise and defend our American sugar producers. I think we need to realize that the sugar program is not corporate welfare. Beets and cane are grown in 17 different States in these United States. The sugar beet industry employs 23,000 people in my State alone, and generates about $525 million in economic activity in Nebraska as well. Nationally the industry will generate $288 million between 1996 and 2002 to help us reduce our Federal budget deficit. I also rise once again, Mr. Chairman, to defend the House Committee on Agriculture. As the gentleman from Illinois so aptly stated, we did reform the sugar program. In 1996 the farm bill created a free domestic sugar market, it froze the support price at 1995 levels, it imposed a penalty on producers who forfeit their crops instead of repaying their marketing loans, and it increased imports, and these changes significantly impacted sugar growers. It certainly affected their bottom line. Proponents of the amendment believe that the one cent reduction is not going to impact prices, that it would not hurt sugar producers in my particular State. The amendment would cost my producers an additional $60 per acre. At a time when farmers are certainly hurting across this country because of low prices, it is ridiculous to inflict these additional costs, especially when they would help only a few large corporations. The farm bill in 1996 did reform our sugar policy.”