Senators Press USDA to Reject Requests to Undermine Sugar Policy

Senator John Hoeven, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led his Senate colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain U.S. sugar policy and ensure the sugar supply chain remains resilient. In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the senators:

• Requested that Secretary Vilsack reject proposals that would weaken U.S. sugar policy and harm sugar growers.
• Noted the resiliency of the U.S. sugar supply chain.
• Underscored that the U.S. sugar market is adequately supplied according to USDA's own metrics.
• Highlighted the positive economic impact created by the domestic sugar industry.

"Thanks to U.S. sugar policy, our sugar supply chain remains resilient and in a strong position to address future challenges," the senators wrote. "It is imperative that USDA not make changes that would create a glut in the U.S. market and collapse prices below grower costs of production, which would violate the spirit of U.S. sugar policy and ultimately drive family farmers out of business. Accordingly, we urge you to reject requests that undermine U.S. sugar policy and our nation's food security, while putting thousands of American jobs at risk."

The letter was signed by Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).