[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4431-S4432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3139. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
Casey, Ms. Collins, Mr. Coons, Mr. Corker, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Flake, 
Ms. Hassan, Mr. Heller, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mr. McCain, 
Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Portman, Mr. Warner, and Ms. Warren) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 
2, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other 
programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, and 
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 1301 (relating to the sugar program) and 
     insert the following:

     SEC. 1301. SUGAR PROGRAM.

       (a) Loan Rates.--Section 156 of the Federal Agriculture 
     Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272) is amended 
     by striking subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) Sugarcane.--The Secretary shall make loans available 
     to processors of domestically grown sugarcane at a rate equal 
     to--
       ``(1) 18.75 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for the 2018 
     crop year; and
       ``(2) 18.00 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for the 2019 
     through 2023 crop years.
       ``(b) Sugar Beets.--The Secretary shall make loans 
     available to processors of domestically grown sugar beets at 
     a rate equal to 128.5 percent of the loan rate per pound of 
     raw cane sugar for the applicable crop year under subsection 
     (a) for each of the 2018 through 2023 crop years.''.
       (b) Avoiding Forfeitures While Ensuring Adequate Supplies 
     at Reasonable Prices.--Section 156(f) of the Federal 
     Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
     7272(f)) is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``While 
     Ensuring Adequate Supplies at Reasonable Prices'' after 
     ``Forfeitures''; and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``ensure adequate 
     supplies of sugar at reasonable prices and'' after ``shall''.
       (c) Effective Period.--Section 156(i) of the Federal 
     Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 
     7272(i)) is amended by striking ``2018'' and inserting 
     ``2023''.

     SEC. 1302. ADMINISTRATION OF TARIFF-RATE QUOTAS.

       Part VII of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural 
     Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa et seq.) is amended 
     to read as follows:

                           ``PART VII--SUGAR

     ``SEC. 359. ADMINISTRATION OF TARIFF-RATE QUOTAS.

       ``(a) Establishment.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, at the beginning

[[Page S4432]]

     of fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter through 
     the end of the effective period described in subsection (d), 
     the Secretary shall establish the tariff-rate quotas for raw 
     cane sugar and refined sugar to provide adequate supplies of 
     sugar at reasonable prices, but at no less than the minimum 
     level necessary to comply with obligations under 
     international trade agreements that have been approved by 
     Congress.
       ``(b) Adjustment Authority.--The Secretary shall adjust 
     tariff-rate quotas established under subsection (a) in such a 
     manner as to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that 
     stocks of raw cane and refined beet sugar are adequate 
     throughout the crop year to meet the needs of the 
     marketplace, including the efficient utilization of cane 
     refining capacity.
       ``(c) Transfer of Quota Shares.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
     regulations that--
       ``(A) promote full use of the tariff-rate quotas for raw 
     cane sugar and refined sugar and ensure adequate supplies for 
     cane refiners in the United States; and
       ``(B) provide that any country that has been allocated a 
     share of the quotas may temporarily transfer all or part of 
     the share to any other country that has also been allocated a 
     share of the quotas.
       ``(2) Transfers voluntary.--Any transfer under this 
     subsection shall be valid only pursuant to a voluntary 
     agreement between the transferor and the transferee, 
     consistent with procedures established by the Secretary.
       ``(3) Limitations on transfers with respect to fiscal 
     year.--
       ``(A) In general.--Any transfer under this subsection shall 
     be valid only for the duration of the fiscal year during 
     which the transfer is made.
       ``(B) Following fiscal year.--No transfer under this 
     subsection shall affect the share of the quota allocated to 
     the transferor or transferee for the following fiscal year.
       ``(d) Effective Period.--This section shall be effective 
     for fiscal years only through the 2023 crop year for 
     sugar.''.

       Strike section 9109 (relating to the feedstock flexibility 
     program for bioenergy producers) and insert the following:

     SEC. 9109. FEEDSTOCK FLEXIBILITY PROGRAM FOR BIOENERGY 
                   PRODUCERS TERMINATION.

       Section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act 
     of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8110) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(c) Termination.--The Secretary may not carry out the 
     feedstock flexibility program under subsection (b) for the 
     2019 or subsequent crops of eligible commodities.''.
                                 ______