[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10329]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       THE SUGAR PROGRAM HELPS PRODUCERS BY HURTING OTHER PEOPLE

  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the sugar program, as we know it, 
is hurting workers. We have farm programs for wheat, corn, cotton and 
many other crops. These programs give direct assistance to farmers and 
allow market prices to be set by supply and demand. Farmers receive 
help but not at the expense of workers and consumers.
  The sugar program is different. The sugar program helps producers by 
hurting other people. That is not right and we ought to be able to find 
another way to help sugar farmers.
  The sugar program keeps our market prices higher than world prices. 
Domestic sugar prices are about 21 cents a pound compared to world 
prices of about 9 cents a pound. That is now beginning to cost us jobs.
  In my community, Brach's Candy Company has announced that it is 
closing its plant and moving to Argentina so that it can get sugar more 
cheaply. It is time for us to retain and keep businesses in our 
country, and one way to do it is to make sure that sugar prices are 
fair and equal.

                          ____________________

                              {time}  1415