Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2019) – The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) issued the following statement on the Fair Sugar Policy Act (H.R.4521, S.2568), which was introduced by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) and U.S. Representatives Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Danny Davis (D-IL) to fix the U.S. sugar program.

“We appreciate the House and Senate sponsors’ steadfast commitment to modernizing the outdated U.S. sugar program and supporting more than 600,000 workers in the food manufacturing sector.

“This bipartisan, bicameral legislation levels the playing field for the family-owned businesses and manufacturers that make up the backbone of the American economy.

“We look forward to working with Congress to advance these critical reforms and put American small businesses, workers and consumers first.”

The Fair Sugar Policy Act would add a needed spoonful of fairness to the existing U.S. sugar program by:

• Repealing marketing allotments that are unique to sugar production;
• Providing more flexibility to the USDA in order to ensure an adequate supply to the domestic market;
• Repealing unnecessary trade restrictions;
• Providing for the temporary transfer of unused import quotas to other countries with import quotas; and
• Repealing the Feedstock Flexibility Program.

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The Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy (AFSP) is a broad-based coalition advocating to modernize the outdated and outrageous U.S. sugar program. Formed by a sizeable group of small, family-owned businesses and manufacturers, retailers, food and beverage companies, trade associations, environmental advocates, taxpayer watchdog organizations, responsible government advocates, think tanks and other organizations, the group’s goal is to help level the playing field for American manufacturers and their families when it comes to being able to create jobs.

To learn more about the Alliance for Fair Sugar Policy and the need for sugar reform, please visit FairSugarPolicy.org.