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WASHINGTON, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- American sugar farmers in the
16-state growing areas applauded action in the Senate today where an
amendment that would have devastated U.S. sugar policy was defeated
overwhelmingly.
The amendment, which was defeated by a roll-call vote 65 to 32,
was offered as the Senate debated agriculture appropriations for
fiscal year 2001. The amendment would have prohibited payment of any
salaries to government officials who administer sugar policy. The
amendment was proposed by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who offered a
similar amendment last year. It was defeated last year by a vote of
66 to 33.
Ray VanDriessche, a sugarbeet farmer from Michigan and president
of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, said, ``We are
gratified that the Senate, once again, affirms its support for a
good, sensible U.S. sugar policy. The senators realize, as do most
of people in the country, that farmers today are in crisis.
Wholesale refined beet sugar prices are down 34 percent since the
beginning of the current Farm Bill three and a half years ago.''
He said, ``We applaud the Senators for rejecting a proposal that
would drive farmers and farm workers out of business.''
VanDriessche noted that this is the fifth year in a row that
opponents of U.S. sugar policy have attempted to rewrite agriculture
policy through the appropriations process rather than through the
Agriculture Committee.
Alan Kennett, president and general manager of Gay &
Robinson, Inc., Hawaii-one of the last remaining sugar companies in
Hawaii-said he was certainly relieved and pleased that the Senate
``smashed that anti-sugar amendment by a vote of two-to-one.''
Kennett said, ``We have sugar farmers and their families in
Hawaii struggling for their economic existence. It is
unconscionable, in my mind, to try to destroy an American industry
like ours that has served consumers and producers so well.''
Sugar production in Hawaii is down two-thirds from what it was
just a few years ago, Kennett said. ``An amendment such as was
proposed would have put a final nail in the coffin for sugar growers
not only in Hawaii but in many other areas of the United States as
well,'' he said.
Both Kennett and VanDriessche noted, as did several senators
during the debate today, that while the prices farmers receive for
their sugar have dropped dramatically since the start of the Farm
Bill, prices consumers pay for sugar-containing products continue to
rise.
``It is these big multi-national food and candy manufacturers who
have increased their profits even more as farmer prices have
plummeted. These are the ones who are making the big push to destroy
American sugar farmers,'' Kennett said. ``They are the ones behind
the efforts to end U.S. sugar policy.''
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