WASHINGTON -- During debate on the Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, the latest attack on U.S. agriculture came in an amendment to eliminate the current U.S. sugar program. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo joined in the floor
      debate, which ended in a procedural vote that kept the program intact. The motion to table the Gregg amendment was agreed to on a vote of 71 to 29.
      During debate, Crapo debunked a number of false arguments against the sugar program and demonstrated that the program operates at no cost to the U.S. Treasury. He cited examples of sugar prices and predatory trade practices used
      by other countries, and advocated strongly in favor of maintaining the program.
      "Historically, the U.S. sugar program operates at no cost to U.S. taxpayers and, in fact, puts dollars in the Treasury, which are then allocated to other important priorities in our country," Crapo said. "Whether we're talking about the consumer in the United States, the taxpayer in the United States, or the sugar growers in the United States, the sugar program is a program that is designed for well-intentioned purposes and is working well. There is no reason that we should have to go through this debate endlessly as those who would like to drive the price of sugar down even further in the United States continue to attack the sugar program."