Expressing Sense of House Relating to Tariff-Rate Quotas for Raw Refined Sugar, 2014

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I am here today on behalf of our farmers in Minnesota and the midwest.

My State is number one in sugar beet production. That means my State's economy and the State's rural economy take a direct hit because of this resolution. This resolution hurts our farmers, small businesses, hospitals, schools, the lives of real people in rural communities.

American-grown sugar creates more than 142,000 jobs in 22 States and nearly $20 billion in annual economic activity. We have farmers in the beet fields right now finishing up harvesting. This resolution sends a message that this House wants to shut down sugar production, which will shut down jobs here at home.

But some jobs will be created--in Brazil. Let's defend U.S. jobs, defeat this resolution, and stand with sugar beet farmers in Minnesota and across the United States.

The Republican majority has shut down the Federal Government. I am not going to stand by and shut down the sugar program. So let's protect U.S. communities and U.S. jobs and vote ``no'' on this resolution.

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