Senator John McCain Cosponsors Legislation To Reform Federal Sugar Program

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and a bipartisan group of senators today to reintroduce the Sugar Policy Modernization Act of 2017, legislation that would reform and modernize the federal sugar program to lower current artificially high sugar prices for American consumers.

This legislation would relieve consumers and businesses from excessive sugar prices that have been created by federally subsidized loans, import restrictions, and protective price supports. It would also ensure the sugar program operates at no expense to taxpayers, repeal sugar marketing allotments, and provide greater flexibility for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to respond to fluctuating market conditions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the federal sugar program will cost taxpayers another $138 million over the next ten years.

"The sugar program is an egregious federal subsidy that costs American consumers nearly $3 billion each year," said Senator McCain. "This legislation would bring down the minimum cost of sugar, encourage free market competition, and lower costs for American families. I commend my colleagues for their work on this legislation and will advocate for including similar language in the upcoming Farm Bill."

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Corker (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dean Heller (R-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Ed Markey (D-MA) also cosponsored the legislation.

Companion legislation was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Danny Davis (D-IL).

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