Surface Transportation Act

Floor Speech

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THE SUGAR ACT

Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I know this comes as no surprise to you, but today is Valentine's Day. Today millions of Americans are buying flowers and candy for their loved ones to celebrate Valentine's Day. This is an important day for American businesses, especially candy manufacturers. Consumers will purchase over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine's Day.

Unfortunately, the price American candy manufacturers must pay for this sugar leaves a very bitter taste in their mouths. Why, you ask. Well, because these companies face artificially high prices for sugar, about twice the world average. That is because there is an outdated and unnecessary government program that keeps sugar prices significantly higher than they should be.

It is programs such as these sugar subsidies that reflect people's frustration with what is going on here in Washington because the sugar program, like too many other subsidies, protects special interests at the expense of regular businesses and consumers. That is why I joined with Senator Mark Kirk on Valentine's Day last year to encourage our colleagues to join us in supporting our bipartisan SUGAR Act.

The SUGAR Act would phase out the U.S. sugar program, which costs businesses and consumers about $4 billion a year. This is a big concern for us in New Hampshire as we are the American home of Lindt chocolate as well as a number of other smaller candy companies that use a lot of sugar. I know it is a concern for the President, who has Hershey's chocolate in his home State of Pennsylvania, and it is a big concern for Illinois, where Senator Kirk is from, because they have so many candy companies.

This legislation isn't about Democrats or Republicans. This legislation is about ending a bad deal for businesses and consumers. Senator Kirk and I sponsored this legislation because we need to end the sweetheart deal for the sugar industry. There is simply no reason to continue a program that makes candy makers, bakers, and other food manufacturers in our States pay double the world average price for sugar.

One of the other fallouts from these high sugar prices is that it costs jobs. For every one job we save in the sugar industry because of these subsidies, we are losing three manufacturing jobs.

Today, as we celebrate Valentine's Day, my thoughts are with Senator Kirk, who continues to recover from a serious illness. While Senator Kirk couldn't be with us this Valentine's Day, I do wish him well, and I look forward to his speedy return to the Senate. I know he is focused on getting better so that he will be able to get back here to work for his constituents from Illinois.

It has been my pleasure to work with Senator Kirk on this bipartisan legislation. I look forward to our continued work in the future on the SUGAR Act and on other matters that help our constituents in New Hampshire and Illinois.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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