Letter to Members of Congress

Letter

In a bipartisan effort, U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have a message for their colleagues: repeal the federal government's costly sugar support program by supporting their Stop Unfair Giveaways and Restrictions (SUGAR) Act (S. 25). This legislation would phase out the sugar support program to help save money for consumers and bring jobs back to American workers.

"We should stop the sweetheart deal the sugar industry has negotiated for itself," said Senator Kirk. "These price supports are a jobs killer and force higher commodity prices. I'm proud to cosponsor the SUGAR Act with Sen. Shaheen and hope we can move quickly to end this practice."

"With Halloween around the corner, families should expect to pay high prices for the candy they buy for trick-or-treaters. That's because of an outdated sugar policy that benefits the sugar industry at the expense of consumers and businesses," Shaheen said. "I want to urge my colleagues to support the SUGAR Act and get rid of this unnecessary program that is costing consumers $4 billion a year. We need to stop sugar's sweet deal."

Sen. Kirk maintains the famous Senate "candy desk" with candy stocked from the following IL companies:

Wrigley Gum, Chicago - approximately 1,400 employees

Tootsie Roll Industries, Chicago - 800 employees

Lambs Farm, Libertyville - 250 participants

Garrett Popcorn, Chicago - 186 employees

Blommer Chocolate Company, Chicago - 150 employees

Long Grove Confectionary, Buffalo Grove - 150 employees

Jelly Belly, North Chicago - 133 employees

Illinois Nut & Candy, Skokie - 7 employees

Ferrera Pan Candy Company, Forest Park - 600 employees

Chocolate Factory, Golconda - 11 employees

Clown-Gysin Brands, Northbrook - 150 employees

Storck USA, Chicago - 60 employees

Nuts on Clark, Chicago

Georgia Nut Company, Skokie

The Popcorn Factory, Lake Forest

Naperville Old-Fashioned English Toffee, Naperville

Each company has been named an "Official Provider to the U.S. Senate Candy Desk".

Sugar is the most tightly controlled commodity in the U.S. market. Government price supports for the sugar industry keep the cost of U.S. sugar artificially high, nearly twice the world price, which causes significant additional costs for consumers and sugar-using industries.

These high sugar prices were responsible for the loss of 112,000 jobs lost in sugar-using industries between 1997 and 2009, according to industry analysts. Sugar price supports cost American families and businesses $4 billion a year, according to a new industry study released today by food and agriculture consulting firm Promar International.

Sens. Kirk and Shaheen published an op-ed on the SUGAR Act this week: Sugar policy bitter for consumers, manufacturers and sent the following letter to other Senators asking for their support:

October 19, 2011

Dear Colleague:

In the coming weeks, Americans will be stocking up on candy to celebrate Halloween with their families and neighbors. Unfortunately for American consumers, they'll be paying more than they should for that candy, thanks to an outdated program that artificially raises the price of sugar and costs consumers and businesses billions of dollars every year. We invite you to stand up for these consumers by cosponsoring S.25, the Stop Unfair Giveaways and Restrictions (SUGAR) Act, which would finally repeal this "trick" on consumers and "treat" for the sugar industry.

The current U.S. sugar program keeps domestic sugar prices artificially high. A study released just this week estimates that this archaic program costs consumers over $4 billion every year. These higher prices disproportionately benefit a limited group of large sugar producers and constitute an unnecessary burden at a time when American families need relief.

Not only does the sugar program hurt consumers, but also it costs us jobs. High sugar prices were responsible for the loss of 112,000 jobs in sugar-using industries between 1997 and 2009. Alarmingly, a 2006 Department of Commerce study estimates that for every sugar-growing job saved through high U.S. sugar prices, approximately three manufacturing jobs are lost.

The SUGAR Act will end the wasteful and outdated sugar program, save consumers billions of dollars, and help U.S. companies protect American jobs. Supporters of our sugar reform bill include the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Foreign Trade Policy Council, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Baker Association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the International Dairy Foods Association, the National Confections Association, the Sweetener Users Association, and the Everglades Trust.

Thank you for your consideration, and Happy Halloween!

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen Mark Kirk
United States Senator United States Senator

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