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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) took to the House floor Friday in support of a resolution introduced by Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA), which would reform current U.S. sugar policy.

Latta urged for an updated sugar policy that would ensure an adequate and reasonably priced sugar supply in the United States in order to keep the U.S. sugar processing industry competitive.

Latta’s floor speech is available for viewing HERE. Full text of his remarks is below:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 378.  The current U.S. sugar program is uncompetitive, outdated and is stunting American job creation, harmful to U.S. candy companies, food manufacturers and families that are forced to pay a higher cost for any product made with sugar. Recent data suggests that without reform, the program puts 600,000 jobs in sugar-using industries at risk. I became all too aware of the negative economic impacts during a tour at a leading confectioner located in my district.

Headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, Spangler Candy Company is a family-owned business that has been providing consumers with Dum Dums, Saf-T-Pops, Circus Peanuts, Candy Canes and other confections since 1906. This company currently has over 400 U.S. employees, but if it could purchase sugar at world-market prices, instead of the inflated U.S. price, the number of employees would be closer to 600. That is a difference of 200 high-skilled manufacturing jobs in a single small mid-western town. Imagine the positive economic growth that would result from sugar reform nationwide.    

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.  Reforming the U.S. sugar program will restore fairness in the sugar market, encourage U.S. investment, and spur job creation in our local communities.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back.”

Latta is also a cosponsor of the Sugar Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 693), introduced by Mr. Pitts (R-PA) on February 14, 2013.

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