WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) protected Louisiana’s sugar industry by blocking an anti-sugar effort led in the Senate Appropriations Committee today. This anti-sugar effort would have destroyed price supports for sugar producers and eliminated the safety net for all U.S. sugar farmers under the 2014 Farm Bill. The anti-sugar effort threatened 142,000 jobs in 22 states and $20 billion per year in economic activity, including more than 16,000 jobs and $3.5 billion per year in economic activity in Louisiana.
Dr. Cassidy offered the following statement:
“Louisiana’s sugar industry supports more than 16,000 jobs and contributes billions to our local economy. Our farmers and producers supply Americans with sugar for their businesses, farms and homes. We must protect these farmers.”