House introduces sugar reform bill

The U.S. House introduced its 2015 Sugar Reform Act, which promises to reform the country’s 1930s-era sugar trade program.    The U.S. House introduced the 2015 Sugar Reform Act, which promises to reform the country’s 1930s-era sugar trade program.
   The bill is the companion legislation to S. 475, which the Senate introduced on Feb. 12.
   The Sugar Reform Act would provide the U.S. agriculture secretary with the flexibility to adjust marketing allotments and import quotas to stabilize the U.S. sugar market when necessary.
   “We ask lawmakers to think of their constituents, the American consumers and taxpayers who continue to foot the bill for the U.S sugar program, which the Congressional Budget Office forecasts will cost taxpayers $115 million over the next 10 years,” said the Coalition for Sugar Reform in a statement. “It is time to address the shortfalls of America’s protectionist sugar policy. We call on lawmakers to support this legislation.”