Dupage Policy Journal

In conjunction with two other senators, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) has reintroduced the Sugar Reform Act.

Fellow U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) are also in favor of passing the bipartisan act, which intends to protect the roughly 7,000 jobs in Illinois' sugar industry. It plans to save both taxpayer and consumer dollars.

The act aims to do so by ending the U.S. Sugar Program, which some believe has artificially created high prices for sugar producers, adversely affecting consumers and Illinois-based candy manufacturers.

To date, consumers have already paid $14 billion since 2008. Since 1997, tens of thousands of American jobs in sugar-related industries have been lost in favor of overseas workers, Kirk said.

The act would also reform domestic supply restrictions and lower price support levels, while ensuring adequate sugar supplies remain at reasonable prices.

“Seven thousand Illinois jobs depend on the sugar industry, but thanks to sugar’s high prices, more than 130,000 American jobs have been lost to countries overseas,” Kirk said. “We need to end Depression-era subsidy programs that cost American consumers more than $14 billion, and work to keep good jobs here in Illinois.”

The act prescribes reforms that would protect the financial interests of American citizens and businesses. Additionally, the act would repeal certain provisions added in 2008 that have destroyed three manufacturing jobs for every one unfairly saved job.