Sugar Reform Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-475
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Introduced: 2015-02-12
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion

Agricultural prices, subsidies, credit

Agricultural trade

Alternative and renewable resources

Motor fuels

Tariffs
Latest action: action_date: 2015-02-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-02-12
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Sugar Reform Act of 2015 </b></p> <p>This bill revises the Department of Agriculture (USDA) sugar program to decrease price support levels and make other modifications. </p> <p>The bill amends the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 to decrease the rate for price support loans to processors of domestically grown sugarcane and sugar beets. The loan rate is the price level at which processors can take out loans. </p> <p>The bill amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to require USDA to set the marketing allotments at a level appropriate to maintain adequate domestic supplies at reasonable prices. The allotments limit the amount of sugar that each processor may sell. The allotments may be suspended or modified based on: (1) the interests of consumers, workers, businesses, and agricultural producers; and (2) the relative competitiveness of domestically produced and imported foods containing sugar. </p> <p>In setting import quotas necessary to comply with trade agreements, USDA must: </p> <ul> <li>set the quotas at no less than the minimum level necessary for compliance, </li> <li>adjust the quotas to provide adequate domestic supplies at reasonable prices,</li> <li>establish and adjust quotas so that the ratio of sugar stocks to total sugar use at the end of the year will be approximately 15.5% or the target necessary to prevent unreasonably high prices or forfeitures, and </li> <li>permit the temporary transfer of quotas between countries. </li> </ul> <p>The bill amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the Feedstock Flexibility Program for Bioenergy Producers, which requires USDA to purchase sugar from domestic processors and sell it to bioenergy producers for biofuel production. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 475 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 12, 2015 Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Kirk , Mr. Toomey , Mr. Alexander , Ms. Ayotte , Mr. Coats , Ms. Collins , Mr. Coons , Mr. Corker , Mr. Durbin , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Heller , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Kaine , Mr. McCain , Mr. Portman , and Mr. Warner ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To reform the Federal sugar program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Sugar Reform Act of 2015 . 2. Sugar program (a) Sugarcane Section 156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7272(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking and after the semicolon at the end; (2) in paragraph (4)— (A) by striking 2018 and inserting 2014 ; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (6) 18 cents per pound for raw cane sugar for each of the 2015 through 2018 crop years. . (b) Sugar beets Section 156(b)(2) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7272(b)(2) ) is amended by striking 2009 and inserting 2015 . (c) Effective period Section 156(i) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7272(i) ) is amended by striking 2008 and inserting 2015 . 3. Flexible marketing allotments for sugar (a) In general Section 359b of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359bb ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)— (A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking 2008 and inserting 2017 ; and (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting at reasonable prices after stocks ; and (2) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking but after the semicolon at the end and inserting and ; and (B) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) appropriate to maintain adequate domestic supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports. . (b) Establishment of flexible marketing allotments Section 359c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359cc ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking but after the semicolon at the end and inserting and ; and (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: (B) appropriate to maintain adequate supplies at reasonable prices, taking into account all sources of domestic supply, including imports. ; and (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting at reasonable prices after market ; and (2) in subsection (g)(1)— (A) by striking Adjustments .— and all that follows through Subject to subparagraph (B), the and inserting Adjustments .—The ; and (B) by striking subparagraph (B). (c) Suspension or modification of provisions Section 359j of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359jj ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Suspension or modification of provisions Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Secretary may suspend or modify, in whole or in part, the application of any provision of this part if the Secretary determines that the action is appropriate, taking into account— (1) the interests of consumers, workers in the food industry, businesses (including small businesses), and agricultural producers; and (2) the relative competitiveness of domestically produced and imported foods containing sugar. . (d) Administration of tariff rate quotas Section 359k of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359kk ) is amended to read as follows: 359k. Administration of tariff rate quotas (a) Establishment Notwithstanding any other provision of law, at the beginning of the quota year, the Secretary shall establish the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar at no less than the minimum level necessary to comply with obligations under international trade agreements that have been approved by Congress. (b) Adjustment (1) In general Subject to subsection (a), the Secretary shall adjust the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar to provide adequate supplies of sugar at reasonable prices in the domestic market. (2) Ending stocks Subject to paragraphs (1) and (3), the Secretary shall establish and adjust tariff-rate quotas in such a manner that the ratio of sugar stocks to total sugar use at the end of the quota year will be approximately 15.5 percent. (3) Maintenance of reasonable prices and avoidance of forfeitures (A) In general The Secretary may establish a different target for the ratio of ending stocks to total use if, in the judgment of the Secretary, the different target is necessary to prevent— (i) unreasonably high prices; or (ii) forfeitures of sugar pledged as collateral for a loan under section 156 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7272 ). (B) Announcement The Secretary shall publicly announce any establishment of a target under this paragraph. (4) Considerations In establishing tariff-rate quotas under subsection (a) and making adjustments under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider the impact of the quotas on consumers, workers, businesses (including small businesses), and agricultural producers. (c) Temporary transfer of quotas (1) In general To promote full use of the tariff-rate quotas for raw cane sugar and refined sugar, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that provide that any country that has been allocated a share of the quotas may temporarily transfer all or part of the share to any other country that has also been allocated a share of the quotas. (2) Transfers voluntary Any transfer under this subsection shall be valid only on voluntary agreement between the transferor and the transferee, consistent with procedures established by the Secretary. (3) Transfers temporary (A) In general Any transfer under this subsection shall be valid only for the duration of the quota year during which the transfer is made. (B) Following quota year No transfer under this subsection shall affect the share of the quota allocated to the transferor or transferee for the following quota year. . (e) Effective period Section 359l(a) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359ll(a) ) is amended by striking 2008 and inserting 2015 . 4. Repeal of feedstock flexibility program for bioenergy producers (a) In general Section 9010 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8110 ) is repealed. (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 359a(3)(B) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359aa(3)(B) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end; (B) in clause (ii), by striking ; and at the end and inserting a period; and (C) by striking clause (iii). (2) Section 359b(c)(2)(C) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1359bb(c)(2)(C) ) is amended by striking , except for and all that follows through of 2002 .