FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               CONTACT:   Phillip Hayes

Thursday, January 27, 2011                                                                           202-507-8303

Sugar Supporter to Chair Senate Agriculture Committee

WASHINGTON—Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today officially took over the gavel of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The American Sugar Alliance issued the following statement in response:

“Hailing from a major sugar-producing state, Senator Stabenow has long been a vocal promoter of America’s no-cost sugar policy.  We are thrilled to have a chairman who is so knowledgeable about the issues facing sugar-growing regions across the country.

“But it’s not just sugar producers who are happy.  Senator Stabenow is a champion of U.S. agriculture and of rural America who has proven time and time again that she values the hard work and dedication of America’s farmers and ranchers.

“We look forward to working closely with the Chairman as she crafts a fiscally responsible Farm Bill that ensures America maintains the world’s safest, most abundant, most affordable food supply.”

Senator Stabenow is a member of Senate Sweetener Caucus, a group of outspoken supporters of U.S. sugar policy.  That policy operates at no cost to American taxpayers, helps support 146,000 U.S. jobs, and is essential to the country’s food security.

Home to one of the nation’s biggest sugarbeet companies and 900 sugar farmers, Michigan boasts 147,000 acres of sugarbeets and more than 15,000 jobs tied to the industry.

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