Fighting Against Rising Food Costs
Today, I condemn the Democrats’ massive farm bill which would increase our nation’s already rising food costs. The bill would impose a new requirement that at least 85 percent of U.S. sugar consumption must come from domestic producers. Furthermore, the bill would create a new sugar-to-ethanol program. This program would require the purchase of “surplus” sugar for sale to ethanol producers to turn into biofuels. Both provisions are designed to wall off consumers from the benefits of a drop in sugar prices as the U.S. continues to liberalize its sugar trade laws, costing consumers an estimated additional $400 million per year.
Americans are already having trouble making ends meet, gas prices are rising to unaffordable levels, and food costs are off the charts. Right now, Congress has the historic opportunity to lower these prices before they continue to get worse. Instead, the Democrats bring to the floor a bill that only makes the issue worse. Why are we forcing our nation’s hard working taxpayers to pay more to put food on their table?
According to the Associated Press, the United States is experiencing its worst bout of food inflation in 17 years with food prices rising 4 percent in 2007, compared to an average of 2.4 percent over the last fifteen years. The 2008 food prices are expected to rise again by 4.5 percent. If Congress truly intends to do its part in lowering these food prices, it must reject the latest farm bill now set for passage, which will actually cause food prices to increase.
Just consider the effect of higher sugar prices. Who will suffer the most if they continue to rise? Low-income consumers and others operating on a fixed income—they will face the prospect of higher grocery bills for bread, bakery goods, soft-drinks (which many parents buy because it is cheaper than milk, which is also subsidized), and countless other food products that use sugar.
I urge Congress to reject higher sugar prices, and I urge Congress to reject a farm bill so unworthy of a great nation that it inflates the cost of food for those who can least afford it. We have the time, the opportunity, and the duty to write a bill that is better—one that will actually lower, not raise, food prices in the U.S. and the across the globe. The American people deserve it.
| Posted by Congressman Scott Garrett (NJ - 05) (05-14-2008, 02:01 PM) filed under HRPC Member |
Comments