In a statement about the U.S. Senate vote to reaffirm the sugar deal, American Bakers Association (ABA) president and CEO Robb MacKie says, “The Senate vote shows that it’s business as usual in Washington by rejecting even modest reform for the outdated sugar program, reform that would have saved bakers billions of dollars each year.

“We would like to thank Senators [Jeanne] Shaheen [D-N.H.], [Pat] Toomey [R-Pa.] and the 17 other cosponsors of the Sugar Reform Act for leading the charge in the Senate. We applaud those senators that stood up for bakers, in support of an amendment that could have added up to 20,000 jobs in food manufacturing. It is our hope that the House of Representatives will reform the sugar program and allow bakers to expand their businesses and create jobs.”