Sugar production in southern Florida damages one of our country's natural treasures, the greater Everglades ecosystem, including Everglades National Park and the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The Everglades are threatened by the nutrient-enriched water drained daily from the 700,000 acre Everglades Agricultural Area.

Sugar and other farming have already seriously polluted Lake Okeechobee and the Loxahatchee Refuge. Lake Okeechobee is the nation's second largest natural freshwater lake, a principal drinking water source for south Florida, and the heart of the water system that has historically sustained the Everglades. Halting the pollution and the diversion of water supplies caused by the subsidized sugar industry is essential to restoring the rich and diverse aquatic ecosystem for the Everglades, and assuring a water supply for the citizens of south Florida.

This vote was on a motion to table (kill) the amendment offered by Senators Bradley (D-NJ) and Roth (R-DE) to reduce the price support for sugar from 18 cents per pound to 16 cents per pound. Subsidizing our sugar program at the current rate is contributing to the destruction of the Everglades. The Senate voted to table the amendment by a vote of 54-44 on July 24. No is the pro-environment vote.