article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Sugar Competitiveness Act of 1995''. SEC. 2. MARKET-ORIENTED SUGAR PROGRAM LOANS. (a) In General.--Section 206 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446g) is amended-- (1) by striking the section heading, subsections (a) through (h), and subsection (j); (2) by inserting before subsection (i) the following: ``SEC. 206. RECOURSE LOANS TO PROCESSORS OF SUGARCANE AND SUGAR BEETS. ``(a) Sugarcane Processor Loans.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make recourse loans available to processors of sugarcane on raw cane sugar processed from the 1995 and succeeding crops of sugarcane. ``(2) Loan rates.--Recourse loans under this subsection shall be make at the rate of 18 cents per pound of raw cane sugar for the 1995 crop of sugarcane; 16 cents per pound of raw cane sugar for the 1996 crop of sugarcane; 14 cents per pound for the 1997 crop of sugarcane; and 12 cents per pound for the 1998 and succeeding crops of sugarcane. ``(b) Sugar Beet Processor Loans.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make recourse loans available to processors of sugar beets on refined sugar processed from the 1995 and succeeding crops of sugar beets. ``(2) Loan rates.--Recourse loans under this subsection for sugar refined from a crop of sugar beets shall be made at a rate, per pound of refined sugar, that reflects-- ``(A) an amount that bears the same relation to the loan rate in effect under subsection (a)(2) as the weighted average of producer returns for sugar beets bears to the weighted average of producer returns for sugarcane, expressed on a cents per pound basis for refined beet sugar and raw cane sugar, for the most recent 5-year period for which data are available; plus ``(B) an amount that covers sugar beet processor fixed marketing expenses. ``(c) Administrative Rules.-- ``(1) National loan rates.--Recourse loans under this section shall be made available at all locations nationally at the rates specified in this section, without adjustment to provide regional differentials. ``(2) Length of loans.--Each recourse loan made under this section shall be for a term of 3 months, and may be extended for additional 3-month terms, except that-- ``(A) no loan may have a cumulative term in excess of 9 months or a term that extends beyond September 30 of the fiscal year in which the loan is made; and ``(B) a processor may terminate a loan and redeem the collateral for the loan at any time by payment in full of principal, interest, and fees then owing. ``(d) Prohibition on Price Support.--The Secretary may not make price support available, whether in the form of nonrecourse loans, payments, purchases, or other operations, for the 1995 or subsequent crops of sugarcane or sugar beets by using the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation. ``(e) Use of Commodity Credit Corporation.--The Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this section.''. (b) Effect on Existing Loans.-- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), section 206 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446g), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall continue to apply with respect to nonrecourse loans made under such section before such date. (2) Any loan in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act that is extended on or after the date of enactment shall be converted, when extended, into a recourse loan at the loan rate specified in section 206(a), as amended by this Act, and any loan made on or after the date of enactment shall be a recourse loan. (c) Extension and Modification of Marketing Assessment.--Subsection (i) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446g) is amended-- (1) by striking ``(i)'' and inserting ``(f)''; (2) in paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``1992 through 1996'' and inserting ``1992 through 2003''; (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''; and (C) in subparagraph (B)-- (i) by striking ``subsection (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''; (ii) by striking ``1998'' and inserting ``2003''; (iii) by striking ``1.1 percent'' and inserting ``1.5 percent''; and (iv) by striking ``(but not more than .198 cents per pound of raw cane sugar)'' and inserting ``as of October 1, 1995''; (3) in paragraph (2)-- (A) by striking ``1992 through 1996'' and inserting ``1992 through 2003''; and (B) in subparagraph (B)-- (i) by striking ``1998'' and inserting ``2003''; (ii) by striking ``1.1794 percent'' and inserting ``1.6083 percent''; (iii) by striking ``(but not more than .2123 cents per pound of beet sugar)'' and inserting ``as of October 1, 1995''; and (iv) adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(7) Imported sugar.--Effective only for imports of raw cane sugar and refined sugar during the 1996 through 2003 fiscal years, each exporter of raw cane sugar or refined sugar to be imported into the United States shall remit to the Commodity Credit Corporation a nonrefundable marketing assessment in an amount equal-- ``(A) in the case of imports of raw cane sugar, 1.5 percent of the loan level established under subsection (a) per pound of raw cane sugar as of October 1, 1995; ``(B) in the case of imports of refined sugar, 1.6083 percent of the loan level established under subsection (b) per pound of refined sugar as of October 1, 1995.''. (d) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Price support for designated nonbasic agricultural commodities.--Section 201(a) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1446(a)) is amended by striking out ``milk, sugar beets, and sugarcane'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``and milk''. (2) Price support benefits to producers.-- (A) In general.--Section 401(e) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1421(e)) is amended by striking out ``(1)'' in paragraph (1) and striking out paragraph (2). (B) Technical amendment.--Section 405(b) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1425(b)) is amended by striking out the last sentence. (3) Title iii of the agricultural act of 1949.--Section 301 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (7 U.S.C. 1447) is amended by inserting ``(other than sugarcane and sugar beets)'' before ``at a level''. (4) Powers of commodity credit corporation.--Section 5(a) of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(a)) is amended by inserting ``(except for sugarcane and sugar beets of the 1996 and subsequent crops)'' after ``agricultural commodities''. (5) Section 32 activities.--The second sentence of the first paragraph of section 32 of the Act of August 24, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c) is amended by inserting ``(other than sugarcane and sugar beets)'' after ``commodity'' the last place it appears. (e) CCC Sales Price Restrictions.--Section 407(c) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1427(c)) is amended by adding at the end a new paragraph as follows: ``(6) Sugar.--The Corporation may sell for unrestricted use sugar surrendered to it under the loan programs provided for in section 351 at such price as the Corporation determines appropriate to maintain and expand export and domestic markets for sugar and to avoid undue disruption of commercial sales of sugar.''. (f) Assurance of Adequate Supplies of Sugar.--Effective October 1, 1996, section 902(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1446g note) is amended to read as follows: ``Beginning with the quota year for sugar imports that begins after the 1994/1995 quota year, the President and the Secretary of Agriculture shall use all authorities available to the President and the Secretary, as the case may be, to ensure that adequate supplies of raw cane sugar are made available to the United States market at prices no greater than the higher of-- ``(1) the world sugar price (adjusted to a delivered basis); or ``(2) the raw cane sugar loan rate in effect under section 206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 1949 (plus interest).''. SEC. 3. TERMINATION OF MARKETING QUOTA AND ALLOTMENTS. (a) Termination.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), part VII of subtitle B of title III of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 (7 U.S.C. 1359aa-1359jj) is repealed. (2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall be effective October 1, 1996, for sugar marketed on or after such date. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 344(f)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 1344(f)(2)) is amended by striking out ``sugar cane for sugar; sugar beets for sugar;''.
summary: Sugar Competitiveness Act of 1995 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to replace current sugar price support provisions with recourse loans to sugarcane and sugar beet producers. Reduces sugarcane loan rates from 18 cents per pound to 12 cents per pound over three years. Prohibits sugar price supports. Provides for the conversion of any current nonrecourse loans that are extended into recourse loans. Extends and increases sugar marketing assessment provisions. Includes imported sugar within such provisions' scope. Provides for the regulation of imported raw sugarcane at prices not greater than the world sugar price or the raw sugarcane loan rate. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 to terminate sugar marketing quota and allotment provisions.