1.   A bid to reduce the federal sugar program was rejected Thursday when opponents warned it would have destroyed the domestic sugar industry.

2.   Both the House and Senate propose to end government-imposed limits on domestic sugar production, allowing growers unlimited ability to expand.

3.   It limits imports to maintain prices for domestic sugar.

4.   Opponents, though, said sugar reforms have been made in the bill, including lifting planting restrictions on domestic sugar farmers and allowing larger amounts of imports.

5.   Requested overview of the domestic sugar support program.

6.   That keeps the price of domestic sugar higher.

7.   The bill would end assigned planting limits for domestic sugar growers, and lower the guaranteed-minimum price by one cent a pound.

8.   The domestic sugar industry endorsed changes in U.S. sugar policy that officials said could expand production and remove minimum price guarantees for growers when imports are low.

9.   The program sets limits on imports in order to preserve a threshold price for domestic sugar.

10.   The program has enriched domestic sugar growers at the expense of ordinary consumers and, in some cases, the environment.