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A bill to prohibit certain practices relating to certain commodity promotion programs, to require greater transparency by those programs, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-741| Senate 
| Updated: 3/28/2017
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (2)
Rand Paul (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2017 This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for checkoff programs, which are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program or a USDA order issued under a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out program activities with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture. A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any: act that may involve a conflict of interest; anticompetitive activity; unfair or deceptive act or practice; or act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product. Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board. The board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds. The USDA Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs.
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Timeline
Mar 28, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-1753
Introduced in House
Mar 28, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • March 28, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-1753
    Introduced in House


  • March 28, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1753: To prohibit certain practices relating to certain commodity promotion programs, to require greater transparency by those programs, and for other purposes.
Agricultural marketing and promotionAgricultural researchBusiness recordsCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPublic participation and lobbying

A bill to prohibit certain practices relating to certain commodity promotion programs, to require greater transparency by those programs, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-741| Senate 
| Updated: 3/28/2017
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2017 This bill establishes restrictions and requirements for checkoff programs, which are programs overseen by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. The bill prohibits boards established to carry out a checkoff program or a USDA order issued under a checkoff program from entering into a contract or agreement to carry out program activities with a party that engages in activities to influence any government policy or action that relates to agriculture. A board or its employees or agents acting in their official capacity may not engage in any: act that may involve a conflict of interest; anticompetitive activity; unfair or deceptive act or practice; or act that may be disparaging to, or in any way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity or product. Upon approval of USDA, a board may enter directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, or other activities authorized by law if the agreement or contract requires records accounting for the funds received to be submitted to the board. The board must meet specified requirements regarding the publication of budgets and disbursements of funds. The USDA Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office must conduct specified audits regarding checkoff programs.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 28, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-1753
Introduced in House
Mar 28, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 28, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  • March 28, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-1753
    Introduced in House


  • March 28, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 28, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mike Lee

Mike Lee

Republican Senator

Utah

Cosponsors (2)
Rand Paul (Republican)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Agriculture and Food

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1753: To prohibit certain practices relating to certain commodity promotion programs, to require greater transparency by those programs, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Agricultural marketing and promotionAgricultural researchBusiness recordsCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsPublic participation and lobbying