(7) checkoff programs are designed to promote 
agricultural commodities, not to damage other types 
of agricultural commodities through anticompetitive 
conduct or otherwise; 
(8) prohibiting anticompetitive and similar con-
duct is necessary to ensure proper and lawful oper-
ation of checkoff programs; 
(9) lack of transparency in checkoff programs 
enables abuses to occur and conceals abuses from 
being discovered; and 
(10) requiring transparency in the expenditure 
of checkoff program funds is necessary to prevent 
and uncover abuses in checkoff programs. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means a 
board, committee, or similar entity established to 
carry out a checkoff program or an order issued by 
the Secretary under a checkoff program. 
(2) CHECKOFF PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘checkoff 
program’’ means a program to promote and provide 
research and information for a particular agricul-
tural commodity without reference to specific pro-
ducers or brands, including a program carried out 
under any of the following: 
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(A) The Cotton Research and Promotion 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). 
(B) The Potato Research and Promotion 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2611 et seq.). 
(C) The Egg Research and Consumer In-
formation Act (7 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). 
(D) The Beef Research and Information 
Act (7 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.). 
(E) The Wheat and Wheat Foods Re-
search and Nutrition Education Act (7 U.S.C. 
3401 et seq.). 
(F) The Floral Research and Consumer 
Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.). 
(G) Subtitle B of the Dairy Production 
Stabilization Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 4501 et 
seq.). 
(H) The Honey Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 4601 et 
seq.). 
(I) The Pork Promotion, Research, and 
Consumer Information Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 
4801 et seq.). 
(J) The Watermelon Research and Pro-
motion Act (7 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.). 
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(K) The Pecan Promotion and Research 
Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.). 
(L) The Mushroom Promotion, Research, 
and Consumer Information Act of 1990 (7 
U.S.C. 6101 et seq.). 
(M) The Lime Research, Promotion, and 
Consumer Information Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 
6201 et seq.). 
(N) The Soybean Promotion, Research, 
and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 6301 
et seq.). 
(O) The Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 
(7 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.). 
(P) The Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut 
Greens Promotion and Information Act of 1993 
(7 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.). 
(Q) The Sheep Promotion, Research, and 
Information Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7101 et 
seq.). 
(R) Section 501 of the Federal Agriculture 
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7 
U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). 
(S) The Commodity Promotion, Research, 
and Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411 et 
seq.). 
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(T) The Canola and Rapeseed Research, 
Promotion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7441 et seq.). 
(U) The National Kiwifruit Research, Pro-
motion, and Consumer Information Act (7 
U.S.C. 7461 et seq.). 
(V) The Popcorn Promotion, Research, 
and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 7481 
et seq.). 
(W) The Hass Avocado Promotion, Re-
search, and Information Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 
7801 et seq.). 
(3) CONFLICT OF INTEREST.—The term ‘‘con-
flict of interest’’ means a direct or indirect financial 
interest in a person or entity that performs a service 
for, or enters into a contract or agreement with, a 
Board for anything of economic value. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENTS OF CHECKOFF PROGRAMS. 
(a) PROHIBITIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (4), a Board shall not enter into any contract 
or agreement to carry out checkoff program activi-
ties with a party that engages in activities for the 
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