Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act

Bill: 115-s-740
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Introduced: 2017-03-28
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion

Agricultural research
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-28
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act </b></p> <p>This bill prohibits mandatory or compulsory checkoff programs and requires producer participation in the programs to be voluntary at the point of sale. (A checkoff program is a program to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. The Department of Agriculture oversees the programs, which are requested and funded by industry.) </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 740 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 28, 2017 Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To prohibit mandatory or compulsory checkoff programs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Voluntary Checkoff Program Participation Act . 2. Prohibition on mandatory or compulsory checkoff programs (a) Definition of checkoff program The term checkoff program means a program to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands, including a program carried out under any of the following: (1) The Cotton Research and Promotion Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). (2) The Potato Research and Promotion Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2611 et seq.). (3) The Egg Research and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.). (4) The Beef Research and Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.). (5) The Wheat and Wheat Foods Research and Nutrition Education Act ( 7 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.). (6) The Floral Research and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.). (7) Subtitle B of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 ( 7 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.). (8) The Honey Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.). (9) The Pork Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1985 ( 7 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.). (10) The Watermelon Research and Promotion Act ( 7 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.). (11) The Pecan Promotion and Research Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6001 et seq.). (12) The Mushroom Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.). (13) The Lime Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.). (14) The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.). (15) The Fluid Milk Promotion Act of 1990 ( 7 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.). (16) The Fresh Cut Flowers and Fresh Cut Greens Promotion and Information Act of 1993 ( 7 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.). (17) The Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.). (18) Section 501 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7401 ). (19) The Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7411 et seq.). (20) The Canola and Rapeseed Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 7441 et seq.). (21) The National Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 7461 et seq.). (22) The Popcorn Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act ( 7 U.S.C. 7481 et seq.). (23) The Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 2000 ( 7 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.). (b) Prohibition No checkoff program shall be mandatory or compulsory. (c) Voluntary participation Producer participation in a checkoff program shall be voluntary at the point of sale.