In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pension Assistance and Counseling 
Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAMS.

    Title VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3058 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subtitle C as subtitle D;
            (2) by redesignating sections 761 through 764 as sections 
        791 through 794, respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subtitle B the following:

                    ``Subtitle C--Pension Counseling

``SEC. 761. PENSION COUNSELING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Pension and other retirement benefits.--The term 
        `pension and other retirement benefits' means private, civil 
        service, and other public pensions and retirement benefits, 
        including benefits provided under--
                    ``(A) the Social Security program carried out under 
                title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
                seq.);
                    ``(B) the railroad retirement program carried out 
                under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 
                231 et seq.);
                    ``(C) the government retirement benefits programs 
                carried out under--
                            ``(i) the Civil Service Retirement System 
                        set forth in subchapter III of chapter 83 of 
                        title 5, United States Code;
                            ``(ii) the Federal Employees Retirement 
                        System set forth in chapter 84 of title 5, 
                        United States Code;
                            ``(iii) title 10, United States Code; or
                            ``(iv) any other government retirement 
                        system, including any Government pension plan 
                        as such term is defined under section 9502 of 
                        title 31, United States Code; or
                    ``(D) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
                of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
            ``(2) Pension counseling program.--The term `pension 
        counseling program' means a program described in subsection 
        (c).
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish and 
carry out pension counseling projects. In carrying out the projects, 
the Assistant Secretary shall award grants under subsection (c) and 
(d).
    ``(c) Pension Counseling Programs.--
            ``(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects specified 
        in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award grants 
        to eligible entities to establish programs that create or 
        continue a sufficient number of pension assistance and 
        counseling projects to provide outreach, information, 
        counseling, referral, and other assistance regarding pension 
        and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such 
        benefits, to individuals throughout the United States.
            ``(2) Award of grants.--
                    ``(A) Type of entity.--The Assistant Secretary 
                shall award under this subsection--
                            ``(i) grants to State agencies or area 
                        agencies on aging; and
                            ``(ii) grants to nonprofit organizations 
                        with a proven record of providing--
                                    ``(I) services related to 
                                retirement of older individuals; or
                                    ``(II) specific pension counseling.
                    ``(B) Panel.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Assistant Secretary shall use a citizen 
                advisory panel that shall include representatives of 
                business, labor, national senior advocates, and 
                national pension rights advocates.
                    ``(C) Criteria.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Assistant Secretary, after consultation 
                with the panel, shall use as criteria--
                            ``(i) evidence of commitment of an agency 
                        or organization to carry out a proposed pension 
                        counseling program;
                            ``(ii) the ability of the agency or 
                        organization to perform effective outreach to 
                        affected populations, particularly populations 
                        identified as in need of special outreach;
                            ``(iii) reliable information that the 
                        population to be served by the agency or 
                        organization has a demonstrable need for the 
                        services proposed to be provided under the 
                        program; and
                            ``(iv) evidence of ability of the agency or 
                        organization to provide services under the 
                        program on a statewide or regional basis.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a 
                grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an 
                application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in 
                such manner, and containing such information as the 
                Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a 
                minimum--
                            ``(i) a plan for the establishment of a 
                        pension counseling program to serve a specific 
                        geographic area; and
                            ``(ii) an assurance that staff members 
                        (including volunteer staff members) have no 
                        conflict of interest in providing the services 
                        described in the plan.
                    ``(B) Plan.--The plan described in subparagraph (A) 
                shall provide for a program that--
                            ``(i) establishes or continues a State or 
                        area pension counseling service;
                            ``(ii) provides counseling (including 
                        direct counseling and assistance to individuals 
                        needing information) and information that may 
                        assist individuals in establishing rights to, 
                        obtaining, and filing claims or complaints 
                        related to, pension and other retirement 
                        benefits;
                            ``(iii) provides information on sources of 
                        pension and other retirement benefits, 
                        including the benefits under programs described 
                        in subsection (a)(1);
                            ``(iv) makes referrals to legal services 
                        and other advocacy programs;
                            ``(v) establishes a system of referral to 
                        Federal, State, and local departments or 
                        agencies related to pension and other 
                        retirement benefits;
                            ``(vi) provides a sufficient number of 
                        staff positions (including volunteer positions) 
                        to ensure information, counseling, referral, 
                        and assistance regarding pension and other 
                        retirement benefits;
                            ``(vii) provides training programs for 
                        staff members, including volunteer staff 
                        members of the programs described in subsection 
                        (a)(1);
                            ``(viii) makes recommendations to the 
                        Administration, the Department of Labor, and 
                        other Federal, State, and local agencies 
                        concerning issues for older individuals related 
                        to pension and other retirement benefits; and
                            ``(ix) establishes or continues to provide 
                        projects to provide outreach, information, 
                        counseling, referral, and other assistance 
                        regarding pension and other retirement 
                        benefits, with particular emphasis on outreach 
                        to women, minorities, and low-income retirees.
    ``(d) Training and Technical Assistance Program.--
            ``(1) Use of funds.--In carrying out the projects described 
        in subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary shall award a grant 
        to an eligible entity to establish a training and technical 
        assistance program to provide--
                    ``(A) information and technical assistance to the 
                staffs of entities operating pension counseling 
                programs; and
                    ``(B) assistance to the entities, including 
                assistance in designing program evaluation tools.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--Entities eligible to receive grants 
        under this subsection include nonprofit private organizations 
        with records of providing national information, referral, and 
        advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement 
        benefits.
            ``(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the 
        Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may 
        require.
    ``(e) Pension Assistance Hotline and Interagency Coordination.--The 
Assistant Secretary shall enter into interagency agreements for the 
establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, 
a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, 
counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other 
retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits. The Assistant 
Secretary shall also enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor 
and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the 
provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as the Assistant 
Secretary determines to be appropriate, in order to carry out this 
subsection and to develop a nationwide public-private pension 
assistance system.
    ``(f) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) Preparation.--The Assistant Secretary shall prepare a 
        report that--
                    ``(A) summarizes the distribution of funds 
                authorized for grants under this section and the 
                expenditure of such funds;
                    ``(B) summarizes the scope and content of training 
                and assistance provided under a program carried out 
                under this section and the degree to which the training 
                and assistance can be replicated;
                    ``(C) outlines the problems that individuals 
                participating in programs funded under this section 
                encountered concerning rights related to pension and 
                other retirement benefits; and
                    ``(D) makes recommendations regarding the manner in 
                which services provided in programs funded under this 
                section can be incorporated into the ongoing programs 
                of State agencies, area agencies on aging, multipurpose 
                senior centers, and other similar entities.
            ``(2) Submission.--Not later than 30 months after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary shall 
        submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Committee 
        on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
        the Senate.
    ``(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the funds appropriated under 
subsection (h) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not more 
than $100,000 may be used by the Administration for administrative 
expenses in carrying out this section.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.''.

SEC. 3. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Repealer.--Section 429J of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
U.S.C. 3035r) is repealed.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (b) of section 794 of the 
Older Americans Act of 1965 (as redesignated in section 2(2)) is 
amended by striking ``entities described in section 751(c)'' and 
inserting ``persons and entities described in section 793(b)''.

Output: Specifies that such grants shall be awarded to: (1) State agencies or area agencies on aging; (2) nonprofit organizations with a proven record of providing services related to retirement of older individuals or specific pension counseling; and (3) an eligible entity to establish a training and technical assistance program to provide information and technical assistance to the staffs of entities operating pension counseling programs and assistance to such entities, including assistance in designing program evaluation tools. Makes nonprofit private organizations with records of providing national information, referral, and advocacy in matters related to pension and other retirement benefits eligible to receive training and technical assistance grants.
Requires the Assistant Secretary to enter into: (1) interagency agreements for the establishment and operation of, and dissemination of information about, a telephone hotline for individuals seeking outreach, information, counseling, referral, and assistance regarding pension and other retirement benefits, and rights related to such benefits; and (2) agreements with the Secretary of Labor and with the heads of other Federal agencies that regulate the provision of pension and other retirement benefits, as appropriate, in order to carry out this Act and to develop a nationwide public-private pension assistance system.
Authorizes appropriations.
Repeals provisions of the Act that establish pension rights demonstration projects.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Humanitarian Exports Leading to 
Peace Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Iraqi people suffered under a decade of war and 
        continue to suffer under a repressive regime and the most 
        comprehensive economic sanctions ever imposed on any country.
            (2) The economic sanctions have caused extraordinary 
        hardship on the people of Iraq and failed to weaken the 
        leadership of Iraq, and have undermined the institutions of 
        civil society which are necessary for democratic political 
        life.
            (3) The investigative panel established by the United 
        Nations Security Council and other independent bodies have 
        confirmed that the United Nations Oil-for-Food program has 
        failed to adequately meet the needs of the Iraqi people.
            (4) According to the United States Department of 
        Agriculture, Iraq represents a potential market for nearly 
        $1,000,000,000 in agricultural products from the United States.
            (5) The sanctions regime continues to harm the Iraqi 
        population for the crimes of its leaders and has not served 
        either the goal of the United States of punishing Iraq's 
        leaders or disarming weapons of mass destruction.
            (6) Rigorous weapons inspections and adequate provision for 
        civilian needs in Iraq are not mutually exclusive.
            (7) The devastating effect of the economic sanctions on 
        Iraq has been reported by numerous international and 
        independent bodies, including the following:
                    (A) The Center for Economic and Social Rights of 
                the United Nations documented dramatic increases in 
                malnutrition and disease, leading to the deaths of 
                hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 5 
                since 1991.
                    (B) UNICEF reported in 1995 that ``no significant 
                movement towards food security can be achieved so long 
                as the embargo remains in place''. Further, despite the 
                Oil-for-Food Program, UNICEF reported in July 1999 
                survey findings that ``Both the infant mortality rate 
                and the under-five mortality rate consistently show a 
                major increase in mortality over the 10 years preceding 
                the survey. More specifically, the results show that 
                the infant mortality rate has increased from 47 deaths 
                per 1,000 live births for the period 1984-89, to 108 
                deaths per 1,000 live births for the period 1994-99.''.
                    (C) A report authorized by the United National 
                Security Council on March 30, 1999, found that ``the 
                gravity of the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi 
                people is indisputable and cannot be overstated.''. 
                Further, it emphasized that ``Even if not all suffering 
                in Iraq can be imputed to external factors, especially 
                sanctions, the Iraqi people would not be undergoing 
                such deprivations in the absence of the prolonged 
                measures imposed by the Security Council and the 
                effects of the war''.
                    (D) UNICEF and the World Food Program found in 1997 
                that ``One out of every 4 young Iraqi children is 
                malnourished. More than 750,000 children are suffering 
                from malnutrition''.

SEC. 3. LIMITATION ON PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE WITH IRAQ 
              TO ALLOW FOR THE EXPORT OF FOOD, MEDICINES, AND CERTAIN 
              OTHER PRODUCTS.

    The sanctions applied with respect to Iraq under the Iraq Sanctions 
Act of 1990 (sections 586-586J of the Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 
101-513)) or any other provision of law shall not apply with respect to 
the export to Iraq of any food or other agricultural products 
(including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
instruments, or medical equipment, or with respect to travel incident 
to the sale or delivery to Iraq of food or other agricultural products 
(including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
instruments, or medical equipment.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION BY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

    (a) Administration by Secretary of Commerce.--The Secretary of 
Commerce shall exercise the authorities of the Export Administration 
Act of 1979, as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act, to carry out section 3, except that--
            (1) the Secretary may not require a license for the export 
        of any of the items to which section 3 applies; but
            (2) the Secretary shall require persons exporting such 
        items to notify the Secretary of such exports.
    (b) Regulations.--The Secretary of Commerce shall issue such 
regulations as are necessary to carry out section 3.

SEC. 5. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Section 906(a)(1) of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export 
Enhancement Act of 2000 (title IX of H.R. 5426 of the 106th Congress, 
as enacted into law by section 1(a) of Public Law 106-387) is amended 
by inserting ``(other than Iraq)'' after ``government of a country''.

SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the United States Government 
should take all necessary steps to end the suffering of innocent 
populations, primarily children and the elderly, by allowing the free 
flow of humanitarian aid to Iraq without threat of prosecution. Such 
steps should include, but not be limited to, using its position as a 
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council--
            (1) to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq so as to allow 
        exports and travel referred to in section 3; and
            (2) to recommend a ban on transfers of weapons to Iraq by 
        countries that are members of the United Nations.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the President shall transmit to the Congress a report that sets 
forth--
            (1) the extent (expressed in volume and dollar amounts) of 
        sales to Iraq of food and other agricultural products 
        (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical 
        instruments, and medical equipment, since the enactment of this 
        Act;
            (2) the impact the exports have had on food security in 
        Iraq;
            (3) a description of the types and end users of the goods 
        so exported;
            (4) whether there has been any indication that any 
        medicines, medical supplies, medical instruments, or medical 
        equipment exported to Iraq since the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) have been diverted by the Government of Iraq or 
                any other third party from the intended recipients; or
                    (B) have been used for any unintended 
                nonhumanitarian or dual-use purposes; and
            (5) what steps the United States has taken through the 
        United Nations, with the cooperation of Security Council 
        members, to--
                    (A) lift nonmilitary sanctions on Iraq, including 
                actions described in section 6; or
                    (B) impose a strict regional arms control regime 
                pursuant to Article 14 of Security Council Resolution 
                687.

Output: Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace Act of 2001 - Declares that certain sanctions prohibiting trade with Iraq under the Iraq Sanctions Act of 1990 or any other provision of law shall not apply with respect to the export of any food or other agricultural products (including fertilizer), medicines, medical supplies, medical instruments, or medical equipment, or with respect to travel incident to the sale or delivery of such items.Directs the Secretary of Commerce to exercise the authorities of the Export Administration Act of 1979 (as in effect pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act) to carry out this Act; except that the Secretary may not require a license for the export of humanitarian assistance, but shall require persons to notify the Secretary when exporting such assistance.Amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to repeal a specified section prohibiting the export to Iraq of agricultural commodities (including the financing of their sale), medicine, or medical devices, and travel (effectively allowing the export of such commodities and travel to such country).Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. Government should take all necessary steps to end the suffering of innocent populations, primarily children and the elderly, by allowing the free flow of humanitarian aid to Iraq without threat of prosecution. Urges the U.S. Government to use its position as a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq so as to allow such exports and travel there, and to recommend a ban on transfers of weapons to such country by countries that are members of the UN.


Input: Consider Input: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Opportunities for Fairness in 
Farming Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the generic programs to promote and provide research 
        and information for an agricultural commodity (commonly known 
        as ``checkoff programs'') are intended to increase demand for 
        all of that agricultural commodity and benefit all assessed 
        producers of that agricultural commodity;
            (2) although the laws establishing checkoff programs 
        broadly prohibit the use of funds in any manner for the purpose 
        of influencing legislation or government action, checkoff 
        programs have repeatedly been shown to use funds to influence 
        policy directly or by partnering with organizations that lobby;
            (3) the unlawful use of checkoff programs funds benefits 
        some agricultural producers while harming many others;
            (4) to more effectively prevent Boards from using funds for 
        unlawful purposes, strict separation of engagement between the 
        Boards and policy entities is necessary;
            (5) conflicts of interest in the checkoff programs allow 
        special interests to use checkoff program funds for the benefit 
        of some assessed agricultural producers at the expense of many 
        others;
            (6) prohibiting conflicts of interest in checkoff programs 
        is necessary to ensure the proper and lawful operation of the 
        checkoff programs;
            (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 conduct is 
        necessary to ensure proper and lawful operation 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 agricultural commodity without reference to specific 
        producers or brands, including a program carried out under any 
        of the following:
                    (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 Information 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 Research 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 Promotion Act (7 
                U.S.C. 4901 et seq.).
                    (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).
                    (S) The Commodity Promotion, Research, and 
                Information Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7411 et seq.).
                    (T) The Canola and Rapeseed Research, Promotion, 
                and Consumer Information Act (7 U.S.C. 7441 et seq.).
                    (U) The National Kiwifruit Research, Promotion, 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, Research, and 
                Information Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.).
            (3) Conflict of interest.--The term ``conflict 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.--A Board shall not enter into any contract 
        or agreement to carry out checkoff program activities with a 
        party that engages in activities for the purpose of influencing 
        any government policy or action that relates to agriculture.
            (2) Conflict of interest.--A Board shall not engage in, and 
        shall prohibit the employees and agents of the Board, acting in 
        their official capacity, from engaging in, any act that may 
        involve a conflict of interest.
            (3) Other prohibitions.--A Board shall not engage in, and 
        shall prohibit the employees and agents of the Board, acting in 
        their official capacity, from engaging in--
                    (A) any anticompetitive activity;
                    (B) any unfair or deceptive act or practice; or
                    (C) any act that may be disparaging to, or in any 
                way negatively portray, another agricultural commodity 
                or product.
    (b) Authority To Enter Into Contracts.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, on approval of the Secretary, a Board may enter 
directly into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, 
research, or other activities authorized by law.
    (c) Production of Records.--
            (1) In general.--Each contract or agreement of a checkoff 
        program shall provide that the entity that enters into the 
        contract or agreement shall produce to the Board accurate 
        records that account for all funds received under the contract 
        or agreement, including any goods or services provided or costs 
        incurred in connection with the contract or agreement.
            (2) Maintenance of records.--A Board shall maintain any 
        records received under paragraph (1).
    (d) Publication of Budgets and Disbursements.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall publish and make available 
        for public inspection all budgets and disbursements of funds 
        entrusted to the Board that are approved by the Secretary, 
        immediately on approval by the Secretary.
            (2) Required disclosures.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
        the Board shall disclose--
                    (A) the amount of the disbursement;
                    (B) the purpose of the disbursement, including the 
                activities to be funded by the disbursement;
                    (C) the identity of the recipient of the 
                disbursement; and
                    (D) the identity of any other parties that may 
                receive the disbursed funds, including any contracts or 
                subcontractors of the recipient of the disbursement.
    (e) Audits.--
            (1) Periodic audits by inspector general of usda.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently 
                than every 5 years thereafter, the Inspector General of 
                the Department of Agriculture shall conduct an audit to 
                determine the compliance of each checkoff program with 
                this section during the period of time covered by the 
                audit.
                    (B) Review of records.--An audit conducted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include a review of any records 
                produced to the Board under subsection (c)(1).
                    (C) Submission of reports.--On completion of each 
                audit under subparagraph (A), the Inspector General of 
                the Department of Agriculture shall--
                            (i) prepare a report describing the audit; 
                        and
                            (ii) submit the report described in clause 
                        (i) to--
                                    (I) the appropriate committees of 
                                Congress, including the Subcommittee on 
                                Antitrust, Competition Policy and 
                                Consumer Rights of the Committee on the 
                                Judiciary of the Senate; and
                                    (II) the Comptroller General of the 
                                United States.
            (2) Audit by comptroller general.--
                    (A) In general.--Not earlier than 3 years, and not 
                later than 5 years, after the date of enactment of this 
                Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
                shall--
                            (i) conduct an audit to assess--
                                    (I) the status of actions taken for 
                                each checkoff program to ensure 
                                compliance with this section; and
                                    (II) the extent to which actions 
                                described in subclause (I) have 
                                improved the integrity of a checkoff 
                                program; and
                            (ii) prepare a report describing the audit 
                        conducted under clause (i), including any 
                        recommendations for--
                                    (I) strengthening the effect of 
                                actions described in clause (i)(I); and
                                    (II) improving Federal legislation 
                                relating to checkoff programs.
                    (B) Consideration of inspector general reports.--
                The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
                consider reports described in paragraph (1)(C) in 
                preparing any recommendations in the report under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).

SEC. 5. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision 
to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act, and the application of the provision to any 
other person or circumstance, shall not be affected.


Output: 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.