New legislation offered by Mace bolsters transparency of USDA checkoff programs

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Feb. 28 proposed a bipartisan, bicameral bill that aims to provide transparency and improve oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) commodity checkoff programs, which are mandatory participation programs funded through compulsory fees on various agricultural producers.

“We need to make sure that these programs are operating in the best interest of our farmers and the agricultural industry as a whole,” Rep. Mace said. “This bill will help to address the transparency issues raised and ensure that checkoff programs are fulfilling their intended purpose.”

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, H.R. 1249, which Rep. Mace sponsored alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), would prohibit checkoff programs from contracting with any organization that lobbies on agricultural policy, and prohibit employees and agents of the checkoff boards from engaging in activities that may involve a conflict of interest, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Mace’s office. 

If enacted, H.R. 1249 also would establish uniform standards for checkoff programs that prohibit anti-competitive activity, unfair or deceptive acts, or any practice that may be disparaging to another agricultural commodity or product, the summary says. 

The measure also would require the publication of checkoff program budgets and expenditures, as well as periodic audits of compliance by the USDA Inspector General and a Government Accountability Office audit of checkoff board compliance, according to the summary. 

“With too many Nevadans bearing the brunt of higher food prices, big ag corporations should be working to keep costs low, not lining their own pockets by promoting anti-competitive practices,” said Rep. Titus. “I’m pushing this bipartisan legislation to increase federal oversight, prevent conflicts of interest, and stop ag lobbyists from squeezing small producers out of business.”

The same-named S. 557 was introduced on Feb. 28 by U.S. Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The bill has been endorsed by Animal Wellness Action, the Organization for Competitive Markets, the National Dairy Producers Organization, and the American Grassfed Association.