Jim Baird: “Today, I rise in opposition to the Spartz amendment No. 76. This amendment states that none of the funds made available…”

“Today, I rise in opposition to the Spartz amendment No. 76. This amendment states that none of the funds made available by this appropriations bill may be used to carry out commodity checkoff programs. Checkoff programs function as research and promotion boards that help different commodities achieve industry success through market development, heightened demand, and expanded consumer awareness. This amendment proves factually unnecessary and inaccurate since no tax dollars are used to implement the checkoffs and no appropriated dollars are used to oversee them, pursuant to the statute. These programs benefit our Nation's agriculture industry and bolster the work that is being done by our farmers and ranchers who put food on the tables across the country. The continued success of these programs must not be interrupted and misguided by the lack of understanding and nongermane amendments. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.”