NCBA DEFEATS ANTI-CHECKOFF SPARTZ AMENDMENT
During the summer , Representative Victoria Spartz , a Republican from Indiana who is retiring from Congress in 2024 , offered an amendment to the agriculture appropriations bill that funds the Department of Agriculture , the Food and Drug Administration and other related federal programs . The Spartz Amendment stated that no federal funding is allowed to go to Checkoff programs . As cattle producers know , all funding to implement the Beef Checkoff comes from cattle and beef producers , which includes covering the costs USDA incurs to administer and audit the program .
NCBA ’ s Government Affairs team quickly moved to lobby against this trojan horse amendment . Since zero taxpayer dollars ever go to the Checkoff , it might seem like this was a do-nothing amendment and there was no need to waste time opposing it . However , suddenly every animal activist group came forward in support of the effort , and Rep . Spartz called out NCBA by name in interviews promoting her amendment . It is highly unusual for a sitting member of Congress to call out a trade association , but it confirmed suspicions that this was a coordinated attack against NCBA to undermine the credibility of the Beef Checkoff . The Spartz Amendment was really a place holder for the OFF Act , legislation which would gut the Checkoff and limit its effectiveness .
When the House returned from their August recess in September , debate began on the agriculture appropriations bill and the Spartz Amendment was advanced with that bill by the Rules Committee , meaning the Spartz Amendment would receive a vote on the House floor . NCBA aggressively campaigned to defeat the amendment , using an all-of-the-above approach including activating our grassroots network with an action alert text message and setting up a campaign to send letters to Congress . Thousands of producers emailed letters , asking their member of Congress to oppose the Spartz Amendment . At the same time , NCBA ’ s Government Affairs team educated leaders in Congress on the benefits of the Checkoff and led a pro-checkoff coalition of 130 agricultural and forestry groups , collectively sending a letter to congressional leaders asking them to support producer-funded checkoff programs and not let the Spartz Amendment pass .
Surprisingly , a dark horse group which served as one of NCBA ’ s biggest opponents during this campaign was the Sierra Club , an internationally recognized environmental group . This is the same group that pushes for more Endangered Species Act listings and championed the onerous WOTUS rule . An outsider might think it strange that an environmental activist group like the Sierra Club was lobbying against farmers and ranchers promoting their products but , to those in this fight , their involvement came as no surprise . The environmental groups are closely aligned with animal activist groups , and they all share the same goal : eliminate cattle on America ’ s range and pastureland by any means necessary .
When the Spartz Amendment was brought up on the House floor , the amendment failed by a vote of 49-377 . This sent a strong message to those against the Checkoff : farmers and ranchers will not let D . C . politicians meddle with producer-funded marketing programs . This landslide vote further showed the overwhelming bipartisan support for the Beef Checkoff around the country and the power of NCBA ’ s grassroots network . This victory was made possible by every cattle producer who called or emailed their member of Congress to make their voice heard . The animal activists might be well-funded but they do not have the grassroots power NCBA and its members effectively use in Washington , D . C ., to protect the U . S . cattle industry .
There will be other attacks on the Checkoff before the conclusion of the 118th Congress , including an expected amendment to the Farm Bill . As always , NCBA will remain fiercely opposed to this and other harmful proposals . But it will be the continued engagement of our members , cattle producers themselves , that will ultimately determine our success or failure . Thank you for your efforts , and keep up the good fight — we are not out of the woods yet .
10 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN www . NCBA . org