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Bill to Support Concrete Industry Passes House01-06-17 | Legislation

Bill to Support Concrete Industry Passes House

Will Establish a "Checkoff" Program

In a vote of 355 to 38, H.R. 985, the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 had no trouble moving on to the Senate.

Intended to help promote research, education and marketing of concrete masonry products, H.R. 985 passed the House without objection.

Introduced by Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and lead cosponsor Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2015 would authorize the industry to establish a "checkoff" program. These types of programs, according to the National Agriculture Law Center, attempt to improve the profitability of a certain commodity by expanding markets, increasing demand, and developing new uses, and are usually financed from assessments charged to the producers of that commodity.

Bob Thomas, president, National Concrete Masonry Association, registered his organization's support for it saying, "Our success is representative of a targeted industry-wide effort which we hope will carry us over the finish line in the Senate."

There a companion bill, S.1524, has been introduced by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and currently is being taken up by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.