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This bill would create a new office inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture focused on competition problems in the meat and poultry industry. The new office would have a special investigator who could investigate and help enforce rules against unfair business practices, work with other federal agencies on competition issues, and take legal action when needed. The goal is to give the government a stronger tool to look into possible anti-competitive behavior in food and agriculture markets.
- The new office would be part of USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Division.
- The special investigator would be chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture.
- The investigator could use subpoenas and other available tools to investigate violations, and could bring civil or administrative cases under the law.
- The office would also coordinate with the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Homeland Security on competition, trade practices, and security concerns in the food and agriculture sector.
Official Summaries
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act
This bill establishes the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within the Agricultural Marketing Service's Packers and Stockyards Division.
Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (P&S Act). Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act.
Additionally, the office must
- serve as a liaison to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector,
- consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector, and
- maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise.
As background, the purposes of the P&S Act are to assure fair competition and trade practices, safeguard farmers and ranchers, protect consumers, and protect livestock, meat, and poultry industry members from unfair, deceptive, unjustly discriminatory, and monopolistic practices. Those engaged in the business of marketing livestock, meat, and poultry in commerce are subject to the P&S Act.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1380 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1380
To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to establish the Office
of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2025
Mr. Gottheimer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to establish the Office
of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Meat and Poultry Special
Investigator Act''.
SEC. 2. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.
The Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, is amended by inserting after
section 415 (7 U.S.C. 228d) the following:
``SEC. 416. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Packers and
Stockyards Division of the Department of Agriculture an office, to be
known as the `Office of the Special Investigator for Competition
Matters' (referred to in this section as the `Office').
``(b) Special Investigator for Competition Matters.--The Office
shall be headed by the Special Investigator for Competition Matters
(referred to in this section as the `Special Investigator'), who shall
be appointed by the Secretary.
``(c) Duties.--The Special Investigator shall--
``(1) use all available tools, including subpoenas, to
investigate and prosecute violations of this Act;
``(2) serve as a Department of Agriculture liaison to, and
act in consultation with, the Department of Justice and the
Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade
practices in the food and agricultural sector;
``(3) act in consultation with the Department of Homeland
Security with respect to national security and critical
infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector;
and
``(4) maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals
with appropriate expertise.
``(d) Prosecutorial Authority.--Notwithstanding title 28, United
States Code, the Special Investigator shall have the authority to bring
any civil or administrative action authorized under this Act.''.
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