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S. 713 117th Congress Senate

Safe Line Speeds During COVID–19 Act of 2021

Official title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to temporarily suspend increased line speeds at meat and poultry establishments, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 11, 2021 Introduced by: Cory A. Booker Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
Agriculture and Food Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAnimal protection and human-animal relationshipsCardiovascular and respiratory healthCongressional oversight
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Department of AgricultureEmergency medical services and trauma careFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingGovernment studies and investigationsHealth technology, devices, suppliesInfectious and parasitic diseasesMeatWorker safety and health
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 11, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mar 11, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 11, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act of 2021

This bill directs the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily suspend any waivers and not issue new waivers related to line speeds in meat and poultry establishments and inspection staffing requirements for such establishments through 90 days after the date on which the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period is lifted. Additionally, the implementation of, and conversion to, the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System must be suspended.

No funds made available to USDA during such emergency period shall be used to develop, propose, finalize, issue, amend, or implement any policy, regulation, directive, constituent update, or any other agency program that would increase line speeds at meat and poultry establishments.

Not later than 90 days after the end of the emergency period, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct a review of actions taken by specific federal departments or agencies, including USDA, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the effectiveness of such actions in protecting animal, food, and worker safety.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3285 Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 7 Independent 1
D
Padilla, Alex
California · Mar 25, 2021
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 11, 2021
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 11, 2021
 D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 11, 2021
 D
Merkley, Jeff
Oregon · Mar 11, 2021
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Mar 11, 2021
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 11, 2021
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 11, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 713: Safe Line Speeds During COVID–19 Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-713/
MLA
"S. 713: Safe Line Speeds During COVID–19 Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-713/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 713, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-713/.
Markdown link
[S. 713: Safe Line Speeds During COVID–19 Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-713/)
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