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S 346 118th Congress Senate Agriculture and Food Agricultural marketing and promotion Civil actions and liability Competition and antitrust Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of Agriculture Executive agency funding and structure Food industry and services Livestock Meat

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023

Introduced: February 9, 2023 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 2, 2024
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-646.
Feb 9, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Feb 9, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023

This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.

Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer or live poultry dealer.

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,
  • maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise, and
  • coordinate with the USDA Office of the General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
What's happening now May 2, 2024

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-646.