I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7051 

To provide Federal relief to hog producers, especially family farmers and 

independent producers, who have been forced to euthanize hogs due 

to the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 28, 2020 

Mr. KING of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Agriculture 

A BILL 

To provide Federal relief to hog producers, especially family 

farmers and independent producers, who have been 

forced to euthanize hogs due to the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR MARKET-READY 

4 HOG LOSSES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use the funds 

6 of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide emer7 gency relief to covered producers to aid in the reduction 

8 of intentional depopulation losses of market-ready hogs 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7051 IH

1 due to the closure or the reduction in processing capacity 

2 of a processing plant related to the COVID–19 pandemic. 

3 (b) PAYMENT RATE FOR COVERED PRODUCERS.—In 

4 the case of a closure or the reduction in processing capac5 ity of a processing plant related to the COVID–19 pan6 demic, with respect to the losses of market-ready hogs due 

7 to such closure or reduction incurred by a covered pro8 ducer, the Secretary shall reimburse— 

9 (1) for the first 50,000 hogs of such covered 

10 producer, 70 percent of the cost of such losses of 

11 such covered producer; 

12 (2) for up to 50,000 hogs in addition to para13 graph (1), 55 percent of the cost of such losses of 

14 such covered producer; 

15 (3) for up to 100,000 hogs in addition to para16 graphs (1) and (2), 45 percent of the cost of such 

17 losses of such covered producer; and 

18 (4) for any amount of hogs in addition to para19 graphs (1), (2), and (3), 35 percent of the cost of 

20 such losses of such covered producer. 

21 (c) VALUATION.—In determining the amount of 

22 losses for purposes of the payment rates under subsection 

23 (b), the Secretary shall use the average weekly price (as 

24 determined by the Secretary) for a market-ready hog, as 

25 determined by the Secretary. In no case shall the payVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:01 Jun 20, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7051.IH H7051

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7051 IH

1 ments made under subsection (b) with respect to the losses 

2 of a covered producer exceed the actual market value of 

3 market-ready hogs on the day on which the covered pro4 ducer began to suffer such losses. 

5 (d) VERIFICATION.—The Secretary may not make a 

6 payment for the losses of market-ready hogs of a covered 

7 producer under subsection (b) unless a veterinarian cer8 tifies— 

9 (1) that such hogs are market-ready hogs; and 

10 (2) the number of such hogs for which the cov11 ered producer claims a loss. 

12 (e) PACKER-OWNED AND FOREIGN-OWNED HOGS

13 EXCLUDED.—The Secretary may not make payments 

14 under subsection (b) for— 

15 (1) any hog losses for which the covered pro16 ducer does not provide sufficient documentation of 

17 ownership; 

18 (2) the losses of packer-owned hogs; or 

19 (3) the losses of hogs of a producer that is 

20 owned, in whole or in part, by any person who is not 

21 a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, 

22 or entity. 

23 (f) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply for the 

24 period beginning on April 1, 2020, and ending on the date 

25 that national processing capacity of hog processing plants 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7051 IH

1 is equal to or greater than such capacity on February 1, 

2 2020, as determined by the Secretary. 

3 (g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) COVERED PRODUCER.—The term ‘‘covered 

5 producer’’ means a person or legal entity that as6 sumes the production and market risks associated 

7 with the agricultural production of hogs (as such 

8 terms are defined in section 2(a) of the Packers and 

9 Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 183(a))). 

10 (2) MARKET-READY.—The term ‘‘market11 ready’’ means, with respect to a hog, a hog that is 

12 at least 300 pounds and ready for market, as deter13 mined by the Secretary. 

14 (3) PACKER.—The term ‘‘packer’’ has the 

15 meaning given the term in section 201 of the Pack16 ers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 191) except 

17 such term does not include a packer with invested 

18 shares of less than or equal to 10 percent in a facil19 ity that slaughters less than or equal to 5 million 

20 hogs a year. 

21 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

22 the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS