Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022 2. Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters (a) In general The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 216 ( 7 U.S.C. 6916 217. Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters (a) Establishment There is established in the Department an office, to be known as the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters 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 (c) Duties The Special Investigator shall— (1) use all available tools, including subpoenas, to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 ( 7 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (2) serve as a Department 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; (4) maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise; and (5) in carrying out the requirements of this subsection, coordinate with the Office of the General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service. (d) Prosecutorial authority (1) In general Notwithstanding title 28, United States Code, the Special Investigator shall have the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 ( 7 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (2) Effect Nothing in this section alters the authority of the Secretary to issue a subpoena pursuant to the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 ( 7 U.S.C. 181 et seq. (3) Notification With respect to any of the actions brought under this subsection in Federal district court, the Special Investigator shall notify the Attorney General. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 296(b) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 7014(b) (11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 217. . (c) Technical amendment Subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by redesignating the first section 225 (relating to Food Access Liaison) ( 7 U.S.C. 6925 June 7, 2022 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act This bill addresses provisions related to agriculture, food, and fuel, including by providing funds for nutrient management, precision agriculture, and biofuel infrastructure. Specifically, the bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to (1) assist agricultural producers with the costs of crop nutrient use or adopting precision agriculture practices, and (2) provide grants to eligible entities (e.g., fueling and distribution facilities) for biofuel infrastructure. The bill establishes within USDA the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters, which must investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Additionally, USDA must (1) establish an agriculture and food supply chain task force, and (2) provide assistance to address fertilizer shortages and reduce dependency on foreign sources for fertilizer. The bill allows USDA to make loans and grants for livestock and poultry processing. Further, the bill incorporates support for precision agriculture into various USDA programs. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service must enter into certain cooperative agreements for establishing supply chain regional resource centers to support small- and medium-sized producers of agricultural products and agricultural businesses. The bill also applies the Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol.