Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to suspend increases in line speeds at meat and poultry establishments, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Line Speeds in COVID–19 Act 2. Suspending authority to increase line speeds at meat and poultry establishments (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, for the duration of the COVID–19 emergency period, shall— (1) suspend any waivers related to line speeds in covered establishments and inspection staffing requirements for covered establishments issued before the date of the enactment of this Act, and not issue any new waivers to such establishments, including under sections 303.1(h) and 381.3(b) of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations); and (2) suspend implementation of, and conversion to, the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System as described in the final rule entitled Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection (b) Limitation on authority with respect to line speeds None of the funds made available to the Department of Agriculture during the COVID–19 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 covered establishments. (c) Effect on State Law The provisions of this section are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other laws protecting worker safety and animal welfare. This section shall not be construed to preempt or limit any law or regulation of a State or a political subdivision of a State containing requirements that are more protective of worker safety or animal welfare than the requirements of this section, or which create penalties for conduct regulated by this section. (d) GAO report Upon termination of the COVID–19 emergency period, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of actions taken by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in response to the COVID–19 pandemic to determine the effectiveness of such actions in protecting animal, food, and worker safety. Such review shall include an analysis of, with respect to covered establishments— (1) all policies and regulations relating to inspections of such establishments implemented by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services relating to COVID–19; (2) the pandemic emergency preparedness plans of such establishments; (3) the extent to which such facilities have implemented guidance and recommendations to space workers six feet apart on production lines, break rooms, locker rooms, and all other workspaces; (4) the quantity and usage of personal protective equipment by workers at such establishments; (5) any guidance provided to inspectors of such establishments by the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services during the COVID–19 emergency period; (6) actions taken by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to protect animals, food, and workers at covered establishments with reported cases of COVID–19; (7) all humane handling reports issued, and enforcement actions taken, by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1901 21 U.S.C. 451 (8) the impact of faster line speeds on the ability of such establishments to maintain protections for employees; and (9) any interference by any other Federal agency with reviews of any such establishments experiencing outbreaks of COVID–19 conducted by personnel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (e) Reports to Congress Not later than December 31, 2020, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall each submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the actions taken by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, respectively, in response to the COVID–19 pandemic to protect animal, food, and worker safety. Each such report shall include the respective Secretary’s analysis of, with respect to facilities operated by covered processors, the matters specified in each (as applicable) of paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (d). (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered establishment 21 U.S.C. 601 21 U.S.C. 451 (2) The term COVID–19 emergency period (A) the emergency period, as defined in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) (B) the 90-day period that follows the end of such emergency period.

Summary: Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act This bill directs the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), for the duration of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period, to suspend any waivers and not issue new waivers related to line speeds in meat and poultry establishments and inspection staffing requirements for such establishments. Additionally, the implementation of, and conversion to, the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System must be suspended. No funds made available to USDA during the COVID-19 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. Upon termination of the COVID-19 emergency period, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct a review of actions taken by specific federal agencies, including USDA, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the effectiveness of such actions in protecting animal, food, and worker safety.