A bill to delay the implementation of a rule relating to the importation of sheep and goats and products derived from sheep and goats, and for other purposes.

To delay the implementation of a rule relating to the importation of sheep and goats and products derived from sheep and goats, and for other purposes. 1. Delayed implementation of rule relating to importation of sheep and goats and products derived from sheep and goats (a) In general During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, and any other Federal official, may not finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants (b) Study and report (1) Study (A) In general The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study on the potential costs and benefits of the rule referred to in subsection (a). (B) Contents The study required by subparagraph (A) shall assess— (i) the estimated amount of sheep and goat meat imported into the United States as a result of the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a); (ii) the estimated increase in the number of live sheep and goats imported into the United States as a result of the rule; (iii) the estimated demand for sheep and goat meat in the United States during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, disaggregated by region and State; (iv) the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on the economic data and market conditions for imports of sheep and goat meat and live sheep and goats; (v) the potential effects of the rule on— (I) the supply and prices of live sheep and goats in the United States; (II) producers of and markets for live sheep and goats in the United States, disaggregated by region and State; (III) export opportunities for United States producers of sheep and goat meat; (IV) the competitiveness of the sheep and goat industries in the United States; (V) consumer confidence in sheep and goat meat; (VI) the health of sheep and goat herds in the United States; and (VII) disease outbreaks across species of animals; (vi) the estimated amount of direct payments made by foreign countries to producers of live sheep and goats in such countries as a result of the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a); and (vii) any negative impacts that could result from the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a) not covered by clauses (i) through (vi). (2) Report (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the committees specified in subparagraph (B) a report that includes— (i) an analysis of the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and (ii) recommendations for changes to the rule referred to in subsection (a) to eliminate or mitigate any negative effects of the implementation of the rule. (B) Committees specified The committees specified in this subparagraph are— (i) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and (ii) the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives.

Summary: This bill requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to submit a report on the potential costs and benefits of its proposed rule governing the importation of live sheep, goats, other ruminants, and products derived from sheep and goats. It also bars USDA from finalizing, implementing, administering, or enforcing the rule until one year after the date that USDA submits the report.