I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7606 
To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters 
within the Department of Agriculture. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2022 
Ms. SPANBERGER (for herself and Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for 
Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Meat and Poultry Spe-
cial Investigator Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COM-
PETITION MATTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Agriculture 
Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by inserting after 
section 216 (7 U.S.C. 6916) the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 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’ (referred to 
in this section as the ‘Office’). 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL
INVESTIGATOR
FOR
COMPETITION 
MATTERS.—The Office shall be headed by the Special In-
vestigator for Competition Matters (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Special Investigator’), who shall be appointed 
by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Special Investigator shall— 
‘‘(1) use all available tools, including subpoenas, 
to investigate and prosecute violations of the Pack-
ers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et 
seq.), by packers and live poultry dealers with re-
spect to competition and trade practices in the food 
and agriculture sector; 
‘‘(2) serve as a Department liaison to, and act 
in consultation with, the Department of Justice and 
the Federal Trade Commission with respect to com-
petition and trade practices in the food and agricul-
tural sector; 
‘‘(3) act in consultation with the Department of 
Homeland Security with respect to national security 
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and critical infrastructure security in the food and 
agricultural sector; and 
‘‘(4) maintain a staff of attorneys and other 
professionals with appropriate expertise. 
‘‘(d) PROSECUTORIAL AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding title 28, 
United States Code, the Special Investigator shall 
have the authority to bring any civil or administra-
tive action authorized under the Packers and Stock-
yards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), against a 
packer. 
‘‘(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.).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 296(b) of 
the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 
1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry 
out section 217.’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Subtitle A of the De-
partment of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is 
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amended by redesignating the first section 225 (relating 
to Food Access Liaison) (7 U.S.C. 6925) as section 224A. 
Æ 
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