I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7521 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to suspend increases in line speeds 
at meat and poultry establishments, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 9, 2020 
Ms. FUDGE (for herself, Ms. DELAURO, and Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ag-
riculture, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, 
and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to suspend increases 
in line speeds at meat and poultry establishments, and 
for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Safe Line Speeds in 
COVID–19 Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SUSPENDING AUTHORITY TO INCREASE LINE 
SPEEDS AT MEAT AND POULTRY ESTABLISH-
MENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture, act-
ing through the Administrator of the Food Safety and In-
spection Service, for the duration of the COVID–19 emer-
gency period, shall— 
(1) suspend any waivers related to line speeds 
in covered establishments and inspection staffing re-
quirements 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 regula-
tions); 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’’ issued by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture in the Federal Register on Octo-
ber 1, 2019 (84 Fed. Reg. 52300 et seq.). 
(b) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO 
LINE SPEEDS.—None of the funds made available to the 
Department of Agriculture during the COVID–19 emer-
gency period shall be used to develop, propose, finalize, 
issue, amend, or implement any policy, regulation, direc-
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tive, 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 work-
er 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 re-
sponse to the COVID–19 pandemic to determine the effec-
tiveness 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 in-
spections of such establishments implemented by the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, 
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services re-
lating to COVID–19; 
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(2) the pandemic emergency preparedness plans 
of such establishments; 
(3) the extent to which such facilities have im-
plemented 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 protec-
tive equipment by workers at such establishments; 
(5) any guidance provided to inspectors of such 
establishments by the Secretary of Agriculture, Sec-
retary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services during the COVID–19 emergency 
period; 
(6) actions taken by the Secretary of Agri-
culture, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services to protect animals, 
food, and workers at covered establishments with re-
ported cases of COVID–19; 
(7) all humane handling reports issued, and en-
forcement actions taken, by the Department of Agri-
culture in accordance with the Humane Methods of 
Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) and the good 
commercial practices regulations under the Poultry 
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.) 
during the COVID–19 emergency period; 
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(8) the impact of faster line speeds on the abil-
ity of such establishments to maintain protections 
for employees; and 
(9) any interference by any other Federal agen-
cy with reviews of any such establishments experi-
encing outbreaks of COVID–19 conducted by per-
sonnel of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention. 
(e) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Decem-
ber 31, 2020, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary 
of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices 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, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Agri-
culture, 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: 
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(1) The term ‘‘covered establishment’’ means 
an official meat or poultry establishment that is sub-
ject to inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.). 
(2) The term ‘‘COVID–19 emergency period’’ 
means— 
(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)); and 
(B) the 90-day period that follows the end 
of such emergency period. 
Æ 
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