(i) are representative of a broad cross 
sector of agriculture and antitrust perspec-
tives within the United States; and 
(ii) provide fresh insights to analyzing 
the causes and impacts of concentration in 
agriculture industries and sectors. 
(d) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Members shall be appointed 
not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act and the appointment shall be for the life 
of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commis-
sion shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in 
the same manner as the original appointment. 
(e) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing. 
(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and 
vice chairperson from among the members of the Commis-
sion. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:59 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2933.IH
H2933
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(h) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of business. 
(i) VOTING.—Each member of the Commission shall 
be entitled to 1 vote, which shall be equal to the vote of 
every other member of the Commission. 
SEC. 202. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be respon-
sible for examining the nature, the causes, and con-
sequences of concentration in America’s agricultural econ-
omy in the broadest possible terms. 
(b) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—The study shall in-
clude an examination of the following matters: 
(1) The nature and extent of concentration in 
the food and agricultural sector, including food pro-
duction, manufacturing, transportation, processing, 
distribution, marketing, retailing, and farm inputs 
such as machinery, fertilizer, and seeds. 
(2) Current trends in concentration of the food 
and agricultural sector and what this sector is likely 
to look like in the near and longer term future. 
(3) The effects of rising concentration on sup-
pliers, workers and farmers, including independent 
and contract farmers, with respect to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:59 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2933.IH
H2933
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) competition in markets for their prod-
ucts and services; 
(B) income and benefit levels; 
(C) income distribution; 
(D) income volatility; 
(E) other material benefits; and 
(F) wages and benefits of employees. 
(4) The impacts of this concentration upon 
rural communities, rural economic development, and 
the natural environment. 
(5) The impacts of concentration in the seed in-
dustry on genetic diversity in farm fields and any re-
lated impacts on food security. 
(6) The impacts of this concentration upon food 
shoppers, including the reasons that low farm prices 
have not resulted in corresponding drops in super-
market prices. 
(7) Whether farming is approaching a scale 
that is larger than necessary from the standpoint of 
productivity. 
(8) The effect of current laws and administra-
tive practices in supporting and encouraging this 
concentration. 
(9) Whether the existing antitrust laws provide 
adequate safeguards against, and remedies for, the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:59 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2933.IH
H2933
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
impacts of concentration upon family farms, the 
communities they comprise, and the food shoppers of 
this Nation. 
(10) Accurate and reliable data on the national 
and international markets shares of multinational 
agribusinesses, and the portion of their sales attrib-
utable to exports. 
(11) Barriers that inhibit entry of new competi-
tors into markets for the processing of agricultural 
commodities, such as the meat packing industry. 
(12) The extent to which developments, such as 
packer ownership of livestock, formula pricing, mar-
keting agreements, production contracting, forward 
contracting, and vertical integration tend to give 
processors, agribusinesses, integrators, and other 
buyers of agricultural commodities additional market 
power over farmers and suppliers in local markets. 
(13) The extent to which mergers cause wage 
suppression, layoffs, or reduced benefits to workers 
in the food and agricultural sector. 
(14) Such related matters as the Commission 
determines to be important. 
SEC. 203. FINAL REPORT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:59 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2933.IH
H2933
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
Commission shall submit to the President and Congress 
a final report which contains— 
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commis-
sion described in section 202; and 
(2) recommendations for addressing the prob-
lems identified as part of the Commission’s analysis. 
(b) SEPARATE VIEWS.—Any member of the Commis-
sion may submit additional findings and recommendations 
as part of the final report. 
SEC. 204. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this title. 
The Commission shall hold at least 1 or more hearings 
in Washington, DC, and 4 in different agriculture regions 
of the United States. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:59 Jun 12, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2933.IH
H2933
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS