I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4757 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to remove nonambulatory pigs from 
the United States food system, to establish an online portal for confiden-
tial complaints, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2025 
Ms. ESCOBAR (for herself, Mr. NADLER, and Mr. MCGOVERN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and 
in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to remove non-
ambulatory pigs from the United States food system, 
to establish an online portal for confidential complaints, 
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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Pigs and Public Health Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—HUMANE HANDLING REFORMS FOR NONAMBULATORY 
PIGS 
Sec. 101. Unlawful use of drugs contributing to nonambulatory conditions. 
Sec. 102. Transportation of pigs. 
Sec. 103. Unlawful slaughter practices involving pigs. 
Sec. 104. OSHA standard and staffing requirement. 
TITLE II—PUBLIC HEALTH TRANSPARENCY 
Sec. 201. Online portal for confidential complaints. 
Sec. 202. Whistleblower protection. 
Sec. 203. Study and report on threat of nonambulatory pigs in food system. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Humane euthanization of nonambulatory 
pigs— 
(A) prevents needless suffering; 
(B) results in safer and better working 
conditions for individuals handling pigs; 
(C) brings about improvement of products 
and reduces the likelihood of the spread of 
zoonotic and other diseases that have a great 
and deleterious economic impact; and 
(D) protects the public health of con-
sumers by ensuring that products from non-
ambulatory pigs do not enter the food supply. 
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(2) Many nonambulatory pigs are ill and may 
carry dangerous pathogens, posing a serious public 
health risk, considering— 
(A) in a 2008 study, significantly more 
nonambulatory pigs than control pigs tested 
positive for swine influenza viruses H1N1 and 
H3N2; 
(B) other studies have indicated that non-
ambulatory pigs may increase risk of trans-
mission of pathogens such as Salmonella and 
Yersinia enterocolitica and may be more likely 
to harbor antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter; 
and 
(C) the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention estimates that pork containing 
pathogens leads to about 525,000 infections, 
2,900 hospitalizations, and 82 deaths in hu-
mans each year. 
(3) Industrial operators have created a system 
that allows for the inhumane handling of non-
ambulatory livestock that causes needless suffering, 
unsafe working conditions, and the spread of 
foodborne and zoonotic diseases. 
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(4) Industrial operators have abused the use of 
certain drugs that increase the risk of pigs becoming 
nonambulatory. 
(5) Current Federal animal transport laws are 
ineffective, inherently cruel, and cause pigs to be-
come nonambulatory. 
(6) Employees and contract laborers on farms, 
during transport, and at slaughter deal with non-
ambulatory pigs first hand, making them uniquely 
positioned to report public health threats they wit-
ness. 
(7) Since 2004, the Department of Agri-
culture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has 
banned all nonambulatory cattle from entering the 
Nation’s food supply due to increased risk of disease 
spread, but there are no such regulations for other 
species. 
(8) In 2002, Congress mandated that the De-
partment of Agriculture release a report regarding 
nonambulatory animals, but no such report has been 
released. The Department of Agriculture released a 
report on nonambulatory cattle and calves in 2005 
and a report on sheep and goats in 2006. No report 
has been issued on nonambulatory pigs. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means— 
(A) a stockyard; 
(B) a market agency; 
(C) a packer (as defined in section 201 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 191)); 
(D) a dealer (as defined in section 301 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 201)); 
(E) a slaughter facility; and 
(F) an establishment subject to inspection 
pursuant to the Federal Meat Inspection Act 
(21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
(2) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered 
individual’’ means any employee, former employee, 
contractor, or other person who has worked or is 
currently working for or with a covered entity. 
(3) NONAMBULATORY
PIG.—The term ‘‘non-
ambulatory pig’’ means any swine that cannot stand 
or walk unassisted. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
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TITLE 
I—HUMANE 
HANDLING 
REFORMS 
FOR 
NON-
AMBULATORY PIGS 
SEC. 101. UNLAWFUL USE OF DRUGS CONTRIBUTING TO 
NONAMBULATORY CONDITIONS. 
The Animal Health Protection Act is amended by in-
serting after section 10409A (7 U.S.C. 8308a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 
10409B. 
UNLAWFUL 
USE 
OF 
BETA-ADRENERGIC 
AGONIST DRUGS IN PIGS. 
‘‘Any use of a beta-adrenergic agonist drug, including 
ractopamine, zilpaterol, and lubabegron, in a pig in the 
absence of disease, including use for growth promotion or 
feed efficiency, is prohibited.’’. 
SEC. 102. TRANSPORTATION OF PIGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Animal Welfare Act is 
amended by inserting after section 13 (7 U.S.C. 2143) 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 13A. TRANSPORTATION OF PIGS. 
‘‘(a) TRANSPORTATION.—In any case in which pigs 
are transported by a covered provider of transportation 
on behalf of a covered entity, the covered provider of 
transportation transporting the pigs shall ensure that— 
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‘‘(B) appropriately designed; and 
‘‘(C) positioned appropriately for pigs to be 
watered during transport; 
‘‘(6) the pigs have enough space— 
‘‘(A) to turn around; 
‘‘(B) to lie down; and 
‘‘(C) to fully extend their limbs; and 
‘‘(7) the pigs are not transported if the tem-
perature within the means of transport cannot be 
maintained between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 
‘‘(b) RECORDKEEPING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each covered provider of 
transportation shall maintain records of all pigs 
transported by such covered provider on behalf of 
any covered entity. 
‘‘(2) PRODUCTION
OF
RECORDS.—A covered 
provider of transportation shall provide the records 
maintained under paragraph (1) to the Secretary on 
request. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘covered en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a stockyard; 
‘‘(B) a market agency; 
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‘‘(C) a packer (as defined in section 201 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 191)); 
‘‘(D) a dealer (as defined in section 301 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 201)); 
‘‘(E) a slaughter facility; and 
‘‘(F) an establishment. 
‘‘(2) 
COVERED
PROVIDER
OF
TRANSPOR-
TATION.—The term ‘covered provider of transpor-
tation’ means any entity that provides transport of 
livestock on behalf of a covered entity. 
‘‘(3) ESTABLISHMENT.—The term ‘establish-
ment’ means an establishment that is subject to in-
spection pursuant to the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).’’. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promul-
gate final regulations to enforce the provisions of sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 103. UNLAWFUL SLAUGHTER PRACTICES INVOLVING 
PIGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Public Law 85–765 (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 
1958’’) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 7. HUMANE TREATMENT OF PIGS. 
‘‘(a) NONAMBULATORY PIGS.— 
‘‘(1) HUMANE
TREATMENT, HANDLING, AND 
DISPOSITION.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
promulgate regulations to provide for the humane 
treatment, handling, and disposition of all non-
ambulatory pigs by covered entities, including re-
quirements for a covered entity— 
‘‘(A) to, subject to paragraph (2), imme-
diately humanely euthanize nonambulatory pigs 
in the possession of the covered entity; 
‘‘(B) to have written policies and proce-
dures in place, and proper equipment, relating 
to the humane handling, euthanization, and dis-
position of all nonambulatory pigs in the pos-
session of the covered entity; 
‘‘(C) to maintain records of all non-
ambulatory pigs in the possession of the covered 
entity; and 
‘‘(D) to electronically submit such written 
policies and procedures and such records to the 
Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspec-
tion Service. 
‘‘(2) HUMANE EUTHANASIA.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
promulgate regulations specifying— 
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‘‘(i) the methods of euthanasia that 
shall be acceptable for the humane disposi-
tion of nonambulatory pigs required under 
the regulations promulgated under para-
graph (1); and 
‘‘(ii) processes for ensuring effective 
enforcement of the use of such methods. 
‘‘(B) DISEASE
TESTING.—The Secretary 
shall test nonambulatory pigs for a disease, 
such as swine influenza viruses H1N1 and 
H3N2, 
Salmonella, 
Yersinia 
enterocolitica, 
Campylobacter, and Methicillin-resistant Staph-
ylococcus aureus. 
‘‘(3) TRANSACTING
OR
PROCESSING.—A cov-
ered entity shall not— 
‘‘(A) buy or sell a nonambulatory pig; 
‘‘(B) process, butcher, or sell meat or meat 
food products of a nonambulatory pig; or 
‘‘(C) slaughter any nonambulatory pig or 
prepare any carcass or part of a carcass, or 
meat or meat food product, from any non-
ambulatory pig. 
‘‘(4) RECORDS.—The Administrator of the 
Food Safety and Inspection Service shall maintain 
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all documents submitted by covered entities pursu-
ant to the regulations under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) WILLFUL ACTS
OF ABUSE.—The Secretary 
shall promulgate regulations prohibiting a covered indi-
vidual from committing any willful act of abuse— 
‘‘(1) against nonambulatory pigs; or 
‘‘(2) that may reasonably be expected to result 
in injury or illness of ambulatory pigs. 
‘‘(c) INJURED AND DISEASED PIGS.— 
‘‘(1) INJURED PIGS.—The Secretary shall pro-
mulgate regulations specifying the proper handling 
of injured pigs by a covered entity, including re-
quirements to— 
‘‘(A) 
immediately 
treat 
or 
humanely 
euthanize pigs diagnosed as lame; and 
‘‘(B) immediately humanely euthanize— 
‘‘(i) pigs with— 
‘‘(I) uterine prolapses; or 
‘‘(II) any type of prolapse that is 
not addressed and becomes necrotic; 
‘‘(ii) pigs with— 
‘‘(I) perforated hernias; 
‘‘(II) hernias that are ulcerated 
and necrotic; or 
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‘‘(III) large hernias that touch 
the ground while standing and are ul-
cerated; and 
‘‘(iii) pigs that are unlikely to recover 
from any other type of injury, even with 
treatment. 
‘‘(2) DISEASED PIGS.—The Secretary shall pro-
mulgate regulations specifying the proper handling 
of diseased pigs by a covered entity, including re-
quirements to immediately humanely euthanize pigs 
that are not responding to care or are unlikely to re-
cover from disease or illness. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘covered en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a stockyard; 
‘‘(B) a market agency; 
‘‘(C) a packer (as defined in section 201 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 191)); 
‘‘(D) a dealer (as defined in section 301 of 
the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
U.S.C. 201)); 
‘‘(E) a slaughter facility; and 
‘‘(F) an establishment. 
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‘‘(2) COVERED
INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘cov-
ered individual’ means any employee, former em-
ployee, contractor, or other person who has worked 
or is currently working for or with a covered entity. 
‘‘(3) DISEASED.—The term ‘diseased’ means a 
state of being— 
‘‘(A) that deviates from the normal struc-
tural or functional state of an animal; 
‘‘(B) in which the animal is impaired or 
exhibits signs or symptoms of pain or suffering; 
and 
‘‘(C) that is not caused by physical injury. 
‘‘(4) ESTABLISHMENT.—The term ‘establish-
ment’ means an establishment that is subject to in-
spection pursuant to the Federal Meat Inspection 
Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
‘‘(5) HUMANELY EUTHANIZE.—The term ‘hu-
manely euthanize’ means, with respect to a pig, to 
immediately render the pig unconscious by mechan-
ical, chemical, or other means, with the unconscious 
state remaining until the death of the pig. 
‘‘(6) INJURED.—The term ‘injured’ means a 
state of being in which an animal’s body is phys-
ically harmed or damaged. 
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‘‘(7) NONAMBULATORY
PIG.—The term ‘non-
ambulatory pig’ means any swine that cannot stand 
or walk unassisted. 
‘‘(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
‘‘(9) WILLFUL
ACTS
OF
ABUSE.—The term 
‘willful acts of abuse’ means, with respect to pigs, 
any acts that intentionally cause pain or suffering to 
the pigs, including— 
‘‘(A) hitting or beating the pigs, such as 
with a fist, foot, or any hard objects that can 
cause pain or injury; 
‘‘(B) purposefully slamming, dropping, 
throwing, or dragging the pigs by any body 
part, except in the case of moving non-
ambulatory pigs using a drag mat; 
‘‘(C) excessive use of electric prods, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(i) prodding the pigs in sensitive 
areas, such as the face, genitals, or rec-
tum; 
‘‘(ii) providing a shock that lasts 
longer than one second; and 
‘‘(iii) using electric prods other than 
as a last resort; 
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‘‘(D) failure to provide food, water, and 
care to the pigs in a manner that could result 
in significant harm or death to the pigs; and 
‘‘(E) driving the pigs on top of one an-
other, including with the use of motorized vehi-
cles.’’. 
(b) INSPECTION OF NONAMBULATORY PIGS; LABEL-
ING.—Section 6 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 
U.S.C. 606) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) INSPECTION OF NONAMBULATORY PIGS; LABEL-
ING.— 
‘‘(1) INSPECTION.—It shall be unlawful for an 
inspector at an establishment subject to inspection 
under this Act to pass through inspection any non-
ambulatory pig or carcass (including parts of a car-
cass) of a nonambulatory pig. 
‘‘(2) LABELING.—An inspector or other em-
ployee of an establishment described in paragraph 
(2) shall label, mark, stamp, or tag as ‘inspected 
and condemned’ any carcass (including parts of a 
carcass) of a nonambulatory pig. 
‘‘(3) NONAMBULATORY PIG DEFINED.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘nonambulatory pig’ means any 
swine that cannot stand or walk unassisted.’’. 
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(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the amendments made by subsections (a) 
and (b) shall take effect on the date that is 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall promulgate final regulations to implement the 
amendments made by subsections (a) and (b). 
SEC. 104. OSHA STANDARD AND STAFFING REQUIREMENT. 
(a) PROPOSED STANDARD.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Labor shall, pursuant to section 6 of the Occupational 
Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655), promul-
gate a proposed standard for handling nonambulatory 
pigs. Such proposed standard shall include requirements 
for— 
(1) employee training related to handling such 
pigs; and 
(2) the use of mechanical lifting aids. 
(b) FINAL STANDARD.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor 
shall, pursuant to section 6 of the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 655), promulgate a final 
standard that shall be— 
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(1) based on the proposed standard under para-
graph (1); and 
(2) effective and enforceable in the same man-
ner and to the same extent as any standard promul-
gated under section 6(b) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 
655(b)). 
(c) STAFFING
REQUIREMENT.—A covered entity 
shall take such steps as may be necessary, including hiring 
and training additional employees, to comply with the re-
quirements of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, 
and the final standard promulgated pursuant to sub-
section (b). 
TITLE II—PUBLIC HEALTH 
TRANSPARENCY 
SEC. 201. ONLINE PORTAL FOR CONFIDENTIAL COM-
PLAINTS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, 
shall establish and make publicly available on the website 
of the Department of Agriculture an online portal, 
through which individuals may submit confidential com-
plaints regarding alleged or potential violations by a cov-
ered entity of— 
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(1) this Act, or the amendments made by this 
Act, including— 
(A) section 10409B of the Animal Health 
Protection Act (as inserted by section 101); 
(B) section 13A of the Animal Welfare Act 
(as inserted by section 102); 
(C) section 7 of Public Law 85–765 (com-
monly known as the ‘‘Humane Methods of 
Slaughter Act of 1958’’) (as added by section 
103(a)); and 
(D) section 6(c) of the Federal Meat In-
spection Act (as added by section 103(b)); 
(2) the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 
1970 (29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.); or 
(3) the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
U.S.C. 201 et seq.). 
(b) PUBLIC NOTICE.—Upon the establishment of the 
online portal described in subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall issue a public notice informing individuals of— 
(1) their right to use such portal; and 
(2) the confidentiality protections provided by 
the Department of Agriculture and the Department 
of Justice to individuals who submit complaints 
through such portal, which shall include— 
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(A) keeping confidential any personally 
identifiable information of an individual con-
tained in such a complaint, unless— 
(i) such individual provides to the Sec-
retary advance written permission to re-
lease such information; or 
(ii)(I) the release of such information 
is otherwise required by law; and 
(II) the Secretary provides to such in-
dividual advance warning, as soon as fea-
sible, that the release of such information 
is legally required; and 
(B) a requirement that if work on the case 
is transferred to a nongovernmental entity, that 
entity will be bound by the original confiden-
tiality provisions. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS ON AGGREGATE DATA.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall make publicly 
available a report describing the aggregate data collected 
from the online portal described in subsection (a). 
SEC. 202. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A covered entity shall not dis-
charge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other 
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manner discriminate against a covered individual because 
of any lawful act done by the covered individual— 
(1) to provide information, cause information to 
be provided, or otherwise assist in an investigation 
regarding any conduct that the covered individual 
reasonably believes is illegal or constitutes a viola-
tion of this Act or the amendments made by this 
Act; 
(2) to file, cause to be filed, testify, participate 
in, or otherwise assist in a proceeding or action filed, 
or about to be filed, relating to a violation of any 
law, rule, or regulation; or 
(3) to refuse to violate, or assist in the violation 
of, any law, rule, or regulation. 
(b) ENFORCEMENT ACTION.— 
(1) COMPLAINT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A covered individual 
who alleges discharge or other discrimination by 
any person in violation of paragraph (1) may 
seek relief by filing a complaint with the Office 
of the Inspector General of the Department of 
Agriculture, which shall investigate the con-
cerns raised by the covered individual that al-
legedly caused retaliation. 
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(B) LEGAL ACTION.—If the Office of the 
Inspector General has not issued a final deci-
sion regarding the investigation by the date 
that is 210 days after the date on which the 
complaint is filed, and there is no showing that 
the delay is due to the bad faith of the claim-
ant, the claimant may bring an action at law or 
equity for de novo review in the appropriate dis-
trict court of the United States, which shall 
have jurisdiction over such an action without 
regard to the amount in controversy. 
(2) PROCEDURE.—A complaint under para-
graph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and 
procedures established in section 1013 of the Fed-
eral Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
399d) and shall be resolved within 21 days after the 
date on which such complaint is filed. 
(3) REMEDIES.—A covered individual who pre-
vails in any action under subparagraph (A) shall be 
entitled to remedies equivalent to relief provided 
under section 1013(b)(4)(B) of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 399d(b)(4)(B)). 
(c) RIGHTS RETAINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this subsection 
diminishes the rights, privileges, or remedies of any 
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individual under any Federal or State law, or under 
any collective bargaining agreement. 
(2) WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.—The 
rights and remedies provided for in this section may 
not be waived by any agreement, policy form, or con-
dition of employment, including by a predispute ar-
bitration agreement. 
(3) PREDISPUTE ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS.— 
No predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid 
or enforceable, to the extent the agreement requires 
arbitration of a dispute arising under this section. 
SEC. 203. STUDY AND REPORT ON THREAT OF NON-
AMBULATORY PIGS IN FOOD SYSTEM. 
(a) STUDY.—The Under Secretary of Agriculture for 
Food Safety shall, in coordination with the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conduct a 
study regarding the public health threat of nonambulatory 
pigs entering the food system. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress, and make publicly 
available, a report describing the results of the study 
conducted under subsection (a). 
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(2) CONTENTS.—Such report shall include, at a 
minimum, descriptions of the impact on the public 
health of pathogens associated with nonambulatory 
pigs, including— 
(A) Swine influenza viruses H1N1 and 
H3N2; 
(B) Salmonella; 
(C) Yersinia enterocolitica; 
(D) Campylobacter; and 
(E) 
Methicillin-resistant 
Staphylococcus 
aureus. 
Æ 
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