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.
Bill: H.R.6232 | Sponsor: Rep. Pfluger, August (R-TX)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

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.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 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'' (81 Fed. 
Reg. 46619) and dated July 18, 2016.
    (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.
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