Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-7606
Sponsor: Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7]
Introduced: 2022-04-27 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Agriculture
Executive agency funding and structure
Food industry and services
Livestock
Meat

Summary:
action_date: 2022-04-27
text: 

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.
 
Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer.
 
Additionally, the office must
 
 
serve as a liaison to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector,
 
consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector, and
 
maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise.
 

action_date: 2022-06-07
text: 

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

 
This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.
 
Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer; the office must provide notice to the Department of Justice (DOJ) about such actions brought in federal district court.
 
Additionally, the office must
 
 
serve as a liaison to DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector,
 
consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector,
 
maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise, and
 
coordinate with the Office of the General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service to carry out the bill's requirements.
 

action_date: 2022-06-16
text: 

Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act

 
This bill addresses provisions related to agriculture, food, and fuel, including by providing funds for nutrient management, precision agriculture, and biofuel infrastructure.
 
Specifically, the bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to (1) assist agricultural producers with the costs of crop nutrient use or adopting precision agriculture practices, and (2) provide grants to eligible entities (e.g., fueling and distribution facilities) for biofuel infrastructure.
 
The bill establishes within USDA the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters, which must investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers.
 
Additionally, USDA must (1) establish an agriculture and food supply chain task force, and (2) provide assistance to address fertilizer shortages and reduce dependency on foreign sources for fertilizer.
 
The bill allows USDA to make loans and grants for livestock and poultry processing.
 
Further, the bill incorporates support for precision agriculture into various USDA programs.
 
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service must enter into certain cooperative agreements for establishing supply chain regional resource centers to support small- and medium-sized producers of agricultural products and agricultural businesses.
 
The bill also applies the Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-06-21
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 204 (Roll no. 277).
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 204 (Roll no. 277).
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 206 - 218 (Roll no. 276).
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Mrs. Cammack moved to recommit to the Committee on Agriculture. (text: CR H5631)
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1170, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Spanberger amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1170, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Khanna amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7606.
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2543, H.R. 2773 and H.R. 7606. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit. Rule also amends House Resolution 188 by striking "June 17, 2022" and inserting "June 22, 2022".
action_date: 2022-06-16
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1170. (consideration: CR H5615-5632; text: CR H5615-5618)
action_date: 2022-06-14
text: Rule H. Res. 1170 passed House.
action_date: 2022-06-13
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1170 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2543, H.R. 2773 and H.R. 7606. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit. Rule also amends House Resolution 188 by striking "June 17, 2022" and inserting "June 22, 2022".
action_date: 2022-06-09
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Agriculture, H. Rept. 117-357, Part II.
action_date: 2022-06-09
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Agriculture, H. Rept. 117-357, Part II.
action_date: 2022-06-07
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.
action_date: 2022-06-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 117-357.
action_date: 2022-06-07
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 117-357.
action_date: 2022-05-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 21.
action_date: 2022-05-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-05-17
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-05-17
text: Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Discharged.
action_date: 2022-05-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
action_date: 2022-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
action_date: 2022-04-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-04-27
text: Introduced in House