The U.S. House Agriculture Committee passed the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022, which will create a new office in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
It would oversee agricultural markets with authority to investigate, subpoena and prosecute meat packers and live poultry dealers accused of wrongdoing.
The committee hearing showed division among congressmen and women, but the bill ultimately passed with a 27-21 vote.
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) understand the intention of the legislations, but both organizations have numerous concerns and questions about implementation.
“We understand any wrongdoing must be addressed. This is what the Department of Justice already does, but this bill has a lot of unanswered questions and has the potential to inflict real and permanent damages to the livestock industry,” TFB National Legislative Director Laramie Adams said. “One thing is for sure, it does not describe any oversight for the new office, and without that, it will have to ability to run roughshod over the industry while farmers and ranchers pay the price at the farm gate.”
Many questioned the need for a new office that will hold similar authority to that of current regulatory arms in the agricultural markets. USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Division and the Department of Justice both currently work cooperatively to identify and take action when meat packers or live poultry dealers are charged with misconduct.
“There’s no room for inventing another office or agency in our government, especially when it gets designed without any consideration for costs or confusion it would cause among the agencies currently working these issues and that was heard loud and clear throughout the hearing,” Adams said.
In addition to issues it will create within the government, numerous lawmakers reiterated the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and described how legislation without proper vetting would cause additional problems.
“Farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are enduring very difficult times with rising input costs, market disruptions and inflation rates that are quickly eroding their ability to operate,” Adams said. “There is never a good time upend the food supply system with additional lawsuits and jeopardize farm profitability, and it’s especially true today.”
TFB encourages further evaluation of the potential impacts this legislation will have on agriculture and will continue to work with Congress to prevent passage in the current form. TFB also asks USDA to answer questions related to the legislation submitted in a letter by AFBF.