By Julie Tomascik
Editor
The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which included the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act.
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) is disappointed the special investigator legislation was included.
“Our farmers and ranchers are still suffering with supply chain issues, skyrocketing inflation and fuel costs, unpredictable weather and other challenges. They want Congress to focus on providing real solutions to help with these problems,” TFB National Legislative Director Laramie Adams said. “Unfortunately, the focus has been on creating more government red tape and bureaucracy with policies like the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act included in the larger Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act.”
The special investigator legislation duplicates the work of numerous federal investigative agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Homeland Security.
“These agencies have existing authority, staff and budget to investigate anticompetitive actions,” Adams said. “Creating another office or agency in our government right now is not needed.”
TFB, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council are among the agricultural organizations that oppose the special investigator bill.
In addition to issues it will create within the government, numerous lawmakers have previously reiterated the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers across the U.S. and described how legislation without proper vetting would cause additional problems.
“We understand any wrongdoing must be addressed, but this bill is simply not the answer to the issues impacting our farm and ranch members,” Adams said. “There are many unanswered questions related to the special investigator’s oversight and budget, and the bill has the potential to inflict real and permanent damages to the livestock and poultry industry.”
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Apparently the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act does not do much to lower food and fuel costs. I suspect a more appropriate name would have been Raise Food and Fuel Costs Act.
The only thing these inept politicians have produced or created is more bureaucratic oversight and power. They are Master’s at that.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.