Senate Bill 346
118th Congress(2023-2024)
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Feb 9, 2023
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
346
Congress
118
Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Agriculture and Food
Primary focus of measure is agricultural practices; agricultural prices and marketing; agricultural education; food assistance or nutrition programs; food industry, supply, and safety; aquaculture; horticulture and plants. Measures concerning international trade in agricultural products may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023
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 or live poultry dealer.
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,
- maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise, and
- coordinate with the USDA Office of the General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing Service.
February 9, 2023
Sort by most recent
05/02/2024
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held.
02/09/2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
02/09/2023
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
May 8, 2024 7:59:54 PM