S. 1312 · 119th Congress
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
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D
WydenSponsor9 cosponsors · 5 D, 4 R
D
Blumenthal
CG
R
Grassley
MH
D
Heinrich
JH
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Hoeven
CH
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Hyde-Smith
MR
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Rounds
AS
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Schiff
PW
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Welch
CB
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Booker8 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Apr 7, 2025
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
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 (P&S Act) 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.
As background, the purposes of the P&S Act are to assure fair competition and trade practices, safeguard farmers and ranchers, protect consumers, and protect livestock, meat, and poultry industry members from unfair, deceptive, unjustly discriminatory, and monopolistic practices. Those engaged in the business of marketing livestock, meat, and poultry in commerce are subject to the P&S Act.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
Latest action (Apr 7, 2025): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Apr 7, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.