Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would create a new office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) called the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters. This office would investigate and take legal action against meat packers and poultry companies that break competition laws, specifically the Packers and Stockyards Act from 1921.
The office would have investigative powers like issuing subpoenas and could file lawsuits or bring other legal actions against companies that violate these rules. **Who It Affects & Key Details:** The bill primarily affects large meat and poultry companies, farmers, and consumers. In addition to investigating illegal practices, the new office would work with the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission on food industry competition issues, coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security on food supply security, and hire lawyers and specialists to handle these matters. The goal appears to be increasing oversight of the meat and poultry industry to prevent unfair business practices. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025This 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 mustserve 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, andcoordinate 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.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.