U.S. House Agriculture Commission to Consider Bill to Create Special Investigator for Livestock Competition

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture will consider a bill to create a special investigator in the U.S. Department of Agriculture for competition in the livestock industry. Under this measure, the USDA will create the Office of a Special Investigator for Competition. Opponents say this duplicates the authority of the USDA and will potentially lead to costly regulation of the industry, which they say will drive up food prices further.

The legislation provides for the creation of the Office of a Special Investigator for Competition at the USDA with the authority to subpoena and the ability to bring civil action or take administrative action against violations of the Meatpackers and Animal Farms Act of 1921 by meat-packing companies and live poultry dealers. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ge.) said Democrats are wrongly blaming the meat industry for driving up meat prices while pursuing policies that he says have led to higher energy costs that have affected the economy.

“This is a terrible piece of legislation,” Scott said, adding that he revealed that it was written by someone with no experience in agriculture.

By a vote, members of the House agreed to an amendment by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., which would require the head of the Special Investigations Division to be a high-ranking career executive rather than a political appointee. Members also voted on an amendment by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., which requires the special investigator to coordinate with the USDA General Counsel's office and the Agricultural Marketing Service. The Special Investigator will also be required to notify the US Attorney General of any judicial action the office takes in federal district court.