Bill Passes to Add USDA Investigator to Meatpacking Fairness Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to create a special investigator role with USDA to enforce fair-play rules in the meatpacking industry. Despite objections from House Republicans, the legislation passed and marks the most significant livestock marketing reform to advance in Congress this session. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the bill the investigator is included in promotes increased meatpacking industry competition while supporting livestock producers with increased profit opportunities.

Legislators promoted the bill, saying it would help inflation of food costs in the grocery stores for U.S. consumers, too. House Republicans felt the investigator was more of an attempt to score political points and would only allow more harassment aimed at meat industry stakeholders.

However, the bill passed on party lines and was sent to the Senate, where seven Republicans voted for the package and five Democrats voted against it.

Read more on the USDA special investigator here.