A bill that would create a new position in the Department of Agriculture, a special investigator with prosecutorial and subpoena power has been approved by the House Agriculture Committee. It's being met with mixed reaction with-in the industry.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association condemned the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022, with NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane saying the legislation was rushed through the legislative process “without consideration of the confusing bureaucratic mess it would create.”
The North American Meat Institute agrees in a statement, adding, “USDA and the Department of Justice already have the authorities this bill would grant making this expansion of government bureaucracy.”
However, National Farmers Union says the bill would increase enforcement of competition laws and boost USDA’s resources to investigate abusive market practices. NFU President Rob Larew says, “Greater enforcement of competition laws by USDA will better ensure America’s independent family farmers and ranchers have a chance to succeed in today's marketplace, now dominated by monopolies.”