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Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-646.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 9, 2023

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023

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 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.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] · D–MT

Committees

  • Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
  • Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
10 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 118-646.

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Nov 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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