[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7606 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 270
117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7606

                          [Report No. 117-357]

  To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition 
             Matters within the Department of Agriculture.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 27, 2022

   Ms. Spanberger (for herself and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

                              June 7, 2022

             Additional sponsors: Ms. Porter and Mrs. Axne

                              June 7, 2022

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 
                               27, 2022]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition 
             Matters within the Department of Agriculture.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Meat and Poultry Special 
Investigator Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.

    (a) In General.--The Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act 
of 1994 is amended by inserting after section 216 (7 U.S.C. 6916) the 
following:

``SEC. 217. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPETITION MATTERS.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department an 
office, to be known as the `Office of the Special Investigator for 
Competition Matters' (referred to in this section as the `Office').
    ``(b) Special Investigator for Competition Matters.--The Office 
shall be headed by the Special Investigator for Competition Matters 
(referred to in this section as the `Special Investigator'), who shall 
be a senior career employee appointed by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Duties.--The Special Investigator shall--
            ``(1) use all available tools, including subpoenas, to 
        investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and 
        Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), by packers and 
        live poultry dealers with respect to competition and trade 
        practices in the food and agriculture sector;
            ``(2) serve as a Department liaison to, and act in 
        consultation with, the Department of Justice and the Federal 
        Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade 
        practices in the food and agricultural sector;
            ``(3) act in consultation with the Department of Homeland 
        Security with respect to national security and critical 
        infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector;
            ``(4) maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals 
        with appropriate expertise; and
            ``(5) in carrying out the requirements of this subsection, 
        coordinate with the Office of the General Counsel and the 
        Packers and Stockyards Division of the Agricultural Marketing 
        Service.
    ``(d) Prosecutorial Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding title 28, United States 
        Code, the Special Investigator shall have the authority to 
        bring any civil or administrative action authorized under the 
        Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), 
        against a packer.
            ``(2) Effect.--Nothing in this section alters the authority 
        of the Secretary to issue a subpoena pursuant to the Packers 
        and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).
            ``(3) Notification.--With respect to any of the actions 
        brought under this subsection in Federal district court, the 
        Special Investigator shall notify the Attorney General.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 296(b) of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(11) The authority of the Secretary to carry out section 
        217.''.
    (c) Technical Amendment.--Subtitle A of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 is amended by redesignating the 
first section 225 (relating to Food Access Liaison) (7 U.S.C. 6925) as 
section 224A.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 270

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 7606

                          [Report No. 117-357]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To establish the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition 
             Matters within the Department of Agriculture.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              June 7, 2022

  Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
       House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed