[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 145 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5874-H5875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF ELECTRONIC SALES OF LIVESTOCK ACT OF 2016

  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5883) to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to 
clarify the duties relating to services furnished in connection with 
the buying or selling of livestock in commerce through online, video, 
or other electronic methods, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5883

       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 ``Clarification of Treatment 
     of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF MARKET AGENCY.

       (a) In General.--Section 301(c) of the Packers and 
     Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 201(c)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``; and'' at the end and inserting a 
     period; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``Beginning on the 
     date of the enactment of the Clarification of Treatment of 
     Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016, such term includes 
     any person who engages in the business of buying or selling 
     livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, through the 
     use of online, video, or other electronic methods when 
     handling or providing the means to handle receivables or 
     proceeds from such buying or selling, so long as such 
     person's annual average of online, video, or electronic sales 
     of livestock, on a commission or other fee basis, exceeds 
     $250,000.''.
       (b) Technical Amendments.--Section 301 of the Packers and 
     Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 201) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subsection (a), by striking 
     ``When used in this Act--'' and inserting ``In this Act:'';
       (2) in subsection (a), by striking the semicolon at the end 
     and inserting a period; and
       (3) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``weighting'' and inserting ``weighing''; 
     and
       (B) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a 
     period.

     SEC. 3. METHODS TO TRANSFER FUNDS.

       Section 409(a) of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 
     U.S.C. 228b(a)) is amended--
       (1) in the first proviso, by striking ``shall wire transfer 
     funds to the seller's account'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``shall transfer funds for the full amount of the 
     purchase price to the account of the seller by wire, 
     electronic funds transfer, or any other expeditious method 
     determined appropriate by the Secretary''; and
       (2) in the second proviso, by striking ``or dealer shall 
     wire transfer funds'' and inserting ``or dealer shall 
     transfer funds for the full amount of the purchase price by 
     wire, electronic funds transfer, or any other expeditious 
     method determined appropriate by the Secretary''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Peterson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 5883, the Clarification of Treatment of 
Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016.
  The bill before us today makes simple, targeted reforms to an 
outdated statute in order to make it compatible with new practices that 
have come about because of advances in technology.
  The Packers and Stockyards Act was enacted to protect buyers and 
sellers of livestock from unfair, deceptive, and discriminatory 
practices. However, the statute has not undergone a thorough revision 
since being enacted in 1921, resulting in various outdated 
requirements.
  To account for the current practices that businesses use to buy and 
sell livestock, H.R. 5883 makes clarifying modifications, ensuring that 
the protections of the Packers and Stockyards Act apply to those who 
buy and sell livestock online on a commission or other fee basis.
  The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 references only two forms of 
payment methods acceptable under the act's prompt payment 
requirements--checks and wire transfers. To update this provision, the 
bill adds electronic transfer of funds to the list of acceptable 
methods of payment and gives the Secretary the flexibility to approve 
other new methods of payment as deemed appropriate.
  These commonsense changes are supported by the vast majority of the 
livestock community--in fact, we know of no opposition--and were 
unanimously supported by my colleagues on the House Agriculture 
Committee.
  I urge my colleagues to support these important modifications with 
their vote for this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H5875]]

  

  Mr. PETERSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5883 makes a very narrow fix to help bring the 
Packers and Stockyards Act to the 21st century.
  The bill is the result of a thorough review of the act to identify 
areas for modernization. The committee worked with the industry to 
provide clarity in the law regarding certain practices related to 
online transactions in the livestock markets. H.R. 5883 passed the 
Agriculture Committee by voice vote and has the support of seven major 
agriculture organizations.
  Again, this is a very straightforward bill, providing for minor, 
technical changes to the Packers and Stockyards Act.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, I want to again urge all of my colleagues in 
this Chamber to support this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5883, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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