118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

H.R.797/S.271

To place a moratorium on large, concentrated animal feeding operations, to strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to require country of origin labeling on beef, pork, and dairy products, and for other purposes.

These 2 bills are mirror bills in House and Senate

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R797

February 2, 2023

Mr. Khanna (for himself, Ms. Bush, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Gomez, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Levin, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Raskin, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Meng, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill: which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors as of 1/24/2024

37 Bipartisan

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

S.271

February 2, 2023

Mr. Booker (for himself, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Sanders) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Sponsors as of 1/24/2024

4 Bipartisan

Breakdown of HR797 and S271

This Act may be cited as the “Farm System Reform Act of 2023”.

The Farm System Reform Act defines large animal feeding operations as 500 or more animals with the goal to eliminate Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations within the next 15 to 16 years.

This bill would establish in the Department of Agriculture a pilot program to aid farmers and ranchers in transitioning from animal and livestock production to plant-based agriculture, conservation alternative land use and for other purposes.

Summery:

This bill places a moratorium on large, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); expands country-of-origin labeling; and expands requirements in the livestock, poultry, and meat markets.

Specifically, under the bill, a large CAFO may not commence or expand operations and, after January 1, 2041, may not continue to operate.

Further, the Department of Agriculture must provide grants to eligible animal feed operation (AFO) owners to pay off related debt and to transition the property to alternative agriculture activities.

Integrators (certain individuals or entities that enter into arrangements with contract growers to raise and care for livestock or poultry at an AFO) that exercise substantial operational control of an AFO are liable and subject to civil action for an AFO's operation, including for dead animal and manure disposal, and for the discharge of air and water pollutants.

The bill also expands country-of-origin labeling requirements to include beef, pork, and dairy products.

Further, the bill expands requirements and prohibitions under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 in order to increase competition and transparency in the livestock, poultry, and meat markets, including by

prohibiting the use of forward contracts (i.e., future livestock delivery to a packer) unless certain requirements are met, such as a firm base price and competitive bidding.
establishing that a minimum of 50%, with exceptions, of a covered packer's daily volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales (i.e., the negotiated purchase or sale of livestock that meets specific pricing, timing, and competitive bidding requirements) from nonaffiliated producers; and
providing USDA with additional enforcement authorities over live poultry dealers.