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119-hr-10506119th CongressWALLET

Packers and Stockyards Improvements Act

Sponsored By: Representative Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would broaden the Packers and Stockyards Act to strengthen protections for livestock and poultry growers and curb collusive or coercive practices by packers and live poultry dealers. It would add new unfair-practices rules, expand enforcement tools, and create whistleblower rights for those who report violations.

Show full summary
  • Farmers and growers would get new specific protections. The bill bars using grower comparisons to cut pay, limits unreasonably variable price terms, requires full pay when pickup is delayed beyond seven days, and mandates at least seven years of compensation for harms from a processing plant closure.
  • Enforcement and market monitoring would be beefed up. The Secretary could issue civil investigative demands for documents, testimony, or tangible things before formal proceedings, and USDA staff could regularly share livestock data with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for enforcement.
  • Workers, contractors, and agents who report violations would get whistleblower protections. Covered individuals could file complaints within 180 days and seek remedies including reinstatement, back pay, and punitive damages up to $400,000.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Whistleblower protections for livestock workers

If enacted, covered workers would be protected from firing, demotion, harassment, or other retaliation for reporting Packers and Stockyards Act violations. Protections would cover employees, contractors, subcontractors, and agents who reasonably believe they have relevant information. A retaliation complaint would need to be filed with the Secretary of Labor within 180 days. Prevailing claimants would be able to seek reinstatement, back pay with interest, litigation costs and attorneys' fees, and punitive damages up to $400,000.

New unfair-practice rules for producers

If enacted, the bill would define an "unfair practice" to include collusive, coercive, predatory, restrictive, deceitful, or exclusionary actions that harm market participants. The definition would cover acts that cause substantial injury that producers cannot reasonably avoid and that lack offsetting market benefits. The bill would list specific harms producers could challenge, such as pay-score systems that cut grower pay, linking prices to unreliable transactions, exclusive or near-exclusive dealing, failing to pay after livestock pickup delays beyond 7 days, terminating grower contracts without compensating investments or debt, and plant closures that require at least 7 years of compensation for higher costs or lower prices.

Live poultry dealers face enforcement

If enacted, the bill would add "live poultry dealer" wherever the law now says "packer" in Sections 203, 204, and 205. Live poultry dealers would be subject to the same administrative investigations and enforcement procedures that apply to packers. This would increase enforcement exposure and potential compliance obligations for businesses that buy or sell live poultry.

Stronger USDA probes and data sharing

If enacted, the Agriculture Department would be able to issue written civil investigative demands before starting formal packers and stockyards proceedings. Those demands would be able to require documents, tangible items, written answers, or oral testimony, and must be served in writing. The Secretary could seek federal court enforcement if someone fails to comply, and produced materials could be kept confidential except for disclosure to Congress. If enacted, USDA and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission would also be allowed to share livestock transaction and market data regularly with their enforcement staff to monitor possible violations.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

PA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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