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119-hr-4757119th CongressWALLET

Pigs and Public Health Act

Sponsored By: Representative Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

Introduced

Summary

Remove nonambulatory pigs from the U.S. food system and increase public-health transparency. The bill would ban certain growth‑promoting beta‑adrenergic drugs in pigs, set strict transport and humane‑slaughter rules for nonambulatory animals, and create a confidential online complaints portal with whistleblower protections.

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  • Farmers and producers would face a ban on beta‑adrenergic agonists such as ractopamine, zilpaterol, and lubabegron when pigs are not diseased, and could not buy, sell, process, or slaughter nonambulatory pigs. They would also need written humane‑euthanasia policies and electronic recordkeeping for those animals.
  • Transport providers would have to follow new Animal Welfare Act standards that ensure weather protection, bedding, urine and feces absorption, water access, no overcrowding, space to turn and lie down, and a temperature range of 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The Secretary of Agriculture would have one year to issue final regulations and providers must keep transport records available on request.
  • Slaughter establishments and the Food Safety and Inspection Service would face rules requiring immediate humane euthanization of nonambulatory pigs in their possession, specified euthanasia methods, disease testing for pathogens like H1N1, H3N2, Salmonella, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter, and MRSA, and submission and retention of related records.
  • Workers would be covered by a new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for handling nonambulatory pigs with a proposed rule due in one year and a final rule in two years, and covered entities would be required to hire and train staff as needed to comply.
  • Employees who report violations would gain whistleblower protections against retaliation, enforced by the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General with a 210‑day decision window and a path to federal court; complaints follow procedures that include a 21‑day resolution timeline for certain actions.
  • Public health officials and consumers would benefit from a confidential online complaints portal posted within 90 days and an annual aggregate report. The bill would also require a CDC‑coordinated study on the risks from nonambulatory pigs and common pathogens, due to Congress within one year.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Meat worker protections and complaint portal

If enacted, meat and pork workers would get a confidential USDA online portal within 90 days to report violations. Your name would stay private unless you agree or the law requires release. Covered employers would be barred from retaliating for reporting, helping an investigation, or refusing unlawful acts. You could file with USDA’s Inspector General; if there is no final decision in 210 days, you could sue in federal court. OIG complaints would be resolved within 21 days, and USDA would publish yearly summary data from the portal.

Ban on growth drugs in pigs

If enacted, producers would be barred from using beta‑agonist drugs like ractopamine, zilpaterol, or lubabegron to boost growth or feed efficiency. These drugs could only be used to treat disease. The ban would start on enactment.

Stricter transport rules for pigs

If enacted, pig transporters would need bedding, working water for each pig, and space to turn and lie down. Trucks or trailers would need to keep inside temperatures between 50 and 75°F and shield pigs from wind, rain, and snow. No overcrowding would be allowed. Transporters would keep records and share them with USDA on request. USDA would issue final rules within 1 year.

No downer pigs in the food supply

If enacted, covered businesses would need to humanely euthanize pigs that cannot walk, with limited exceptions. They would be banned from buying, selling, slaughtering, or selling meat from those pigs. They would keep written policies, use approved methods, test pigs for listed diseases, and send records to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. USDA would keep the records and enforce bans on willful abuse. Definitions would set who is covered and what counts as nonambulatory, injured, or diseased.

New OSHA rules for downer pigs

If enacted, the Labor Department would propose OSHA rules for handling non‑walking pigs within 1 year. A final, enforceable standard would be in place within 2 years. Covered employers would need to train staff, use mechanical lifting aids, and may have to hire more workers to comply.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]

TX • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/25/2025

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/25/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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