The U.S. House approved a package of agriculture bills, which includes the controversial USDA special investigator to police meat industry competition. In a vote of 221 to 204, seven Republicans backed and four Democrats opposed the USDA special investigator to enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.
The bill also establishes a loan program at USDA’s Rural Development for new and expanding meat processors and finances producer investment to drive competition within the meat packing industry. It would also allocate grants to entities to increase hiring and processing capacity.
And, the bill includes a provision implementing the year-round sale of E15. Current biofuels regulations only allow for E10 to be sold in the summer months. Authorizing year-round sales of E15 will allow higher ethanol content blend to be sold at the pump throughout the year.
House Ag Chair David Scott says the bill will ensure fair competition in the meat and poultry sectors, increase options at the pump, and provide support to America’s ag sector and food supply chain.
But, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association expressed strong disappointment after the House of Representatives passed the Act. Their disappointment is because the bill incorporates the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act.