Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act of 2023

Summary

Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act of 2023 This bill establishes additional requirements for larger animal feeding operations (AFOs) owned or controlled by industrial operators and increases handling requirements for livestock and poultry. Specifically, the bill establishes the Office of High-Risk AFO Disaster Mitigation and Enforcement within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and requires such industrial operators to register with the office and submit annual disaster mitigation plans (e.g., for public health emergencies and major disasters). In addition, industrial operators must pay annual disaster mitigation maintenance fees to the office and are liable for costs associated with disaster events or depopulation (the rapid destruction of animals in response to urgent circumstances). Industrial operators are restricted from using specified methods of depopulation; any person may sue an industrial operator or USDA over a violation. Further, USDA must establish depopulation standards that rapidly induce unconsciousness and death with minimal pain and distress. The Department of Labor must enforce minimum labor standards for industrial operators regarding covered workers or affected contract growers in disaster mitigation events, including whistleblower protections and health insurance requirements. Further, industrial operators may not use incarcerated workers in these events. The bill also includes provisions on the handling of livestock and poultry, such as requiring USDA to set additional standards for animal transport; including poultry in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1958 and creating a USDA grant program to transition processing facilities to a different slaughter method; requiring USDA to promulgate certain regulations regarding the humane treatment, euthanasia, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock; and terminating programs that allow for slaughter speeds that exceed existing limits or reduce the use of federal inspectors.

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Timeline

1. 2 February 2023

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Education and the Workforce, 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.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 2 February 2023

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 2 February 2023

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 3 February 2023

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

   Source: Committee

5. 6 March 2023

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 2 February 2023 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2023

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 2 February 2023

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 2 February 2023

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] · D · Sponsor
• Earl Blumenauer · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] · D · Sponsor
• Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] · D · Cosponsor
• Donald Payne · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsag00 · Standing
• · hspw00 · Standing
• · hsed00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act of 2023