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Sen. Grassley Continues Push For More Competition In Meat Packing Industry With Reintroduction Of Two Bills

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is continuing his push to increase transparency and competition in the meat-packing industry with two pieces of legislation. Grassley and a bipartisan group of senators helped reintroduce the Meat Packing Special Investigator Act (MPSIA), which he says will provide additional oversight to an over-consolidated industry.

The Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 was passed to promote fair competition and trade in the industry and to protect farmers, ranchers, and consumers from monopolistic practices. About a half-dozen companies control the vast majority of meat processing and packing in the U.S., and Grassley says the MPSIA will provide the federal government an avenue for correction if misconduct is identified.

He believes one piece of legislation might not be enough, so Grassley, along with Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), also resubmitted the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act for consideration. Grassley says progress is limited as the Senate has been slow to pick up any new legislation so far this year.

Grassley says he is uncertain either of these bills will gain much steam in the Senate under current leadership. However, there is another route forward. Grassley intends to work with his colleagues to incorporate aspects of both bills into the new U.S. Farm Bill, which is up for renewal in 2023.

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