H.R. 7606 · 117th Congress · House

Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced
Apr 27, 22
Passed House
Jun 16, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act

This bill addresses provisions related to agriculture, food, and fuel, including by providing funds for nutrient management, precision agriculture, and biofuel infrastructure.

Specifically, the bill provides funding for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to (1) assist agricultural producers with the costs of crop nutrient use or adopting precision agriculture practices, and (2) provide grants to eligible entities (e.g., fueling and distribution facilities) for biofuel infrastructure.

The bill establishes within USDA the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters, which must investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers.

Additionally, USDA must (1) establish an agriculture and food supply chain task force, and (2) provide assistance to address fertilizer shortages and reduce dependency on foreign sources for fertilizer.

The bill allows USDA to make loans and grants for livestock and poultry processing.

Further, the bill incorporates support for precision agriculture into various USDA programs.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service must enter into certain cooperative agreements for establishing supply chain regional resource centers to support small- and medium-sized producers of agricultural products and agricultural businesses.

The bill also applies the Reid vapor pressure (a measure of gasoline's volatility) requirements that are applicable to gasoline blended with 10% ethanol (E10) to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol. Thus, the waiver given to E10 gasoline, which allows an increase in the Reid Vapor Pressure volatility, is extended to gasoline blended with more than 10% ethanol.

Previous Versions

07Jun 7, 2022

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture (USDA) the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.

Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer; the office must provide notice to the Department of Justice (DOJ) about such actions brought in federal district court.

Additionally, the office must

  • serve as a liaison to DOJ and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector,
  • consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector,
  • maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise, and
  • coordinate with the Office of the General Counsel and the Packers and Stockyards Division of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service to carry out the bill's requirements.
00Apr 27, 2022

Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022

This bill establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters.

Specifically, the office must use all available tools (e.g., subpoenas) to investigate and prosecute violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 by packers and live poultry dealers. Further, the bill grants the office the authority to bring any civil or administrative action authorized by that act against a packer.

Additionally, the office must

  • serve as a liaison to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector,
  • consult with the Department of Homeland Security on national security and critical infrastructure security in the food and agricultural sector, and
  • maintain a staff of attorneys and other professionals with appropriate expertise.

Action Timeline

28
  1. JUN 21, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

  2. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1170. (consideration

    CR H5615-5632; text: CR H5615-5618)

    5615Yea
    5632Nay
    0NV
  3. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    2543, H.R. 2773 and H.R. 7606. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit. Rule also amends House Resolution 188 by striking "June 17, 2022" and inserting "June 22, 2022".

  4. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7606.

  5. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1170, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Khanna amendment No. 1.

  6. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1170, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Spanberger amendment No. 2.

  7. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  8. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    Mrs

    Cammack moved to recommit to the Committee on Agriculture. (text: CR H5631)

  9. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  10. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #276

    206 - 218 (Roll no. 276).

    206Yea
    218Nay
    0NV
  11. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #277

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 204 (Roll no. 277).

    221Yea
    204Nay
    0NV
  12. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #277

    221 - 204 (Roll no. 277).

    221Yea
    204Nay
    0NV
  13. JUN 16, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  14. JUN 14, 2022Floor

    Rule H

    Res. 1170 passed House.

  15. JUN 13, 2022Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1170 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2543, H.R. 2773 and H.R. 7606. Resolution provides for one hour of general debate on each bill and one motion to recommit. Rule also amends House Resolution 188 by striking "June 17, 2022" and inserting "June 22, 2022".

  16. JUN 09, 2022Committee

    Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Agriculture, H

    Rept. 117-357, Part II.

    117Yea
    357Nay
    0NV
  17. JUN 09, 2022Committee

    Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Agriculture, H

    Rept. 117-357, Part II.

    117Yea
    357Nay
    0NV
  18. JUN 07, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 117-357.

    117Yea
    357Nay
    0NV
  19. JUN 07, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 117-357.

    117Yea
    357Nay
    0NV
  20. JUN 07, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 270.

  21. MAY 18, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  22. MAY 18, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 21.

    27Yea
    21Nay
    0NV
  23. MAY 17, 2022Committee

    Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Discharged.

  24. MAY 17, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  25. MAY 05, 2022Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.

  26. APR 27, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  27. APR 27, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  28. APR 27, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

Committees

8

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

ssaf00

Referred: Jun 21, 2022

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: Jun 9, 2022

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: Jun 7, 2022

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: May 18, 2022

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: May 17, 2022

Active

Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee

hsag29

Referred: May 17, 2022

Active

Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee

hsag29

Referred: May 5, 2022

Active

Agriculture Committee

hsag00

Referred: Apr 27, 2022

Active