S271-118

Introduced

To place a moratorium on large concentrated animal feeding operations, to strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to require country of origin labeling on beef, pork, and dairy products, and for other purposes.

118th Congress Introduced Feb 2, 2023

Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.

Summary

What This Bill Does

This bill fundamentally restructures the U.S. meat production system by phasing out large factory farms (CAFOs) by 2041 and strengthening regulations against large meatpacking companies. It also requires country-of-origin labeling on beef, pork, and dairy products so consumers know where their food comes from.

Who Benefits and How

Independent farmers and ranchers benefit from protections against predatory meatpacker contracts and requirements that packers buy minimum amounts on spot markets. CAFO owners who voluntarily exit receive debt forgiveness grants and transition assistance to switch to alternative farming. Consumers gain transparency through mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Rural communities near CAFOs benefit from reduced pollution and health hazards. Pasture-based and organic farmers face less competition from industrial operations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Large meatpacking companies (Tyson, JBS, Cargill, etc.) face new restrictions on forward contracts, spot market purchase requirements, and expanded liability. Large CAFO operators must shut down or downsize by 2041 and face $10,000/day penalties for violations. Integrators (companies that own animals but contract with farmers to raise them) become liable for pollution and health impacts. Meat importers face new labeling requirements.

Key Provisions

  • Bans new large CAFOs immediately and requires all large CAFOs to close by January 1, 2041
  • Creates voluntary program to help CAFO owners transition to alternative agriculture with debt forgiveness
  • Requires large meatpackers to purchase minimum percentages of livestock on spot markets (50% cattle, 25% hogs)
  • Makes integrators (Tyson, Perdue, etc.) legally liable for pollution from contract farms
  • Restores mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef, pork, and dairy products

Evidence Chain:

This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers.

At a Glance

What This Bill Does

Phases out large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) by 2041, strengthens farmer protections against meatpacker abuses, and restores country-of-origin labeling for meat and dairy products.

Key Policy Areas

Agriculture, Environment, Food Safety, Consumer Protection, Labor

Primary Purpose

Phases out large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) by 2041, strengthens farmer protections against meatpacker abuses, and restores country-of-origin labeling for meat and dairy products.

Policy Domains

Agriculture Environment Food Safety Consumer Protection Labor

Title I - CAFO Moratorium and Transition

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Small and mid-sized farmers
  • Rural communities
  • Environmental groups
  • Pasture-based livestock producers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Large CAFO operators
  • Integrators (Tyson, Perdue, JBS, etc.)
  • Meatpacking industry
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title II - Packers and Stockyards Reforms

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Independent livestock producers
  • Contract poultry growers
  • Cattle ranchers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Large meatpackers
  • Poultry integrators
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Title III - Country of Origin Labeling

Identified Gains
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Consumers
  • Domestic meat producers
  • U.S. cattle ranchers
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Identified Costs
Contextual inference, no direct clause citation
  • Meat importers
  • Retailers
  • Packers processing imported meat
Model: N/A | Version: bill_summary_v2 | Source: is

Contextual inference, no direct clause citation

Legislative Progress

Introduced
Introduced Committee Passed
Feb 2, 2023

Mr. Booker (for himself, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Sanders) introduced …

Stakeholder Effects

cui bono?

How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.

Agriculture
9 mentions across 5 clauses
+6 positive -3 negative

AFO owners willing to transition, Contract poultry and hog growers, Existing large CAFO operators

Positive-direction: AFO owners willing to transition, Contract poultry and hog growers, Independent livestock producers, Pasture-based and organic farmers, Pasture-based and organic livestock producers, Small and mid-sized livestock farmers

Negative-direction: Existing large CAFO operators, Large concentrated animal feeding operations

Meatpacking
7 mentions across 6 clauses
-6 negative ?1 uncertain

Large meatpackers (with multiple plants), Large meatpackers required to report prices, Large meatpacking companies

Cattle Ranching
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Independent cattle ranchers

Hog Production
2 mentions across 2 clauses
+2 positive

Independent hog farmers, Independent hog producers

Agricultural Finance
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Farm lenders holding AFO debt

Rural Communities
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Communities near CAFOs

Poultry Production
1 mention across 1 clause
+1 positive

Contract poultry growers

9/16
sections analyzed
Full impact breakdown

Bill Structure & Actor Mappings

Who is "The Secretary" in each section?

Domains
Agriculture Environment
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture
Domains
Agriculture Antitrust
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture
Domains
Food Safety Consumer Protection
Actor Mappings
"the_secretary"
→ Secretary of Agriculture

Key Definitions

Terms defined in this bill

5 terms
"Secretary" §2

The Secretary of Agriculture

"large concentrated animal feeding operation (large CAFO)" §101_cafo

An AFO with 700+ dairy cows, 1000+ cattle/veal/hogs, 30,000+ laying hens, 55,000+ turkeys, or 125,000+ broilers

"integrator" §101_integrator

A person who owns livestock/poultry and contracts with growers to raise them, exercising substantial operational control

"spot market sale" §201_spot_market

Purchase with firm base price where livestock slaughtered within 7 days under competitive bidding

"formula price" §201_formula_price

A price term based on a price not determined until after the contract date

We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.

Learn more about our methodology