Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) have introduced new legislation that they say would address anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industries that threaten the nation’s food supply and national security following last week’s ransomware attack on JBS.
“Increased consolidation is driving concerns about competitive market access for Iowa livestock producers,” Grassley said. “The recent cyberattack added to existing vulnerabilities in our food supply chain, underscoring the importance of protecting the livelihoods of our family farmers. Food security is national security. This bill provides USDA with the necessary tools to beef up enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, increase coordination with DOJ, FTC, and DHS and to foster a fair and functional marketplace for farmers and consumers alike.”