2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel
Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the "Cammack, R-Fla., motion to recommit the bill
to the House Agriculture Committee." The vote was on a motion to
recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 206-218. [House
Vote 276, 6/16/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/16/22; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
7606]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel
Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1170) for
[...] the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (HR 7606)." The vote was on
the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of
218-204. [House Vote 260,
6/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7606;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1170]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel
Costs Act. In June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous question
(thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res
1170) for [...] the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act (HR 7606)." The vote
was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 216-199. [House Vote 259,
6/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7606;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1170]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Providing $700 Million In
Supplemental FY 2023 Funds To The Agriculture Department For Activities
To Lower Food Costs, Reduce Fuel Costs, Expand Livestock And Poultry
Processing, And Address Food And Agriculture Supply Chain Issues. In
June 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
against the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which would "provide $700
million in supplemental fiscal 2023 appropriations and authorize or
require various Agriculture Department activities to reduce food
production costs; support biofuel infrastructure upgrades to reduce fuel
costs; expand livestock and poultry processing capacities; and address
supply chain resilience in the food and agriculture sectors." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 221-204, thus the
bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 277,
6/16/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/16/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
7606]
$500 Million Would Be Reserved To Pay Certain Producers To
Implement Crop Nutrient Management Practices Or Precision
Agriculture Practices, And Modify Existing Conversation Programs To
Provide Additional Support, Such As Loans, To Farmers And Ranchers
To Implement Precision Agriculture Practices And Procure
Technology. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Within
supplemental appropriations, it would provide $500 million for
additional payments to producers under the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program to implement crop nutrient management practices
or precision agriculture practices, which use new technologies to
increase crop yields or decrease needed inputs such as land,
fertilizer and herbicides. It would also modify existing USDA
conservation programs to provide additional support, including loans
and loan guarantees, for farmers and ranchers to adopt precision
agriculture practices and acquire related technology."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/16/22]
The Bill Would Authorize $120 Million Annually Through FY 2025
For Agriculture Department Loans, Loan Guarantees And Grants For
Public And Private Entities To Expand Livestock Capacities And
Promote Local And Interstate Sales. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The bill would also authorize $120 million annually
through fiscal 2025 for USDA loans, loan guarantees and grants for
public and private entities to expand and diversify livestock or
poultry processing capabilities and promote local and interstate
sales by meeting relevant regulatory standards." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/16/22]
The Bill Would Create A Special Investigator's Office In The
Agriculture Department To Prosecute Violations Of Competition And
Trade Practices By Packers And Poultry Dealers. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "It would establish a USDA special
investigator's office to investigate and prosecute violations of
competition and trade practices by packers and live poultry dealers
and consult with the Homeland Security Department on security issues
in the food and agriculture sector." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/16/22]
The Bill Would Address Supply Chain Issues By Authorizing $100
Million For Grants And Loans To Address Fertilizer Shortages,
Establish At Least Six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers, And
Establishing A Temporary Task Force On Food System Supply Chain
Resilience And Crisis Response. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "To address supply chain issues, it would authorize $100
million for grants, loans and other assistance to address fertilizer
shortages, including by reducing dependence on foreign sources and
supporting efficient and sustainable fertilizer use; direct the USDA
to establish at least six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers to
provide grants and assistance to small- and medium-sized
agricultural producers and businesses to address supply chain
challenges; and require the USDA to establish a temporary food
system supply chain resilience and crisis response task force."
[Congressional Quarterly,
6/16/22]
The Provision That Would Establish A Special Agriculture
Department Investigator Was A Bipartisan Effort To Address The
Monopolies In The Beef Market, In Which Four Companies Control Over
80% Of Beef Processing, But There Was Disagreement Over The Need For
Federal Action. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House
voted 221-204 to send to the Senate a legislative package (HR 7606)
that incorporated a bill by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., that
would set up a special Agriculture Department investigator with
subpoena powers and the ability to file civil lawsuits or take
administrative actions against violations of the Packers and
Stockyards Act of 1921 by meatpacking companies and live poultry
dealers. The bill would establish an Office of the Special
Investigator for Competition Matters. The investigator bill is part
of a bipartisan effort in the House and Senate to address
consolidation of the beef market in which four companies control
more than 80 percent of the processing. But there is broader
disagreement in agriculture and in Congress about the need for
federal action and the scope of such action." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/16/22]