Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023

S 346, the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023, creates a new Office of the Special Investigator within the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate competition violations by meat and poultry packers and live poultry dealers under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The Special Investigator, appointed by the Secretary, will use subpoenas to probe anticompetitive practices, bring civil actions, and coordinate with the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and Homeland Security. This bill directly affects large meat and poultry companies regulated under the Packers and Stockyards Act, granting the Special Investigator authority to pursue enforcement actions without altering the Secretary’s existing subpoena powers. The law requires coordination with existing USDA offices and prohibits actions against entities not covered by the Packers and Stockyards Act.