The House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed a bill that would amend the Packers & Stockyards Act with regard to electronic livestock transactions.
H.R. 5883 would clarify the duties relating to services furnished in connection with the buying or selling of livestock in commerce through online, video, or other electronic methods, and for other purposes.
The bill also updates the acceptable payment methods to include the electronic transfer of funds and gives the Secretary of Agriculture the flexibility to approve other new methods of payment as deemed appropriate.
The measure was introduced in July by Rep. David Rouzer (N.C.) and cosponsored by Reps. Scott DesJarlais (Tenn.), Andy Barr (Ky.), Trent Kelly (Miss.), Vicky Hartzler (Mo.), and Thomas J. Rooney (Fla.).
"The Packers and Stockyards Act was written almost 100 years ago and is in need of modernization,” Rouzer said in a news release. “This clarification is a reflection of changes in the marketplace as a result of modern technologies. This legislation will help ensure that our producers receive the law's financial protections regardless of whether they sell products at a fixed-facility market or through an online or video auction."