Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2), announced the reintroduction of the Safe Line Speeds During COVID-19 Act.
The bill would suspend all active waivers issued by USDA and suspend USDA’s authority to issue new waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase production line speeds at meatpacking plants.
“It is imperative that we ensure worker safety on slaughter lines,” said Thompson in a statement. “Safety cannot be exchanged for high production. During this unprecedented time of COVID-19, we should take the necessary precautions to ensure employees are safe while working at meat and poultry establishments.”
In January, the USDA withdrew the Trump administration’s proposed rule to allow poultry processing plants to increase the speed of their production lines by 25 percent.
