December 4, 2025
Mr. Barrasso (for himself, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
To delay the implementation of a rule relating to the importation of sheep and goats and products derived from sheep and goats, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Delayed implementation of rule relating to importation of sheep and goats and products derived from sheep and goats
(a) In general
During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which the report is submitted under subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, and any other Federal official, may not finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants
(81 Fed. Reg. 46619) and dated July 18, 2016.
(b) Study and report
(1) Study
(A) In general
The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study on the potential costs and benefits of the rule referred to in subsection (a).
(B) Contents
The study required by subparagraph (A) shall assess—
(i)
the estimated amount of sheep and goat meat imported into the United States as a result of the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a);
(ii)
the estimated increase in the number of live sheep and goats imported into the United States as a result of the rule;
(iii)
the estimated demand for sheep and goat meat in the United States during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, disaggregated by region and State;
(iv)
the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on the economic data and market conditions for imports of sheep and goat meat and live sheep and goats;
(v)
the potential effects of the rule on—
(I)
the supply and prices of live sheep and goats in the United States;
(II)
producers of and markets for live sheep and goats in the United States, disaggregated by region and State;
(III)
export opportunities for United States producers of sheep and goat meat;
(IV)
the competitiveness of the sheep and goat industries in the United States;
(V)
consumer confidence in sheep and goat meat;
(VI)
the health of sheep and goat herds in the United States; and
(VII)
disease outbreaks across species of animals;
(vi)
the estimated amount of direct payments made by foreign countries to producers of live sheep and goats in such countries as a result of the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a); and
(vii)
any negative impacts that could result from the implementation of the rule referred to in subsection (a) not covered by clauses (i) through (vi).
(2) Report
(A) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the committees specified in subparagraph (B) a report that includes—
(i)
an analysis of the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1); and
(ii)
recommendations for changes to the rule referred to in subsection (a) to eliminate or mitigate any negative effects of the implementation of the rule.
(B) Committees specified
The committees specified in this subparagraph are—
(i)
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
(ii)
the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives.