Senate Democrats led by Corey Booker and Rosa DeLauro have reintroduced the Safe Line Speeds During COVID 19 Act. The measure calls for suspension of waivers issued earlier during the pandemic that allowed processing plants to increase their line speeds by 25 percent. South Dakota Pork Producers Council President Shane Odegaard says having those processing plants running efficiently is critical so this legislation would curtail that.

He says those processing plants are running safely and increasing the line speeds doesn’t impair that safety.

Odegaard doesn’t understand why those Senators are pushing this measure as there really isn’t any pressing need for it.

The Safe Line Speeds During COVID 19 Act would suspend USDA’s authority to issue new waivers for speeding up processing plant line speeds during the pandemic.