Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California have introduced a bill to stiffen penalties against slaughterhouses that illegally process cows too sick to stand.
The legislation comes in response to the scandal over a Southern California slaughterhouse that improperly allowed so-called downer cattle into the food supply, leading to a recall of 143 million pounds of beef. Downer cows pose higher risk of mad cow disease and other infections.
The bill would let the Agriculture Department impose a fine for a first violation, a one-year suspension for a second violation and permanent shutdown for a third violation.
The legislation is also sponsored by Senators Ted Stevens of Alaska and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii.
