; (2) covered packers that use negotiated market prices or internal formulations thereof as the basis for formula marketing arrangements may have incentives to not participate in price discovery in fed cattle markets, including in order to influence the price, especially if the majority of the cattle purchases are under fed cattle formula marketing arrangements under which it is particularly important to have minimum participation; and (3) the Department of Agriculture should examine academic literature regarding minimum levels of negotiated transactions necessary to achieve robust price discovery, eliminate the potential for price manipulation, and enhance cattle producer leverage in the marketplace in each of the cattle marketing regions. (b) Penalties Section 253(a) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1636b(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by striking the paragraph designation and heading and all that follows through Any packer and inserting the following: (1) Penalty amount (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any packer ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Mandatory minimum violation Any packer or other person that violates section 259 may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not more than $90,000 for each violation (as adjusted for inflation). ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking Each day and inserting the following: (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each day ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (B) Mandatory minimum violation Each week during which a violation of section 259 continues shall be considered to be a separate violation. . (c) Mandatory minimums The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 259 and 260 ( 7 U.S.C. 1636h , 1636i) as sections 260 and 261, respectively