S. 782

119 S782 IS: Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-27
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 782  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 27, 2025   Mr. Luján  (for himself and  Ms. Ernst ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to amend regulations to allow for certain packers to have an interest in market agencies, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2025  .
2.
Allowed interest of certain packers in market agencies
(a)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall revise section 201.67 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act), to exempt the packers described in subsection (b) from the prohibition described in that section.
(b)
Packers described
A packer referred to in subsection (a) is a packer that—
(1)
with respect to cattle or sheep, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—
(A)
2,000 animals per day; or
(B)
700,000 animals per year; and
(2)
with respect to hogs, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—
(A)
10,000 animals per day; or
(B)
3,000,000 animals per year.
(c)
Required disclosure
In the case of a market agency that has an ownership interest in, finances, or participates in the management or operation of a packer to which the market agency sells consigned livestock, the market agency shall disclose on the account of sale the name of the packer and the nature of the relationship between the market agency and the packer.
(d)
Savings clause
Nothing in this section limits the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to adopt or enforce rules or regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 ( 7 U.S.C. 181 et seq. ), relating to the protection of producers, competition, market integrity, or the prevention of conflicts of interest.