H.R. 3076

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3076 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3076

To amend the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act to support small and very small meat and poultry 
processing establishments, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 29, 2025

Ms. Pingree (for herself and Mr. Baird) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act to support small and very small meat and poultry 
processing establishments, 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. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening Local Processing Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. HACCP GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR SMALLER AND VERY SMALL POULTRY 
AND MEAT ESTABLISHMENTS.

(a) Poultry Establishments.--The Poultry Products Inspection Act is 
amended by inserting after section 14 (21 U.S.C. 463) the following:

``SEC. 14A. SMALLER AND VERY SMALL ESTABLISHMENT GUIDANCE AND 
RESOURCES.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered establishment' means--
``(A) a smaller establishment; and
``(B) a very small establishment.
``(2) The terms `smaller establishment' and `very small 
establishment' have the meanings given those terms in the final 
rule entitled `Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical 
Control Point (HACCP) Systems' and published in the Federal 
Register by the Department of Agriculture on July 25, 1996 (61 
Fed. Reg. 38806 et seq.).
``(b) Database of Studies; Model Plans.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) establish a free, searchable database of approved 
peer-reviewed validation studies accessible to covered 
establishments subject to inspection under this Act for use in 
developing a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan; 
and
``(2) publish online scale-appropriate model Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Points plans for covered 
establishments, including model plans for--
``(A) slaughter-only establishments;
``(B) processing-only establishments; and
``(C) slaughter and processing establishments.
``(c) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Secretary shall publish a guidance document, after 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, providing information on 
the requirements that need to be met for covered establishments to 
receive approval for a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan 
pursuant to this Act.
``(d) Data Confidentiality.--In carrying out subsections (b) and 
(c), the Secretary shall not publish confidential business information, 
including a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan of an 
establishment.''.
(b) Meat Establishments.--The Federal Meat Inspection Act is 
amended by inserting after section 25 (21 U.S.C. 625) the following:

``SEC. 26. SMALLER AND VERY SMALL ESTABLISHMENT GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `covered establishment' means--
``(A) a smaller establishment; and
``(B) a very small establishment.
``(2) The terms `smaller establishment' and `very small 
establishment' have the meanings given those terms in the final 
rule entitled `Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical 
Control Point (HACCP) Systems' and published in the Federal 
Register by the Department of Agriculture on July 25, 1996 (61 
Fed. Reg. 38806 et seq.).
``(b) Database of Studies; Model Plans.--Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) establish a free, searchable database of approved 
peer-reviewed validation studies accessible to covered 
establishments subject to inspection under this Act for use in 
developing a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan; 
and
``(2) publish online scale-appropriate model Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Points plans for covered 
establishments, including model plans for--
``(A) slaughter-only establishments;
``(B) processing-only establishments; and
``(C) slaughter and processing establishments.
``(c) Guidance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this section, the Secretary shall publish a guidance document, after 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, providing information on 
the requirements that need to be met for covered establishments to 
receive approval for a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan 
pursuant to this Act.
``(d) Data Confidentiality.--In carrying out subsections (b) and 
(c), the Secretary shall not publish confidential business information, 
including a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan of an 
establishment.''.

SEC. 3. INCREASING MAXIMUM FEDERAL SHARE FOR EXPENSES OF STATE 
INSPECTION.

(a) Poultry Products.--Section 5(a)(3) of the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454(a)(3)) is amended in the second sentence 
by striking ``50 per centum'' and inserting ``65 percent''.
(b) Meat and Meat Food Products.--Section 301(a)(3) of the Federal 
Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661(a)(3)) is amended in the second 
sentence by striking ``50 per centum'' and inserting ``65 percent''.

SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF POULTRY AND MEAT.

(a) Poultry Products.--Section 31 of the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 472) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``25 employees'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``50 employees''; 
and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
``25'' and inserting ``50'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
``25'' and inserting ``50''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking 
``more than 25 employees but less than 
35 employees'' and inserting ``more 
than 50 employees but less than 70 
employees''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking 
``subsection (i)'' and inserting 
``subsection (j)'';
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``60 percent'' and 
inserting ``80 percent'';
(3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``subsection (i)'' 
and inserting ``subsection (j)'';
(4) by redesignating subsections (f) through (i) as 
subsections (g) through (j), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Federal Outreach.--
``(1) In general.--In each of fiscal years 2026 through 
2031, for the purpose of State participation in the Cooperative 
Interstate Shipment program under this section, the Secretary 
shall conduct outreach to, and, as appropriate, subsequent 
negotiation with, not fewer than 25 percent of the States 
that--
``(A) have a State poultry product inspection 
program pursuant to section 5; but
``(B) do not have a selected establishment.
``(2) Report.--At the conclusion of each of fiscal years 
2026 through 2031, the Secretary shall submit a report 
detailing the activities and results of the outreach conducted 
during that fiscal year under paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives;
``(B) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate;
``(C) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives; and
``(D) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate.''.
(b) Meat and Meat Food Products.--Section 501 of the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 683) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``25 employees'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``50 employees''; 
and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
``25'' and inserting ``50'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
``25'' and inserting ``50''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking 
``more than 25 employees but less than 35 
employees'' and inserting ``more than 50 
employees but less than 70 employees'';
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``60 percent'' and 
inserting ``80 percent''; and
(3) in subsection (f), by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Federal outreach.--
``(A) In general.--In each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2031, for the purpose of State participation in 
the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program under this 
section, the Secretary shall conduct outreach to, and, 
as appropriate, subsequent negotiation with, not fewer 
than 25 percent of the States that--
``(i) have a State meat inspection program 
pursuant to section 301; but
``(ii) do not have a selected 
establishment.
``(B) Report.--At the conclusion of each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2031, the Secretary shall submit a 
report detailing the activities and results of the 
outreach conducted during that fiscal year under 
subparagraph (A) to--
``(i) the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives;
``(ii) the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;
``(iii) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies of the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives; and
``(iv) the Subcommittee on Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies of the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.''.

SEC. 5. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

Subtitle A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 210B. PROCESSING RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) a covered establishment (as defined in 
section 26 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act);
``(B) a slaughtering or processing establishment 
subject to--
``(i) a State meat inspection program 
pursuant to section 301 of the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 661); or
``(ii) a State poultry product inspection 
program pursuant to section 5 of the Poultry 
Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 454);
``(C) a person engaging in custom operations that 
is exempt from inspection under--
``(i) section 23 of the Federal Meat 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 623); or
``(ii) section 15 of the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 464); and
``(D) a person seeking--
``(i) to establish and operate an 
establishment described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B); or
``(ii) to engage in custom operations 
described in subparagraph (C).
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture, acting through the Administrator of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service.
``(b) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall award 
competitive grants to eligible entities for activities to 
increase resiliency and diversification of the meat processing 
system, including activities that--
``(A) support the health and safety of meat and 
poultry plant employees, suppliers, and customers;
``(B) support increased processing capacity; and
``(C) otherwise support the resilience of the small 
meat and poultry processing sector.
``(2) Maximum amount.--The maximum amount of a grant 
awarded under this section shall not exceed $500,000.
``(3) Duration.--The term of a grant awarded under this 
section shall not exceed 3 years.
``(c) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application 
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Applications for small grants.--The Secretary shall 
establish a separate, simplified application process for 
eligible entities applying for a grant under this section of 
not more than $100,000.
``(3) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that any 
application for a grant under this section is--
``(A) simple and practicable;
``(B) accessible online; and
``(C) available through local staff of the 
Department of Agriculture.
``(4) Notice.--Not later than 14 days before the date on 
which the Secretary begins to accept applications under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish a notice of funding 
opportunity with respect to the grants available under this 
section.
``(5) Reapplication.--If an application of an eligible 
entity under this subsection is denied by the Secretary, the 
eligible entity may submit a revised application.
``(6) Priority.--In reviewing applications submitted under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to proposals 
that will--
``(A) increase farmer and rancher access to animal 
slaughter options within a 200-mile radius of the 
location of the farmer or rancher; or
``(B) support an eligible entity described in 
subsection (a)(1)(A).
``(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under 
this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities in 
support of the purposes described in subsection (b)(1), including 
through--
``(1) the development and issuance of a Hazard Analysis and 
Critical Control Points plan for the eligible entity, which may 
be developed by a consultant;
``(2) the purchase or establishment, as applicable, of 
facilities, equipment, processes, and operations necessary for 
the eligible entity to comply with applicable requirements 
under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.);
``(3) the purchase of cold storage, equipment, or 
transportation services;
``(4) the purchase of temperature screening supplies, 
testing for communicable diseases, disinfectant, sanitation 
systems, hand washing stations, and other sanitizing supplies;
``(5) the purchase and decontamination of personal 
protective equipment;
``(6) the construction or purchase of humane handling 
infrastructure, including holding space for livestock prior to 
slaughter, shade structures, and knock box structures;
``(7) the provision of staff time and training for 
implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures;
``(8) the development of a feasibility study or business 
plan for, or the carrying out of any other activity associated 
with, establishing or expanding a small meat or poultry 
processing facility;
``(9) the purchase of equipment that enables the further 
use or value-added sale of coproducts or byproducts, such as 
organs, hides, and other relevant products; and
``(10) other activities associated with expanding or 
establishing an eligible entity described in subsection 
(a)(1)(A), as determined by the Secretary.
``(e) Outreach.--During the period beginning on the date on which 
the Secretary publishes the notice under subsection (c)(4) and ending 
on the date on which the Secretary begins to accept applications under 
subsection (c)(1), the Secretary shall perform outreach to States and 
eligible entities relating to grants under this section.
``(f) Federal Share.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Federal 
share of the activities carried out using a grant awarded under 
this section shall not exceed--
``(A) 90 percent in the case of a grant in the 
amount of $100,000 or less; or
``(B) 75 percent in the case of a grant in an 
amount greater than $100,000.
``(2) Fiscal years 2025 and 2026.--An eligible entity 
awarded a grant under this section during fiscal year 2025 or 
2026 shall not be required to provide non-Federal matching 
funds with respect to the grant.
``(g) Administration.--The promulgation of regulations under, and 
administration of, this section shall be made without regard to--
``(1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of 
title 5, United States Code; and
``(2) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly 
known as the `Paperwork Reduction Act').
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this section 
$20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.''.

SEC. 6. LOCAL MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING TRAINING PROGRAMS.

Title IV of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education 
Reform Act of 1998 is amended by inserting before section 404 (7 U.S.C. 
7624) the following:

``SEC. 403. LOCAL MEAT AND POULTRY PROCESSING TRAINING PROGRAMS.

``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Land-grant colleges and universities.--The term 
`land-grant colleges and universities' has the meaning given 
the term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
``(2) Covered establishment.--The term `covered 
establishment' has the meaning given such term in section 26 of 
the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
``(3) Structured apprenticeship.--The term `structured 
apprenticeship' means an apprenticeship program that--
``(A) provides most of the training on the job in a 
meat or poultry processing facility;
``(B) describes in detail--
``(i) all of the competencies necessary to 
work in a meat or poultry processing facility; 
and
``(ii) the competencies that are necessary 
to own and operate a meat or poultry processing 
facility that is a covered establishment;
``(C) describes the level of knowledge, skill, and 
ability the apprentice ought to attain in each 
competency;
``(D) includes a component for someone other than 
the trainer--
``(i) to assess competency attainment; and
``(ii) to assure that all competencies are 
being addressed during the apprenticeship;
``(E) includes an individualized plan for each 
apprentice that--
``(i) considers prior knowledge, skill, and 
ability; and
``(ii) allows for apprentices to opt out of 
competencies irrelevant to their career goals; 
and
``(F) focuses on individuals who will work in or 
operate meat or poultry processing facilities that are 
covered establishments.
``(b) Institutional Career Training Programs.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide competitive 
grants to junior or community colleges, technical or vocational 
schools, nonprofit organizations, worker training centers, and 
land-grant colleges and universities to establish or expand 
career training programs relating to meat and poultry 
processing.
``(2) Applications for small grants.--The Secretary shall 
establish a separate, simplified application and reporting 
process for entities described in paragraph (1) applying for a 
grant under this subsection of not more than $100,000.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 
2030.
``(c) Processor Career Training Programs.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide competitive 
grants to covered establishments to establish or expand career 
training programs, including for structured apprenticeships, 
relating to meat and poultry processing.
``(2) Applications for small grants.--The Secretary shall 
establish a separate, simplified application and reporting 
process for entities described in paragraph (1) applying for a 
grant under this subsection of not more than $100,000.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 
subsection $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 
2030.''.
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