119 HR 1648 IH: Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act U.S. House of Representatives 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.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1648IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 27, 2025Mr. Alford (for himself, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Graves, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. Finstad, and Mr. Moore of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on AgricultureA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Agriculture to amend certain regulations to clarify that livestock auction owners may have an interest in small meatpacking businesses, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act or the A–PLUS Act.

2.

Amplifying processing of livestock in the United States (a- plus)

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise section 201.67 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025, to specify that—(1)market agencies may have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of, a packer, so long as such packer—(A)with respect to cattle and sheep, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—(i)2,000 animals per day; or(ii)700,000 animals per year; and(B)with respect to hogs, has a cumulative slaughter capacity of less than—(i)10,000 animals per day; or(ii)3,000,000 animals per year; and(2)market agencies that have an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of, a packer shall disclose to sellers of livestock the existence of such ownership interest, financial relationship, or participation.(b)

Savings clause

Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as a limitation on the authority of the Secretary to adopt or enforce rules or regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 (7 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) related to the protection of producers, competition, market integrity, or the prevention of conflicts of interest.