[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S317-S319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Rounds, 
        Mr. Cramer, Ms. Smith, and Mr. King):
  S. 354. 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; to the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 354

       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 2023''.

     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 of Smaller Establishment and Very Small 
     Establishment.--In this section, 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' (61 Fed. Reg. 38806 (July 25, 1996)).
       ``(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 smaller 
     establishments and very small 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 smaller 
     establishments and very small 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 smaller establishments and very small 
     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 of Smaller Establishment and Very Small 
     Establishment.--In this section, 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' (61 Fed. Reg. 38806 (July 25, 1996)).
       ``(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

[[Page S318]]

     accessible to smaller establishments and very small 
     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 smaller 
     establishments and very small 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 smaller establishments and very small 
     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 2023 through 
     2028, for the purpose of State participation in the 
     Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, 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 
     2023 through 2028, 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 2023 through 
     2028, for the purpose of State participation in the 
     Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, 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 
     2023 through 2028, the Secretary shall submit a report 
     detailing the activities and results of the outreach 
     conducted during that fiscal year under paragraph (1) 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) Business enterprise owned and controlled by socially 
     and economically disadvantaged individuals.--The term 
     `business enterprise owned and controlled by socially and 
     economically disadvantaged individuals' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 3002 of the State Small Business Credit 
     Initiative Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5701).
       ``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
       ``(A) a smaller establishment or very small establishment 
     (as those terms are defined in the final rule entitled 
     `Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control 
     Point (HACCP) Systems' (61 Fed. Reg. 33806 (July 25, 1996)));
       ``(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).
       ``(3) 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;
       ``(B) support an eligible entity described in subsection 
     (a)(2)(A); or
       ``(C) support an eligible entity that is a business 
     enterprise owned and controlled by socially and economically 
     disadvantaged individuals.
       ``(d) Use of Grant.--An eligible entity that receives a 
     grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry 
     out activities in

[[Page S319]]

     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)(A) the purchase of software and computer equipment 
     for record keeping, production data, Hazard Analysis and 
     Critical Control Points record review, and facilitation of 
     marketing and sales of products in a manner consistent with 
     the social distancing guidelines of the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention; and
       ``(B) the provision of guidelines and training relating to 
     that software and computer equipment;
       ``(8) the provision of staff time and training for 
     implementing and monitoring health and safety procedures;
       ``(9) 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;
       ``(10) 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
       ``(11) other activities associated with expanding or 
     establishing an eligible entity described in subsection 
     (a)(2)(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 2023 and 2024.--An eligible entity 
     awarded a grant under this section during fiscal year 2023 or 
     2024 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 2023 
     through 2028.''.

     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) 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 (as defined 
     in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, 
     Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103)) 
     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 2023 through 
     2028.
       ``(b) Processor Career Training Programs.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide grants to 
     smaller establishments and very small establishments (as 
     those terms are defined in the final rule entitled `Pathogen 
     Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) 
     Systems' (61 Fed. Reg. 38806 (July 25, 1996))) and 
     nongovernmental organizations to offset the cost of training 
     new meat and poultry processors.
       ``(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 2023 through 
     2028.''.
                                 ______