[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 29, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2666-S2668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Ms. Smith):
S. 1509. 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. Mr. 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. 1509
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 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 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 2025 through
2030, 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
[[Page S2667]]
``(B) do not have a selected establishment.
``(2) Report.--At the conclusion of each of fiscal years
2025 through 2030, 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 2025 through
2030, 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
2025 through 2030, 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 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).
``(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)(A) the purchase of software and computer equipment
for record keeping, production data, and Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Points record review; 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)(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 2025
through 2030.''.
SEC. 6. PROCESSOR CAREER 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:
[[Page S2668]]
``SEC. 403. PROCESSOR CAREER 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) Smaller establishment; very small establishment.--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)).
``(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
smaller establishment or a very small 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 smaller
establishments or very small establishments.
``(b) Processor 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, 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 2025 through
2030.''.
______