119-s1509

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1509 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1509

 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 April 29, 2025

 Mr. Thune (for himself and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill; 
 which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
 Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

 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 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
 ``
        (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:

``

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.''.
 <all>