Johnson, Alford, Panetta Level the Playing Field for Meat Processors

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Mark Alford (R-MO), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act to expand consumer choice for meat products, especially local options. The bill will cut regulations and increase processing capacity to spur additional competition.

“We need to add processing capacity, particularly outside of the largest meat packers,” said Johnson. “To get that done, we need to pass our bill eliminating barriers that keep people from making those investments.”

“The A-PLUS Act will modernize livestock regulations to ensure government policy is consistent with our 21st Century marketplace,” said Alford. “For decades, restrictive rules have prevented smaller and local meat processors from competing for decades. By reforming these burdensome restrictions, we’re working to level the playing field, without sacrificing consumer safety. This commonsense legislation is a win for ranchers, auctions, consumers, and the entire livestock ecosystem. I’m proud to once again lead this bipartisan bill with my colleagues Congressmen Panetta and Johnson, as well as Senators Luján and Ernst.”

“For too long, outdated regulations have restricted competition and limited opportunities for small and regional meat processors, putting unnecessary strain on producers and consumers alike,” said Panetta. “The A-PLUS Act is a commonsense fix that will open doors for livestock auction market owners to invest in smaller packing facilities, increasing processing capacity and strengthening our food supply chain. By modernizing these rules, we can create more competition in the marketplace, support local economies, and ensure that producers have more options to bring their livestock to market.”

Background:

Since the enactment of the Packers and Stockyards Act in 1921, the livestock industry has grown and modernized. Despite an increase in demand, outdated regulations have unreasonably restricted the industry’s presence in the marketplace and put American food supply chains at risk. The A-PLUS Act corrects this issue by allowing livestock auction market owners to invest in small and regional packing facilities. 

The Senate version of this legislation is led by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).

Read full bill text here.