A–PLUS Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1648
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-13T08:05:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The A-PLUS Act (H.R. 1648) aims to encourage the growth of small-scale meat processing in the United States by clarifying federal regulations. It allows owners of livestock auctions (known as market agencies) to invest in or manage small meatpacking operations without violating antitrust-like rules, while requiring transparency to protect sellers.
Key Provisions
- Regulatory Revision: The Secretary of Agriculture must update section 201.67 of title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (a rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921) within one year of the bill's enactment.
- Permitted Interests: Market agencies can own, finance, or manage a meatpacker (a business that slaughters and processes animals) if the meatpacker qualifies as "small" based on slaughter capacity:
- For cattle and sheep: Fewer than 2,000 animals per day or 700,000 per year.
- For hogs: Fewer than 10,000 animals per day or 3,000,000 per year.
- Disclosure Requirement: Market agencies with such interests must inform livestock sellers about the ownership, financial ties, or management role.
- Savings Clause: The changes do not restrict the Secretary's ability to enforce rules protecting livestock producers, promoting fair competition, ensuring market integrity, or preventing conflicts of interest under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill modifies an existing regulation (9 CFR 201.67) that previously restricted market agencies from having financial or operational ties to meatpackers to avoid conflicts of interest. This update explicitly permits such ties for small-scale operations, introducing size thresholds for the first time and adding a mandatory disclosure rule to balance flexibility with transparency. It does not alter the core Packers and Stockyards Act but narrows its application to larger entities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will need to revise and enforce the updated regulation, potentially increasing oversight of disclosures but reducing enforcement actions against small integrated operations.
- Citizens and Businesses: Small meatpackers and auction owners may gain easier access to capital and partnerships, boosting local processing capacity and rural economies. Livestock producers could benefit from more processing options but must be informed of potential conflicts.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though increased domestic processing could reduce U.S. reliance on imported meat products, indirectly supporting food security.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Livestock Auction Owners (Market Agencies): Gain opportunities to invest in small meatpackers, potentially diversifying their businesses.
- Small Meatpackers: Benefit from financing and management support from auctions, helping them compete with larger firms.
- Livestock Producers and Sellers: Protected by disclosure requirements but may face indirect influences from integrated operations.
- USDA and Regulators: Responsible for implementation and ongoing enforcement to maintain market fairness.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the Packers and Stockyards Act's focus on competition by exempting small operations, potentially reducing litigation over conflicts of interest while upholding disclosure to prevent undue influence on prices or markets.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce in agriculture under the Commerce Clause.
- Political: Supports bipartisan efforts (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) to address concerns about meat industry consolidation, promoting small business growth without undermining antitrust protections for larger markets.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (23)
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-28: Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (3 pages)