Bill > HR1258

This bill aims to support small and very small meat and poultry processing establishments in the United States. Specifically, it would: 1. Require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a database of approved validation studies and publish scale-appropriate model HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plans for smaller and very small meat and poultry establishments, as well as provide guidance on HACCP plan approval requirements. 2. Increase the maximum federal share of expenses for state meat and poultry inspection programs from 50% to 65%. 3. Expand the Cooperative Interstate Shipment program, which allows smaller state-inspected meat and poultry plants to ship products across state lines, by increasing the employee threshold from 25 to 50 and requiring federal outreach to more states. 4. Create a grant program to help smaller and very small meat and poultry processors adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, including through investments in health and safety, processing capacity, and other resilience measures. 5. Authorize funding for career training programs in meat and poultry processing at community colleges, vocational schools, and land-grant universities, as well as grants to offset the cost of training new processors at smaller establishments.