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A-PLUS local meatpacking bill reintroduced

A group of lawmakers is again pushing legislation designed to expand local meat processing options.

The Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States, or A-PLUS Act, was reintroduced by Representatives Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Mark Alford of Missouri, and Jimmy Panetta of California Friday.

Johnson says the added processing capacity is needed outside of the largest meat packers, and this bill would eliminate barriers that keep people from making investments in local processing.  Alford says the bill would reform burdensome regulations without sacrificing consumer safety.

A companion bill in the U.S. Senate is being led by Iowa’s Joni Ernst and New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Lujan.