This bill aims to help small and medium-sized meat processing and rendering facilities by providing them with loans, loan guarantees, and grants from the Department of Agriculture. The goal is to expand and improve these facilities, which are important for livestock and poultry producers.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to help small and medium-sized meat processing and rendering facilities by providing them with loans, loan guarantees, and grants from the Department of Agriculture. The goal is to expand and improve these facilities, which are important for livestock and poultry producers.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Butcher Block Act of 2023</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide loans, loan guarantees, and grants to assist and expand meat processing and rendering. </p><p>USDA must establish a loan and loan guarantee program for individuals and entities for the construction, expansion, modification, refurbishment, or re-equipping of meat processing facilities (with less than 500 employees) and rendering facilities (with less than 200 employees). </p><p>Those eligible for the program include (1) public, private, or cooperative organizations; (2) Indian tribes; and (3) individual farmers, ranchers, or business owners.</p><p>The bill generally prohibits the amount of a loan or loan guarantee from exceeding $50 million. However, USDA may provide a loan or loan guarantee of up to $100 million to public, private, or cooperative organizations for projects that significantly increase meat processing or rendering in a state or region that has insufficient processing or rendering capacity.</p><p>USDA must also make grants to establish or support new, innovative, or expanded meat processing or rendering activities, or other activities that will increase the customer base or revenue returns of livestock and poultry producers. Projects may include identifying and analyzing business opportunities, providing technical assistance and training, and incentivizing innovative or mobile enterprises. </p><p>Those eligible for the grants are (1) governmental entities; (2) public, private, or cooperative organizations; (3) Indian tribes; and (4) institutions of higher education. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Establishes a loan and loan guarantee program for meat processing facilities with fewer than 500 employees and rendering facilities with fewer than 200 employees
Allows for loans and loan guarantees of up to $100 million for projects that significantly increase processing or rendering capacity in underserved areas
Provides grants to support new, innovative, or expanded meat processing and rendering activities, including technical assistance and training
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it would directly benefit small and medium-sized meat processing and rendering companies by making it easier for them to access funding to expand or improve their facilities. This could increase competition and options for livestock and poultry producers, potentially leading to better prices and more reliable supply chains for consumers.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
2951, 119th Congress (2025). "Competitive Bidding Relief Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2951