Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act

Key Points

• The bill would force the largest meatpacking companies to break up by banning any single company from processing more than one type of meat (beef, pork, or chicken). Companies currently operating across multiple protein lines would be required to divest within a timeline set by the FTC.
• The bill specifically targets foreign-owned meatpacking operations, naming JBS S.A. by name and referencing Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods. These companies would be forced to sell their U.S. operations to domestically controlled entities.
• Strict concentration limits would be imposed on the beef market: no single company could hold more than 30% market share, and the top four firms together couldn't exceed 50%. Currently, four firms control 85% of beef and 67% of pork.
• The Small Business Administration would provide loans, financial assistance, and technical support to farmer cooperatives and small businesses so they can buy the plants and facilities forced to be sold off by the big companies.
• The FTC would get powerful enforcement tools, including the ability to fine companies 10% of their total revenue for refusing to divest, and triple damages for knowing violations. Penalty funds would be recycled into building new competitors.
• The bill aims to lower meat prices for families and increase the share of money that goes to ranchers. Congress notes that ranchers' share of the consumer beef dollar has dropped from 70% in 1970 to about 30% today.