WASHINGTON, DC – To add to states like Montana and Wyoming that are helping to fund the upgrade and expansion of local meat processors, a federal piece of legislation supporting small meat and poultry processors has been introduced in the U.S. House.
The bill would encourage more states to operate state inspection programs and participate in the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program by increasing the federal share of costs for those programs.
There are currently 27 states that operate a state inspection program but only eight states that participate in CIS.
The legislation would also authorize competitive grants to small establishments that want to expand and train new meat processors, and it would create a new grant program for colleges and universities to establish or expand meat processing training programs.
Representatives Chellie Pingree of Maine and Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska are co-sponsors of the bill.
