HCR 7 (LSB 1472YH (4) 89)

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7

BY  WILLS, STONE, WESTRICH, BRADLEY, JENEARY, DOLECHECK, FISHER, GRABER, BAXTER, SHIPLEY, KAUFMANN, and KLEIN

A Concurrent Resolution urging the United States Congress to support legislation to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from federal regulation the slaughter and processing of cattle, swine, and other animals produced as part of our food system for intrastate sale.

   WHEREAS, the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is an easily transmissible disease that was identified in 2019 and declared a pandemic in 2020; and
   WHEREAS, the outbreak of the pandemic has placed at risk food security systems in countries throughout the world; and
   WHEREAS, in the United States, the continued battle to control the disease has brought into sharp focus the need to maintain and enhance a dependable system of food supply; and
   WHEREAS, four companies process over 80 percent of American beef, and three companies control 63 percent of this nation’s swine processing; and
   WHEREAS, custom facilities throughout the country are exempt from federal inspection regulations when slaughtering animals for meat and processing meat for the personal consumption of the animal’s owner; and
   WHEREAS, during the 116th Congress, H.R. 2859 and S. 1620 were introduced, known as a the “Processing Revival and Interstate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act”, which would have amended the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and specifically 21 U.S.C. §623; and
   WHEREAS, the PRIME Act would recognize the freedom and flexibility of states to regulate the sale of custom slaughtered and processed meat within their respective intrastate jurisdictions in a manner compatible with our federal system of government; and
   WHEREAS, this system of intrastate control over slaughter and processing facilities would result in the sale of meat directly to household customers, as well as to restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and other food establishments that serve customers in their state; and
   WHEREAS, this system of intrastate control over slaughter and processing facilities would support small farmers who lack reasonable access to such facilities, improve access to locally produced meats increasingly demanded by consumers, and revitalize rural communities; and
   WHEREAS, this system of intrastate control over slaughter and processing facilities would strengthen this nation’s food supply by increasing the number of slaughter and processing facilities in the United States; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE SENATE CONCURRING, That the Iowa House of Representatives urges the United States Congress to support the passage of legislation based on the PRIME Act to exempt from federal regulation the slaughter and processing of cattle, swine, and other animals produced as part of our food system for intrastate sale; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives; and
   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Iowa’s congressional delegation.