H.R. 9744 — Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act

This section prohibits a covered meatpacking enterprise from owning, controlling, or operating any entity engaged in more than one line of protein in the United States. It bars new acquisitions after the date of enactment that would expand operations into an additional line of protein and requires the Commission to order divestiture of any violating assets or operations.

This section requires the Commission to develop and oversee divestiture plans for covered meatpacking enterprises that violate section 101 by processing more than one protein line. Plans must provide for asset sales to independent entities or spin-offs, structured to promote competition, protect consumers, producers, and workers, encourage ownership by farmer cooperatives and worker-owned enterprises, avoid reconcentration, and prevent reacquisition by firms that contributed to the violation.

This section requires divestiture if a regional or national beef market meets any of three concentration thresholds: the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index exceeds 1,800, the four-firm concentration ratio exceeds 50 percent, or any covered meatpacking enterprise holds a market share of 30 percent or more.

This section establishes a divestiture process for covered meatpacking enterprises in regional and national beef markets when concentration thresholds are met. It requires the Commission to order the largest enterprise in a regional market to divest its largest entity, facility, or business unit, reassess concentration, and repeat as needed until no thresholds are met or further divestiture would not reduce concentration; it authorizes use of equitable powers to deconcentrate if divestiture is not feasible, and applies a substantially similar process nationally.

This section prohibits covered meatpacking enterprises from slaughtering more than 10 percent of the cattle produced by any single covered feedlot in a calendar year. It authorizes feedlot owners or operators who sold less than that share to that enterprise to sue for treble the difference between the highest and lowest prices paid for cattle that year, multiplied by the feedlot’s total cattle sold, plus costs and attorney’s fees, and directs the Commission to impose equivalent civil penalties to compensate affected feedlots.

This section states congressional findings that foreign-based corporations control a significant share of U.S. beef, pork, and chicken processing capacity. It notes JBS S.A. as the largest U.S. beef processor, its parent company's $280 million bribery settlement in 2020, and the WH Group's ownership of Smithfield Foods and its January 2026 acquisition of Nathan’s Famous, citing risks to resilience, competition, pricing, and national security.

This section prohibits covered foreign-controlled meatpacking enterprises from operating in interstate commerce in the United States. It requires the Commission to mandate divestiture of their U.S. meatpacking and food processing operations within 120 days to new independent U.S.-controlled entities or to buyers under conditions that preserve competition and national security, with preferences for farmer cooperatives, worker-owned enterprises, and small or mid-sized businesses, and authorizes one 90-day extension upon certification of progress.

This section directs the Commission to study the business practices, financing, ownership structures, and competitive effects of all foreign-controlled entities with significant US meatpacking operations, including beef and pork, within 180 days. It requires consultation with the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Justice, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other agencies. The Commission must submit a report with divestment decisions for each such entity to specified congressional committees within 120 days and may require divestment, structural separation, or other remedies after congressional review under the disapproval procedure in 5 U.S.C. 802.

This section states congressional findings that high meat prices stem from concentration and unfair pricing practices in supply chains and retail markets, and expresses the intent that the Federal Trade Commission use its existing authority under section 406 of the Packers and Stockyards Act and section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to investigate, prevent, and remedy such practices affecting consumers and independent grocers.

This section requires the Federal Trade Commission to submit a report within 180 days of enactment to the Senate and House committees on commerce, agriculture, and judiciary. The report must describe the agency's current and planned use of its authorities under section 406 of the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, and sections 5 and 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act to address unfair or discriminatory retail and wholesale meat prices, including effects on independent and smaller grocery stores, related studies, enforcement actions, interagency coordination, and any needed additional authority.

This section authorizes the Small Business Administration to provide financial assistance, loan guarantees, technical assistance, and other assistance to farmers’ cooperatives and small business concerns for acquiring, operating, or expanding meatpacking plants or facilities divested under the Act. It directs the Administrator to give preference to applications for locally or regionally focused operations that enhance competition for livestock and benefit producers and consumers, and authorizes such sums as necessary.

This section deems any failure to divest as required under the Act an unlawful method of competition under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. It authorizes the Commission to enforce the Act against all persons, including those subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act, and to impose civil penalties equal to 10 percent of the violator’s revenue during the period of violation or three times any damages for knowing violations. The Commission may bring civil actions for equitable relief, including specific performance, monitors, and disgorgement. Penalty funds must be used to promote competition, including by funding new competitors under title V. The Department of Agriculture must provide requested information and assistance.

This section requires the Commission to promulgate rules within 90 days of enactment that define markets for cattle slaughter and beef processing, set standards for required divestitures and divestment plans, and identify all covered foreign-controlled meatpacking enterprises in consultation with national security agencies. The rules must aim to discourage monopolistic practices, strengthen small business concerns, foster new independent enterprises, and give preference to farmers’ cooperatives and small businesses.