Democrats Introduce Plan Targeting Meat Industry Consolidation

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are preparing legislation aimed at lowering grocery prices by targeting consolidation in the U.S. food system, including the meatpacking sector.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer said the proposal is part of a broader Democratic effort to address affordability as households face rising costs for food, housing and energy. The announcement came as the Senate considered the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which Democrats said is intended to expand housing access and reduce rent pressures.

Schumer said the forthcoming food-price legislation would focus on consolidation in meat and agriculture, arguing that market concentration allows large companies to squeeze producers while raising prices for consumers.

“Our bill will go straight to one of the core problems of the food industry: too much consolidation in America’s food system, especially in meat and agriculture, where a handful of dominant players squeeze farmers on one end and squeeze consumers on the other,” Schumer said.

According to a summary circulated among lawmakers and reported by The Wall Street Journal, the proposed legislation could prevent companies from processing more than one type of meat. The measure could also require large processors to spin off certain operations, including beef plants.

The proposal would also call for a review of foreign-owned meat companies operating in the U.S., potentially affecting firms such as JBS and Smithfield Foods.