(NAFB.com) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports the A-PLUS ACT, which stands for Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States.

The bill was introduced in the U.S. House by Missouri Republican Vicky Hartzler and California Democrat Jimmy Panetta. The bill would clarify regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act to allow livestock market owners to have an ownership stake in small meatpacking entities. Backers say that’s another tool to boost processing capacity and solve some key challenges in cattle marketing.

“The need for new packing facilities has become a critical issue for the cattle industry,” says Clint Berry, chair of NCBA’s Livestock Marketing Council. “The A-PLUS Act makes it possible for the marketing segment of the cattle industry to be included as investors in these facilities, helping reduce dependence on major packers and improve the competitiveness of the live cattle market.”

NCBA also says the meatpacking sector continues to be a bottleneck in the supply chain.