Congressman PAT RYAN Introduces “family Grocery and Farmer Relief ACT,” to Break UP Harmful Monopolies, Bring DOWN Grocery Costs, and Fight for Hudson Valley Small Businesses

July 20, 2026 Press Release Congressman Pat Ryan Introduces “Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act,” to Break Up Harmful Monopolies, Bring Down Grocery Costs, and Fight for Hudson Valley Small Businesses WASHINGTON, DC  – Congressman Pat Ryan, along with U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), introduced the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act, legislation to break up dominant meatpacking monopolies, rein in foreign-controlled corporate giants, and end unfair pricing practices that raise costs for American families and box out local farmers and ranchers. The legislation is bicameral, introduced in the Senate by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “Every time we walk into the grocery store, Hudson Valley families are getting squeezed by high prices because a few greedy corporations are raking in record-breaking profits. That’s unacceptable. Instead of taking on the monopolies driving up costs, like the four meatpacking companies that dominate the entire market, our fundamentally broken system rewards their greed while punishing our family-run grocers, farms, and restaurants,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “As the President’s wars and tariffs hurt our small businesses, we should be focused on lowering costs, strengthening our supply chains, and putting working families ahead of corporate special interests. This bill would break up the monopolies jacking up costs and give our local grocers and farms some extra support. I'll keep fighting to crack down on price gouging, take on greedy monopolies, and make sure every family can afford to put food on the table.” “Trump keeps driving prices higher and higher. The American people are rightfully fed up,” said Senator Schumer. “Every visit to the grocery store has turned into relentless sticker shock for working families. It’s a consequence of Trump’s failed economic policies and the stranglehold the meatpacking monopoly holds over supply chains and grocery stores. Democrats in the Senate and House are united in bringing down costs for consumers, and I’m proud to champion the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act to tackle the skyrocketing food costs and deliver the relief working families demand and deserve.” “Meatpacking monopolies are crushing hard-working small farmers, ranchers, and business owners—and are jacking up food prices for all of us,” said Congressman Deluzio. “In the richest country in the history of the world that likes our meat, we can’t let it become a luxury good. Let’s pass this bill to break up these monopolies and bring some relief to everyone they’re squeezing at the grocery store right now.” “Massive corporations are driving up prices, making it unaffordable for working people to put food on the table,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “It is a failure of our government to have allowed these corporate interests to swallow up the market, raising costs and putting hundreds of thousands of family farms out of business in the process. This bill is a critical step to level the playing field — to give independent ranchers and farmers a fair shot while ultimately lowering grocery bills for American families.” Consolidation in the meatpacking industry is rampant. For instance, 85 percent of the U.S. beef market is controlled by just four companies: Cargill, JBS, Tyson, and the National Beef Packing Company. This corporate consolidation allows these giants to unfairly extract value and take home maximum profits at the expense of farmers and consumers. The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act would help restore competition in the industry. Specifically, it: Makes it unlawful for a major meatpacking conglomerate to control more than one major type of meat, i.e., pork, chicken, beef; Imposes hard caps on the concentration of beef markets at both the regional and national levels and authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to order divestiture from the market if those caps are exceeded; Prohibits foreign leverage over the domestic meat market, empowering FTC to protect competition and national security; Directs the FTC to enforce against discriminatory pricing practices in retail and wholesale meat markets that hit independent and neighborhood grocers the hardest; Authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide financial assistance, loan guarantees, and technical assistance to farmers’ cooperatives and small business concerns to acquire meatpacking facilities divested under the Act; and Creates enforceable penalties for corporations that fail to properly divest, enforceable under the FTC Act. The Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act is also sponsored by U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Henry C. ("Hank") Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Emily Randall (WA-06), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). It is endorsed by American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment (CFFE), Consumer Federation of America, Demand Progress, Farm Action Fund, Food & Water Watch, Groundwork Action, Montana Cattlemen's Association (MCA), National Family Farm Coalition (NFCC), Open Markets Institute (OMI), and Small Business Majority. ### Issues : An Economy that Works for All Freedom for All