A group of federal lawmakers wants to expand capacity for small meat and poultry processors.

Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, says the “Strengthening Local Processing Act” is designed to create more options for local livestock and poultry producers.

Cosponsors of the proposal include Maine’s two senators, independent Sen. Angus King and Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

The proposal takes aim at federal laws that state farmers and ranchers need to send animals to slaughterhouses that are sometimes hundreds of miles away in order to sell individual cuts of locally raised meat.