1. Emergency assistance for market-ready hog losses (a) In general The Secretary shall use the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide emergency relief to covered producers to aid in the reduction of intentional depopulation losses of market-ready hogs due to the closure or the reduction in processing capacity of a processing plant related to the COVID–19 pandemic. (b) Payment rate for covered producers In the case of a closure or the reduction in processing capacity of a processing plant related to the COVID–19 pandemic, with respect to the losses of market-ready hogs due to such closure or reduction incurred by a covered producer, the Secretary shall reimburse— (1) for the first 50,000 hogs of such covered producer, 70 percent of the cost of such losses of such covered producer; (2) for up to 50,000 hogs in addition to paragraph (1), 55 percent of the cost of such losses of such covered producer; (3) for up to 100,000 hogs in addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), 45 percent of the cost of such losses of such covered producer; and (4) for any amount of hogs in addition to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), 35 percent of the cost of such losses of such covered producer. (c) Valuation In determining the amount of losses for purposes of the payment rates under subsection (b), the Secretary shall use the average weekly price (as determined by the Secretary) for a market-ready hog, as determined by the Secretary. In no case shall the payments made under subsection (b) with respect to the losses of a covered producer exceed the actual market value of market-ready hogs on the day on which the covered producer began to suffer such losses. (d) Verification The Secretary may not make a payment for the losses of market-ready hogs of a covered producer under subsection (b) unless a veterinarian certifies— (1) that such hogs are market-ready hogs