The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (HR 7567) is advancing to a vote by the full House of Representatives, and the Southern Shrimp Alliance is advocating for and closely tracking a significant package of amendments that would deliver meaningful wins for US shrimpers, commercial fishermen, and seafood processors.
Where Things Stand
The House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm Bill with bipartisan support on March 5. The Rule Committee works with House leadership to determine which amendments reach the floor for a vote and under what conditions. A total of 362 amendments were submitted, including legislation originally introduced with the support of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. A vote by the House Rules Committee to establish the terms for full floor consideration is expected this week (starting April 27).
SSA Supported Amendments
On behalf of the US shrimp industry, the Southern Shrimp Alliance strongly endorses the inclusion of the following amendments to the final Farm Bill. Each of these ensures that US taxpayer funds support domestic food producers while enhancing the food safety and quality of seafood delivered to consumers.
Amendment 13 – Buy American Seafood Act
Introduced by Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA), joined by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA)
What it does: Incorporates the Buy American Seafood Act (HR 8337), which would prohibit Federal agencies from procuring seafood for covered food programs unless the seafood is domestically sourced. The bill would also incorporate domestic seafood requirements into child nutrition programs.
Why it matters for shrimpers: The federal government spends nearly $400 million annually on seafood for nutrition programs and military feeding – dollars that too often flow to foreign competitors. This amendment would keep those dollars invested in American commercial fishing sectors and fishing communities, providing US commercial fishermen with a steady source of income.
Amendment 21 – Save Our Shrimpers Act
Introduced by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), joined by Reps. Troy Carter (D-LA), Bryon Donalds (R-FL), Mike Ezell (R-MS), Barry Moore (R-AL), Russell Fry (R-SC), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), and Nancy Mace (R-SC)
What it does: Incorporates the Save Our Shrimpers (SOS) Act (HR 2071), as adopted by the House Financial Services Committee. It would require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the US Executive Director at each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any financial assistance for any project that supports shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in a borrowing country.
Why it matters for shrimpers: American tax dollars, channeled through institutions like the International Finance Corporation, have been used to build up the very foreign shrimp aquaculture industries that are now flooding the US market and crushing US dockside shrimp prices. This bipartisan amendment aims to disincentivize future projects that contribute to the global oversupply of shrimp.
Amendment 37 – Codifying the USDA Office of Seafood
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
What it does: Writes into law the USDA Office of Seafood, which was established following Congressional action last year and formally introduced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on April 15. The amendment gives the Office a permanent legal footing independent of future administrations or budget decisions.
Why it matters for shrimpers: American shrimpers and seafood producers have not received federal agency support for marketing and their operations that have been historically made available to farmers and ranchers. The Office of Seafood’s sole responsibility is to better integrate seafood into USDA programs and align seafood policy across agencies, permanently supporting American fishermen, “the farmers of the sea.”
Amendment 38 – American Seafood Competitiveness Act Provisions
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
What is it: Incorporates provisions from the American Seafood Competitiveness Act (S 4236), introduced in the Senate by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME), intended to further advance the ability of American seafood producers to participate in USDA programs. The amendment revises definitions and eligibility criteria in the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act and the Agricultural Marketing Act to recognize commercial fishermen and fish processors as farmers, making them eligible for USDA loan, grant, and financial services programs. Loans could be used to acquire permits, vessels, or processing facilities, and operating loans could cover vessel maintenance and operational costs.
Why it matters for shrimpers: American shrimpers have not previously qualified for USDA farm loan programs, unable to finance capital improvements on a fishing vessel the way a farmer can obtain assistance upgrading equipment on a farm. This amendment opens the door to capital and credit that the US fleet urgently needs to continue to innovate through the adoption of new technologies.
Amendment 128 – Expanding the Prohibition on Chinese and Russian Seafood in Schools
Introduced by Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA)
What it does: Amends a provision to the Farm Bill previously incorporated based on an amendment from Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) supported by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, expanding the prohibition on school food authorities from purchasing Chinese and Russian poultry and seafood to also include poultry and seafood from India and Vietnam.
Why it matters for shrimpers: India and Vietnam are two of the largest sources of imported shrimp that undercut US producers, and both have documented records of antibiotic contamination across all of the world’s major seafood importing markets. The seafood industries in these countries have also been tied to systemic labor abuses including forced labor practices and massive environmental harm. Including these seafood products in the prohibition is a meaningful step towards ensuring that seafood served to children meets US food safety and ethical standards, leveling the playing field for American shrimpers.
Note: Amendment 14, also introduced by Rep. Letlow, would achieve the same result and additionally expand the prohibition beyond seafood to include honey.
Amendment 288 – Restricting Foreign Seafood from SNAP
Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC)
What it does: Excludes seafood not harvested, cultivated, and processed within the United States – including the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone – from SNAP eligibility.
Why it matters for shrimpers: This amendment directs federal nutrition dollars toward domestically produced seafood, consistent with similar requirements in other federal food programs.
Amendments of Broader Relevance to the Industry
The following amendments are not seafood-specific but would significantly benefit American shrimpers and other domestic seafood producers:
Amendment 9 – Berry Amendment Compliance Audits
Introduced by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
What it does: Requires the Department of Defense to conduct quarterly audits on compliance with the Berry Amendment (10 USC § 4862) for food purchases, with reports submitted to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Why it matters for shrimpers: The Berry Amendment requires the Department of Defense to give preference to domestically produced food. Stronger enforcement and oversight of compliance expands market opportunities for American seafood in military food purchasing.
Amendment 224 – Local Food Purchasing in Schools
Introduced by Rep. Stacy Plaskett (D-VI) and Rep. James Moylan (R-GU)
What it does: Bipartisan proposal would require at least 30% of school food purchases to be locally or regionally produced food available within 400 miles of the school food authority or within the same state.
Why it matters for shrimpers: Coastal school districts sourcing within a 400-mile radius would naturally look to nearby fishermen, creating new direct market opportunities for US shrimpers.
Note: Amendment 267, introduced by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), would require school food authorities to “prioritize” the purchase of locally or regionally produced food available within 400 miles of the school food authority or within the same state.
Amendments Filed Late
The following amendments were deemed to have been submitted out of time but, if accepted for consideration, would provide significant benefits to the US shrimp industry.
Amendment 326 from Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) incorporates the Imported Seafood Quality Enhancement Act (HR 2776), strengthening safety and inspection requirements for imported seafood.
Amendment 327 also from Rep. Higgins incorporates the Imported Seafood Safety Standards Act (HR 512), formerly known as the Laws Ensuring Safe Shrimp (LESS) Act, to establish a fund financed by duties on imported shrimp to increase FDA inspections for antibiotic contamination and ensure adherence to health standards.
Amendment 328 also from Rep. Higgins incorporates the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act (HR 2715), which would require the destruction of imported seafood refused entry by the FDA, rather than allowing it to be re-exported and potentially re-enter the US market.
Amendment 353 from Rep. Mace incorporates another provision of the American Seafood Competitiveness Act (S 4236) that would add wild-caught fish and shellfish to the Local Agriculture Market Program.
What Comes Next
The House Rules Committee will determine which of the 362 filed amendments, including those that could benefit shrimpers, will receive a vote before the full House. Once the Rules Committee acts this week, floor debate on the Farm Bill can begin.
If it passes the House, the bill will move to the Senate, where the Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to take up its own version of a Farm Bill this spring. Provisions that are not adopted in the House bill may still be incorporated in the Senate bill or in conference between the two chambers.
“We urge Members of the House to support these amendments and deliver a Farm Bill that recognizes America’s commercial fishing families as the food producers they are,” said Blake Price, director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.“To Representatives Mace, Letlow, Nehls, Higgins, Ezell, Moore, Gonzalez, Carter, Donalds, Fry, and all of the US shrimp industry’s Congressional supporters in the House that have advocated for shrimpers in the Farm Bill—thank you. Your efforts matter to the thousands of fishermen, unloading docks, processors, and families throughout coastal communities across the Gulf of America and Southeast who are counting on Congress to ensure the future viability of this iconic American industry.”
SSA will continue to advocate aggressively to advance these important initiatives at every stage of this process.