Buy American Seafood Act
Sponsored By: Representative Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
Introduced
Summary
Requires a nationwide preference for U.S.-produced seafood in federal food purchases. It pairs that preference with a waiver system for shortages or food-safety concerns and folds seafood-specific definitions into school meal law to guide implementation.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Seafood waiver and reporting rules
If enacted, the Agriculture Secretary would be able to waive the U.S.-produced seafood requirement when domestic seafood is insufficient in quantity or does not meet federal food safety or quality standards. Any waiver would have to be published in the Federal Register and reported to Congress within 30 days, naming the program, describing the seafood, stating the waiver length, and explaining the decision. For school meal waivers the report would have to say whether it applies to the lunch program, the breakfast program, or both.
Buy American seafood for federal programs
If enacted, federal agencies that buy food for school meals, disaster relief, military food service, and emergency feeding would generally have to buy seafood that is harvested by U.S.-flagged boats or raised and processed in the United States. The bill would add clear definitions for "United States-produced" seafood, list covered seafood types, and say which programs must follow the rule. The Agriculture Secretary would write implementing regulations within 180 days, in consultation with Commerce and Defense. No new money would be authorized to carry out these rules, so agencies must use existing funds or seek separate appropriations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov