HR 8337
Buy American Seafood Act
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Bill overview
The Buy American Seafood Act prohibits the federal government from purchasing foreign seafood for covered food programs, such as school lunch programs and disaster relief efforts. It prioritizes seafood harvested in the United States by U.S.-flagged vessels or produced domestically through aquaculture or domestic seafood processing. The Act allows for limited waivers if U.S.-produced seafood is insufficient or doesn't meet food safety standards, requiring publication and reporting of these waivers to Congress. It also clarifies definitions related to seafood and domestic production.
Key provisions
- Prohibits federal agencies from procuring foreign seafood for covered food programs.
- Prioritizes U.S.-harvested seafood from U.S.-flagged vessels or domestically produced seafood.
- Establishes a waiver process for insufficient U.S. seafood supply or non-compliance with food safety standards.
- Requires publication and reporting of waivers to Congress.
- Defines key terms like ‘aquaculture,’ ‘domestic seafood processing,’ and ‘United States-produced.’
- Includes provisions related to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and Child Nutrition Act of 1966.
- Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidance to agencies on implementing the Act.
- Specifies covered food programs, including emergency food assistance and Department of Defense subsistence programs.
Who is affected
- Federal Government Agencies
- School Lunch Programs
- Department of Defense
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
Cosponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8337
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To prohibit any procurement by the Federal Government of foreign seafood for covered food programs, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Buy American Seafood Act
.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of an agency may not procure seafood for any covered food program unless such seafood is—
harvested—
in the United States; and
by a United States-flagged fishing vessel; or
is insufficient to meet the needs of the relevant covered food program; or
Each publication and report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
Section 12(n) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1760(n)) is amended—
by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
The term aquaculture means the farming of aquatic organisms in controlled environments for human consumption.
seafood that is—
harvested—
in the United States; and
by a United States-flagged fishing vessel; or
The term exclusive economic zone has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802).
The term seafood means the following:
Finfish.
Shellfish.
Crustaceans.
Shrimp.
Crawfish.
Oysters.
Catfish.
Any other aquatic species intended for human consumption.
documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code; and
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by inserting and subparagraph (C)
after subparagraph (B)
; and
by adding at the end the following:
The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) with respect to seafood described in paragraph (1)(C) if the Secretary determines that the quantity of United States-produced seafood—
Each publication and report required by subclause (I) shall include the following:
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Defense—
may issue guidance consistent with such regulations to agencies to carry out this Act.
In this Act:
The term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
The term covered food program means the following:
Any program carried out under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.).
Any other program of an agency that purchases or distributes food using Federal funds.
The term seafood means the following:
Finfish.
Shellfish.
Crustaceans.
Shrimp.
Crawfish.
Oysters.
Catfish.
Any other aquatic species intended for human consumption.
documented under chapter 121 of title 46, United States Code; and
eligible to operate in the exclusive economic zone.
The term United States-produced means harvested, raised, and processed within the United States, including the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of the United States.
No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.