Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Agriculture Committee, Armed Services Committee, Education and Workforce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
This legislation aims to bolster the domestic seafood industry by prohibiting federal agencies from procuring foreign seafood for various covered food programs. These programs include those under the Emergency Food Assistance Act, Department of Defense subsistence, FEMA disaster relief, and other federal food purchasing initiatives. The bill mandates that seafood acquired for these programs must be either harvested in the United States by a United States-flagged fishing vessel or produced and processed domestically through aquaculture or local processing operations. A limited waiver authority is established, allowing an agency head to bypass this prohibition if the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the quantity of United States-produced seafood is insufficient to meet program needs or fails to meet applicable food safety or quality standards. Any such waiver must be published in the Federal Register and reported to Congress within 30 days, detailing the relevant program, the seafood covered, the waiver's duration, and the specific determination made. This ensures transparency and accountability in the waiver process. Furthermore, the bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to incorporate these domestic sourcing requirements for seafood within child nutrition programs. It explicitly defines "domestic commodity or product" to include seafood harvested or processed in the U.S. Similar waiver provisions and reporting requirements are also added for seafood procured under school lunch and breakfast programs. The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense, is directed to promulgate regulations to implement these provisions within 180 days of enactment.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Agriculture and Food
Buy American Seafood Act
USA119th CongressHR-8337| House
| Updated: 4/16/2026
This legislation aims to bolster the domestic seafood industry by prohibiting federal agencies from procuring foreign seafood for various covered food programs. These programs include those under the Emergency Food Assistance Act, Department of Defense subsistence, FEMA disaster relief, and other federal food purchasing initiatives. The bill mandates that seafood acquired for these programs must be either harvested in the United States by a United States-flagged fishing vessel or produced and processed domestically through aquaculture or local processing operations. A limited waiver authority is established, allowing an agency head to bypass this prohibition if the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the quantity of United States-produced seafood is insufficient to meet program needs or fails to meet applicable food safety or quality standards. Any such waiver must be published in the Federal Register and reported to Congress within 30 days, detailing the relevant program, the seafood covered, the waiver's duration, and the specific determination made. This ensures transparency and accountability in the waiver process. Furthermore, the bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to incorporate these domestic sourcing requirements for seafood within child nutrition programs. It explicitly defines "domestic commodity or product" to include seafood harvested or processed in the U.S. Similar waiver provisions and reporting requirements are also added for seafood procured under school lunch and breakfast programs. The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense, is directed to promulgate regulations to implement these provisions within 180 days of enactment.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.