Sponsors (2)
Requires federal food programs to procure U.S.-produced seafood unless USDA issues a waiver for insufficient supply or safety/quality concerns; mandates regulations and public reports for waivers.
Official title: To prohibit any procurement by the Federal Government of foreign seafood for covered food programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 16, 2026 by Julia Letlow · Last progress April 16, 2026
The bill prioritizes U.S.-produced seafood in federal food programs to boost domestic producers and traceability, but it trades off higher costs, potential supply shortages, increased administrative burden, and tighter centralized control that could limit oversight and flexibility.
Small U.S. seafood producers, processors, and coastal/rural workers would see increased demand as federal food purchases prioritize seafood harvested and processed in the United States.
Students, low-income recipients, and other covered-program beneficiaries would be less likely to experience interruptions in meal service because agencies may use waivers to procure non-U.S. seafood when domestic supply is unavailable.
Recipients of federal food programs (e.g., schoolchildren, patients) are protected from unsafe or poor-quality seafood because the law permits waivers when U.S. seafood fails food-safety or program-quality standards.
Taxpayers and federal food programs may face higher costs because agencies could pay more for U.S.-produced seafood, potentially reducing the quantity or variety of food provided.
Students, low-income individuals, and other beneficiaries risk reduced menu options or temporary shortages if domestic seafood supply cannot meet program demand, straining program operations.
Allowing waivers and narrow exceptions could still lead to increased purchases of foreign seafood in practice, harming domestic producers' sales and undermining the bill's domestic-preference goal.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Requires federal agencies to procure only U.S.-produced seafood for defined federal food programs (school meals, Defense subsistence, FEMA disaster food programs, Emergency Food Assistance, and other federal food purchases), unless the Secretary of Agriculture issues a waiver because U.S. supply is insufficient or fails to meet safety or quality standards. The bill adds seafood-specific definitions to the National School Lunch Act, requires public notice and Congressional reports for any waiver, directs the USDA to issue implementing regulations within 180 days, and does not authorize new appropriations.