A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Buy American Seafood Act" aims to prohibit the Federal Government from purchasing foreign seafood for various covered food programs. Under this bill, agencies can only procure seafood that is harvested in the United States by a U.S.-flagged fishing vessel or produced and processed domestically through aquaculture or seafood processing. The Secretary of Agriculture has the authority to waive these restrictions if domestic supply is insufficient or does not meet safety and quality standards. This bill also amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to include specific definitions and waiver processes for seafood. Finally, the Secretary of Agriculture must work with the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense to create regulations for this act within 180 days.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill provides significant market opportunities for domestic aquaculture and seafood producers.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The mandate to purchase domestic seafood supports jobs within the United States fishing and aquaculture industries.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill supports domestic fishing and aquaculture industries often located in rural coastal and inland areas.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill could potentially increase costs or reduce supply for covered food assistance programs used by low-income households.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Domestic Seafood Producers: By requiring seafood to be harvested in the U.S. by U.S.-flagged vessels or processed domestically through aquaculture (Section 2), the bill creates a requirement for the Federal Government to purchase from American workers and producers.
-
Protection of Food Safety and Quality: The bill allows for waivers if domestic seafood does not meet applicable food safety or quality standards required under Federal law (Section 3), ensuring that standards are maintained (Section 4).
-
Transparency in Government Decision Making: If a waiver is granted to buy foreign seafood, the Secretary must publish the details in the Federal Register and report them to Congress, including a description of the determination made (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Risk of Food Insufficiency: There is a possibility that the quantity of United States-produced seafood may be insufficient to meet the needs of relevant covered food programs (Section 3), which could lead to a reliance on the waiver process to meet program needs.
-
Increased Complexity for Food Programs: The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consult with the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense to promulgate regulations within 180 days, creating a new regulatory framework for agencies to follow (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill provides significant market opportunities for domestic aquaculture and seafood producers. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports domestic fishing and aquaculture industries often located in rural coastal and inland areas. Would children be better off under this? — The bill impacts the seafood standards and procurement for school lunch and breakfast programs. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill could potentially increase costs or reduce supply for covered food assistance programs used by low-income households.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The mandate to purchase domestic seafood supports jobs within the United States fishing and aquaculture industries. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Domestic seafood producers and processors gain guaranteed market access through federal procurement requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires any seafood procurement waivers to be published in the Federal Register and reported to Congress.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Prioritizing domestic seafood may reduce the environmental footprint associated with long-distance international shipping.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one? — The bill modifies the National School Lunch Act regarding seafood procurement for school programs.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill includes subsistence food service programs for the Department of Defense which can impact those in service.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By prioritizing domestic supply, the bill may impact the cost and availability of food in assistance programs.
- 5/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/16/2026
- 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
Nancy MaceRepublican · South Carolina