Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
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
This bill is called the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026. It updates federal laws so that commercial fishing and fish processing businesses can qualify for certain Department of Agriculture loans and grants. The bill treats commercial fishing vessels and fish processing facilities like farms and ranches for loan eligibility. It also allows wild-caught fish and shellfish to be included in the Farmers' Markets and Local Food Promotion Program. Additionally, the bill expands credit and financial services under the Farm Credit Act to businesses that provide services to aquatic product producers and harvesters.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill provides new avenues for commercial fishing and fish processing businesses to access USDA loans, grants, and Farm Credit services.
- Scored +7
Would business owners be better off under this?
The act expands the eligibility of various USDA loans and grants specifically for those in the commercial fishing and fish processing sectors.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill expands access to loans and grants for the fishing and fish processing industries, which can facilitate industry expansion and job growth.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Farm Ownership Loans: Under Section 2(b), commercial fishers and fish processors are included in the definitions for farmers and ranchers. This means they can now use direct and guaranteed farm ownership loans to buy commercial fishing permits, acquire fishing vessels, and make capital improvements to those vessels or fish processing facilities.
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Access to Farm Operating Loans: Under Section 2(c), individuals and entities in commercial fishing and fish processing are made eligible for direct and guaranteed farm operating loans. This helps them cover the everyday costs of operating and maintaining their fishing vessels and processing facilities.
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Grant and Marketing Help for Wild-Caught Seafood: Under Section 2(d)(1), wild-caught fish and shellfish are officially included as agricultural commodities in the Farmers' Markets and Local Food Promotion Program. This allows grant funds to be used for domestic seafood marketing.
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Matching Funds Relief: Under Section 2(d)(2), the Secretary of Agriculture is given the authority to waive or reduce matching funds requirements for commercial fishing or fish processing grant recipients. This is helpful for smaller operations that might struggle to come up with matching cash.
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Expanded Access to Credit: Under Section 3, Farm Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations can now extend credit and financial services to people who provide services directly related to the operating needs of aquatic product producers and harvesters.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- None Identified: The provided text does not contain explicit provisions detailing potential negative outcomes, burdens, or consequences for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides new avenues for commercial fishing and fish processing businesses to access USDA loans, grants, and Farm Credit services. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill expands access to loans and grants for the fishing and fish processing industries, which can facilitate industry expansion and job growth.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The act expands the eligibility of various USDA loans and grants specifically for those in the commercial fishing and fish processing sectors. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — By supporting the fishing and mariculture industries, the bill helps sustain economic activity in rural coastal communities.
- 3/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska