Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
A bill to support nutrition, farmers, the seafood industry, agricultural research, wood energy and innovation, and indigenous self-determination, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with no 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 aims to improve food access, support farmers and the seafood industry, and advance agricultural research. It provides grants and loans for food distribution in frontier communities and small commercial food processing. The legislation establishes new labeling for wild USA seafood and mandates specific naming for genetically engineered and cultivated fish. It also expands agricultural research funding and supports wood energy and innovation. Additionally, the bill promotes Tribal self-determination through new contracting authorities and modifies the Buy Indian Act.
Yes· 3 of 23
- Scored +9
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Strongly supports Tribal self-determination, Alaska Native water systems, and Tribal food access.
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Extensive support for food distribution, processing, and infrastructure in frontier and rural areas.
- Scored +7
Would farmers be better off under this?
Provides increased funding for disadvantaged farmers and supports local food procurement.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
Increases government spending through various new grant and loan programs.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
Authorizes new spending and forgivable loans, increasing federal expenditures.
- Scored -2
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
Restricts procurement of foreign flowers/greens by specific federal agencies.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Increased Food Access: Provides grants and loans to establish food banks or food pantries in eligible frontier and rural communities in noncontiguous States (Section 102).
- Expanded SNAP Benefits: Allows SNAP benefits to be used for delivery fees when food is delivered to rural hub communities or outlying villages in noncontiguous States (Section 103).
- Support for Small Businesses: Offers forgivable loans up to $250,000 for eligible entities to start or expand small commercial food processing operations (Section 201).
- Fishery Support: Allows commercial fishers to use direct or guaranteed loans to acquire permits and operate or maintain fishing vessels (Section 302).
- Seafood Infrastructure: Creates grants and cooperative agreements to support new or rehabilitated seafood processing infrastructure in selected coastal communities (Section 303).
- Consumer Transparency: Establishes the "Wild USA Seafood" label to identify fish caught in US waters and requires labels for "Genetically Engineered" or "Cultivated" fish (Sections 305, 306, and 307).
- Environmental Research: Provides grants for research into using cold-water seaweed to reduce methane from livestock (Section 402).
- Tribal Empowerment: Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Tribal organizations to administer Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service activities (Section 701).
- Rural Infrastructure: Includes the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in water system programs for Alaska Native and rural villages (Section 703).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Penalties: Allows the Secretary to fine retailers or suppliers up to $10,000 for each violation of the "Wild USA Seafood" labeling requirements (Section 298C).
- Procurement Restrictions: Prohibits covered agencies (such as the Department of Defense and State) from using funds to buy cut flowers or greens not grown in a qualifying US area (Section 601).
- Industry Prohibitions: Prohibits Federal agencies from authorizing commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States (Section 303(e)).
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 Native Americans be better off under this? — Strongly supports Tribal self-determination, Alaska Native water systems, and Tribal food access. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Extensive support for food distribution, processing, and infrastructure in frontier and rural areas. Would farmers be better off under this? — Provides increased funding for disadvantaged farmers and supports local food procurement. Would business owners be better off under this? — Provides forgivable loans and grants for small food processors and fishers. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improves access to healthy foods and expands SNAP benefit utility. Would children be better off under this? — Increases food security through school-based micro-grants. Would students be better off under this? — Increases funding for educational equipment and facilities in agricultural research institutions. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Includes urban agricultural production in research and education initiatives.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Invests in food distribution, water systems, and food processing in frontier and rural areas. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Supports community wood energy and wood innovation programs. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Funds research into seaweed to reduce livestock methane emissions and carbon sequestration. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Provides funding for sustainable use of marine products and seaweed farming regulations. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Empowers Tribal organizations to administer Forest Service and NRCS activities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides forgivable loans specifically for small commercial food processing operations. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Increases transparency through new labeling requirements for wild and genetically engineered seafood. Is this likely to create jobs? — Provides loans and grants for food processing and seafood infrastructure which likely creates local employment. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Supports rural and coastal economies through infrastructure investment and industry-specific support. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — Increases government spending through various new grant and loan programs. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Authorizes new spending and forgivable loans, increasing federal expenditures. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Increases spending without identifying specific offsets.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Expands food access through grants for food banks and SNAP delivery fee coverage in frontier communities. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Provides targeted support for Tribal organizations and Native villages.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Authorizes funding for agricultural research, seaweed methane reduction, and lab equipment. Does this put more money into public schools? — Allows micro-grants for food security to be used by public or Tribal schools.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — Increases funding for agricultural and seaweed research. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improves water system programs for Alaska Native and rural villages via the Health Consortium.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — Restricts procurement of foreign flowers/greens by specific federal agencies.
- 6/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 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.