S. 4236

119 S4236 IS: American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-26
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4236  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 26, 2026   Ms. Murkowski  (for herself,  Mr. King ,  Mr. Sullivan ,  Mr. Merkley , and  Ms. Collins ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry    A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility of Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026  .
2.
Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses
(a)
Definitions of farmer and farming
Section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking  farming.  and inserting  farming, commercial fishing, or fish processing. ;
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking  farming.  and inserting  farming, commercial fishing, and fish processing. ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(14)
Commercial fishing
The term  commercial fishing  means fishing (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1802 )) in which the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade.
(15)
Commercial fishing vessel
The term  commercial fishing vessel  means a fishing vessel and a fish processing vessel (as those terms are defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code).
(16)
Fish
The term  fish  has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.
(17)
Fish processing
The term  fish processing  means the processing of fish for commercial use or consumption.
(18)
Fish processing facility
The term  fish processing facility  means a facility or vessel, boat, ship, or other craft used or equipped for fish processing.
 .
(b)
Farm ownership loans
(1)
Eligibility
Section 302(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1922(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle—
(A)
the terms  farmer  and  rancher  shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing; and
(B)
the terms  farm  and  ranch  shall include—
(i)
a commercial fishing vessel; and
(ii)
a fish processing facility.
 .
(2)
Purposes
Section 303(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1923(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Commercial fishery participants; fish processors
(A)
Commercial fishery participants
An individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for—
(i)
acquiring a commercial fishing permit;
(ii)
acquiring a commercial fishing vessel; and
(iii)
making capital improvements to a commercial fishing vessel.
(B)
Fish processors
An individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for acquiring or making capital improvements to a fish processing facility.
 .
(c)
Farm operating loans
(1)
Eligibility
Section 311(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1941(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(3)
Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle—
(A)
the terms  farmer  and  rancher  shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing; and
(B)
the terms  farm  and  ranch  shall include—
(i)
a commercial fishing vessel; and
(ii)
a fish processing facility.
 .
(2)
Purposes
Section 312 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1942 ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(f)
Commercial fishery participants; fish processors
(1)
Commercial fishery participants
An individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel.
(2)
Fish processors
An individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a fish processing facility.
 .
(d)
Local agriculture market program
(1)
Farmers’ markets and local food promotion program
Section 210A(d)(6) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(6) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(F)
Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish
For purposes of this paragraph—
(i)
an agricultural commodity or product described in subsection (a)(12) shall include fish (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) that is caught, taken, or harvested from the wild; and
(ii)
the eligible activities described in paragraph (2) shall include domestic seafood marketing.
 .
(2)
Waiver of matching funds requirements
Section 210A(i) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 ( 7 U.S.C. 1627c(i) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(4)
Waiver of matching funds requirements
The Secretary may waive a requirement for a recipient of a grant under this section to provide matching funds, or reduce the amount of matching funds required to be provided, if the recipient is engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing (as those terms are defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) )).
 .
(e)
Implementation and coordination
(1)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure the successful and effective integration of individuals and entities in the commercial fishing industry, including those engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing (as those terms are defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act ( 7 U.S.C. 1991(a) )), into each program of the Department of Agriculture for which those individuals and entities are made eligible under the amendments made by this section.
(2)
Technical assistance and guidance
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall—
(A)
provide outreach and technical assistance to participants in the commercial fishing industry, including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships, to promote awareness of and access to relevant programs;
(B)
provide guidance and training to relevant agency personnel of the Department of Agriculture, including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships, to ensure program services are effectively delivered to the commercial fishing industry; and
(C)
coordinate, as appropriate, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal and State agencies to implement the amendments made by this section.
3.
Extension of credit to businesses providing services to producers or harvesters of aquatic products
(a)
Farm credit banks
(1)
Eligibility for credit and financial services
Section 1.9 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 ( 12 U.S.C. 2017 ) is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking  or  at the end;
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
(3)
persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs; or
 .
(2)
Purposes for extensions of credit
Section 1.11(c)(1) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 ( 12 U.S.C. 2019(c)(1) ) is amended by inserting  and to persons furnishing services directly related to the operating needs of producers or harvesters of aquatic products  after  needs .
(b)
Production credit associations
Section 2.4(a) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 ( 12 U.S.C. 2075(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(4)
persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs.
 .