The House approved legislation Tuesday aimed at boosting domestic shrimp production by restricting the use of federal funds for foreign farms and imports.
The “Save Our Shrimpers Act,” H.R. 2071, passed on a 391-18-1 vote. Most of the “No” votes were Democrats. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) voted present.
The bill, sponsored by Texas GOP Rep. Troy Nehls, would ban international financial institutions like the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund from loaning federal dollars to other countries for shrimp farming, processing and exports. The bill is backed by 20 bipartisan co-sponsors.
“For far too long, folks, hard-working American shrimpers have been devastated by the flood of foreign shrimp imports entering our markets — driving down the prices, undermining fair competition and forcing generation after generation of fishing families out of business,” Nehls said Tuesday on the House floor. “It’s unacceptable.”
