Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), along with Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), and Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL-02), introduced the bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024.
The bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024 would prohibit federal funds from being made available to IFIs to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in any foreign country to the United States.
Additionally, this legislation would trigger an investigation within the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) and require annual reports to Congress to track how U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs are complying with USC 262(h).
“Due to the global excess capacity and production of farm-raised shrimp and imports, the U.S. market is being overwhelmed and driving shrimp prices down to levels that many shrimpers cannot cover the cost of a single shrimp fishing trip,” said Nehls.
“Shrimpers in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and Atlantic Coast are faced with similar difficult decisions of whether to catch shrimp, tie up the trawlers for the season, or even be forced to sell their trawlers.
“In order to save our nation’s shrimping industry, we must exhaust every legislative option on the table. I commend my colleagues for joining me in support of this important effort to save our shrimpers,” Nehls said.
“The filing of the Save Our Shrimpers Act will go a long way in protecting Matagorda County interests,” said Matagorda County Judge Bobby Seiferman.
“Congressman Nehls office has been very responsive to the need of our local shrimpers as this bill will also protect domestic shrimping across the entire Gulf Coast as many other congressional representatives and professional groups have signed on to support this bill,” the judge said.
“Protecting our local shrimping industry also assists in maintaining and building jobs and keeps our Matagorda County economy diversified.
“While we appreciate the increased industrial, housing and retail sector growth, the ag and marine culture sectors are a major part of our economy,” he added.
“The Save Our Shrimpers Act will keep our own tax dollars from being used to put our local shrimpers and other economic segments out of business,” Seiferman said.
“First and foremost, we want to sincerely thank Congressman Nehls for his leadership on this bill and the other congressional leaders who are supporting it,” said Victor Martinez, Jr., Port Director of the Port of Palacios.
“This is a major positive step forward in trying to curb the over influx of imported shrimp into the United States. Shrimpers are typically, by nature, resilient, patient and have a steadfast work ethic,” Martinez said.
“But these past few years have been extremely tough. Additionally, this upcoming season is not looking favorable as well.
“However, we’re hopeful that with this Save the Shrimpers Act and other measures our leaders are taking to protect our U.S. Shrimpers they will persevere, and Americans will continue to enjoy some of the safest, best, and tastiest domestic shrimp our U.S. Shrimpers provide for many more years to come,” Martinez said.
Original cosponsors of the Save Our Shrimpers Act include Representatives Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Russell Fry (R-SC-07), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12).
This legislation is supported by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), Texas Shrimp Association, South Carolina Shrimper’s Association (SCSA), GA Commercial Fisherman’s Association (GACFA), North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. (NCFA), US Shrimp Coalition (USSC), Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA), the Alabama Commercial Fishermen’s Association, LLC, and the Port of Palacios.
Nehls, Coastal Congress members back bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act
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