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S. 4236Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026

Sponsored by Lisa MurkowskiSen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Introduced March 26, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 13, 2026 at 2:11 AM UTC

The American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 changes the Farm Bill so that the U.S. Department of Agriculture can provide loans, grants, and other assistance to commercial fishing and fish‑processing businesses. It treats fishing vessels and processing facilities like farms and ranches, letting those operators apply for the same financial programs that help traditional farms. The bill also expands marketing support and credit options for companies that serve the seafood industry.

Key Provisions

  • Adds clear definitions for commercial fishing, fishing vessels, fish, fish processing, and processing facilities to the Farm Bill.
  • Amends loan eligibility so "farmers" and "ranches" include commercial fishers and processors, allowing them to receive direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans.
  • Specifies that fishing loans can be used only for buying permits, vessels, or making capital improvements to vessels; processing loans can be used for acquiring or upgrading processing facilities.
  • Expands the Local Agriculture Market Program to treat wild‑caught fish as an eligible agricultural product and allows marketing grants for domestic seafood, with the option to waive matching‑fund requirements for fishers and processors.
  • Requires the USDA Secretary to integrate the commercial fishing sector into all relevant USDA programs within a year and to provide outreach, technical assistance, and coordination with NOAA and other agencies.
  • Amends the Farm Credit Act to let farm credit banks and production credit associations extend credit to businesses that provide services directly to seafood producers and harvesters.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

March 26, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 26, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

March 26, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 26, 2026

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.

.