S. 5479 – No Chinese Seafood in Congress Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 30, 2026 at 5:52 AM UTC

The bill bans any seafood product that originates from or is processed by the People’s Republic of China from being bought, served, or sold in any dining facility located in the Capitol complex. It applies to all cafeterias, restaurants, and food service areas under the oversight of congressional entities, effectively preventing Chinese seafood from being offered to members of Congress, staff, and visitors.

Key Provisions

Defines a “covered Chinese seafood product” as any fish, shellfish, or related food that is fished, raised, processed, or handled by a Chinese vessel, company, or entity, including Hong Kong and Macau.
Specifies that “congressional dining facilities” include any eating establishment within the Capitol buildings or on Capitol grounds.
Lists the congressional committees and agencies (House Administration, Senate Rules and Administration, Architect of the Capitol, Library of Congress, etc.) that must enforce the ban.
Prohibits procurement, service, or sale of covered Chinese seafood products in those facilities.
Requires each covered entity to issue implementing regulations within 180 days of the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

September 23, 2026

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 23, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

September 23, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued September 23, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5479

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 23, 2026

Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To prohibit Chinese seafood products in congressional dining facilities, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Chinese Seafood in Congress Act or the No Communist Seafood in Congress Act.

2.

Prohibition of Chinese seafood products in congressional dining facilities

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Covered Chinese seafood product

The term covered Chinese seafood product means a seafood product intended for human consumption that—

(A)

is fished, harvested, raised, produced, or processed, in whole or in part, in the People’s Republic of China; or

(B)

is harvested or processed by a vessel—

(i)

owned or operated by a national of, or an entity organized under the laws of, the People’s Republic of China; or

(ii)

registered or flagged under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

(2)

Congressional dining facility

The term congressional dining facility means any cafeteria, restaurant, eatery, other dining establishment, or food service facility located in any of the Capitol Buildings, as defined in section 5101 of title 40, United States Code, or on the United States Capitol Grounds, as described in section 5102 of such title.

(3)

Covered entity

The term covered entity means the following:

(A)

The Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.

(B)

The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

(C)

The Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

(D)

The Library of Congress.

(E)

Any other entity with jurisdiction, authority, supervision, or oversight with respect to a congressional dining facility.

(4)

People’s Republic of China

The term People’s Republic of China includes the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region and does not include Taiwan.

(5)

Seafood product

The term seafood product includes the following:

(A)

Fish, shellfish, processed fish, shellfish products, and all other forms of marine or aquatic animal life.

(B)

Any food with respect to which a fish, shellfish, or another form of marine or aquatic animal life is a characterizing ingredient.

(b)

Prohibition

No covered Chinese seafood product may be procured for, served in, or sold in a congressional dining facility.

(c)

Regulations

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each covered entity shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section with respect to a congressional dining facility under the jurisdiction, authority, supervision, or oversight of the covered entity.