American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026

This bill would let people and businesses in commercial fishing and fish processing qualify for Department of Agriculture farm ownership and farm operating loans, treating fishing vessels and fish processing facilities like farms. Fishing businesses could use ownership loans only to buy fishing permits, buy vessels, or improve vessels, and operating loans only to run and maintain vessels. The bill would add wild-caught fish and domestic seafood marketing to a local food grant program and allow the Secretary to waive or reduce matching funds for fishing and processing grant recipients. It would require the Department to provide outreach, training, and coordination within one year, and would let Farm Credit System lenders extend credit to businesses that provide services to fish and aquatic product producers.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Lisa Murkowski Republican sponsor
• 4 cosponsors