[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4236
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Seafood Competitiveness Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.''.
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