Bipartisan support is essential to move aquaculture friendly legislation intended to strengthen the 2023 Farm Bill. The following three topics are attracting support across the aisle; however, more horsepower is needed for each set of bills (i.e., House and Senate companion legislation).
HR 3951 Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act (SHELLS) Act
Sponsor: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)
Co-sponsors: Ed Case (D-HI-1), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), Robert Wittman (R-VA-1)
S 2211 Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act (SHELLS) Act
Sponsor: Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Co-sponsors: Angus King (I-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Senate and House companion bills focused on creating an Office of Aquaculture and associated advisory committee in the US Department of Agriculture.
What needs to be done:
HR 4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
Sponsor: Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)
Co-sponsors: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Kat Cammack (R-FL-3), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO-08), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Franklin Scott (R-FL-18), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Robert Wittman (R-VA-1)
S xxx Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
Sponsor:
Co-sponsors:
The House bill focuses on exempting farms with 75% or more in farm income from an adjusted gross income limitation of $900,000 that prevents aquaculture farms from benefiting from USDA disaster assistance programs (e.g., ELAP, NAP).
What needs to be done:
HR 3542 Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act
Sponsor: Jill Tokuda (D-HI-2)
Co-sponsors: Ed Case (D-HI-1), Robert Wittman (R-VA-1)
S xxx Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act
Sponsor: Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Co-sponsors:
The House bill is focused on increasing the funding authorization for the five USDA Regional Aquaculture Centers that support farmer directed applied research. Current authorization is $5 million, or $990,000 per Center per year. The bill will increase authorization to $15 million. An effort to increase the appropriation (i.e., real money) will occur later when the economy improves.
What needs to be done:
If you have questions or need additional information, contact the NAA Office at naa@nationalaquaculture.org.