New legislation would prohibit the federal government from purchasing foreign seafood, directing all taxpayer-funded seafood spending — including school lunch programs — toward domestic sources.
The Buy American Seafood Act, introduced April 16 by Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., would apply across federal agencies and procurement programs, requiring that seafood be sourced and processed in the United States. Letlow framed the bill as both an economic and food safety measure.
"In Louisiana, seafood is a cornerstone of our economy and a way of life," Letlow said. "My Buy American Seafood Act would ensure that taxpayer-funded seafood is sourced from American fishermen and processors, protecting taxpayers from subsidizing foreign countries or adversaries like China."
The legislation comes amid growing concern over the dominance of imported seafood in the U.S. market. About 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the U.S. comes from abroad usda, and the U.S. seafood trade deficit reached $20.3 billion in 2023, according to USDA. At the same time, the federal government is among the largest institutional buyers of seafood, purchasing more than $400 million worth in 2022.
Congress took a partial step toward domestic sourcing in late 2025, when a provision in a continuing resolution banned the use of federal funds to procure seafood imported from China for the school lunch program. Letlow's bill would go significantly further, barring all foreign seafood from federal purchasing across all programs.
Letlow cited food safety alongside the competitive threat to domestic producers.
"I am fighting to stop heavily subsidized, often-contaminated foreign seafood from undercutting our American producers — including those who harvest the finest Louisiana seafood from the Gulf of America," she said. "By prioritizing American seafood in federal purchases, we can deliver nutritious, high-quality products to families across the country."
The bill has drawn early support from industry and state agriculture officials. Blake Price, director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, pointed to federal nutrition guidance as an argument for domestic sourcing.
"The FDA is encouraging Americans to eat more seafood, and we catch and process some of the best right here at home," Price said. "Ensuring U.S. funds deliver healthy U.S. seafood through nutritional programs is a win for our children, fishermen, and coastal economies. We commend Representative Letlow for her leadership on this issue and urge the swift passage of this commonsense bill."
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain also backed the measure. "I applaud Congresswoman Letlow for supporting Louisiana's aquaculture and fishers," Strain said. "This will strengthen our ability to maintain a viable domestic seafood market."
Additional backers include the Louisiana Shrimp Association and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. The bill has been referred to committee; no timeline for a hearing has been announced.
