WASHINGTON– This afternoon, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) co-sponsored bipartisan legislation offered by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) to demand that American taxpayer dollars are not used to sabotage Florida's seafood industry.
The bipartisan "Save Our Shrimpers Act" is the 78th piece of legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Donalds during the 119th Congress and also received the support of Representatives Nancy Mace (R-SC), Randy Weber (R-TX), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Mike Ezell (R-MS), John Rutherford (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Brian Babin (R-TX), and Michael Cloud (R-TX).
"The impact of Hurricane Ian on our local seafood industry was devastating," said Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL). "As our community continues to rebuild, shrimpers are facing a market that is oversaturated with U.S. taxpayer-financed foreign product. I am proud to stand with Rep. Troy Nehls in demanding that American taxpayer dollars are not used to sabotage the seafood industry in Southwest Florida or coastal communities throughout the Sunshine State. Government must always put the American people first."
“American shrimpers, including those in my district, are struggling to stay afloat due to an excess of foreign shrimp flooding our markets,” said Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX). “Worse, American tax dollars are being used to finance foreign shrimp farms, which are driving our own shrimpers out of business. My bill, the Save Our Shrimpers Act, would halt funding to international institutions that bankroll foreign shrimp operations. We must do everything we can to protect our nation’s shrimping industry and put American shrimpers first.”
BACKGROUND:
Domestic shrimpers are struggling to stay in business as foreign imported shrimp is continuing to saturate the market and is extremely difficult for them to stay in business.
International Monetary Institutions––which receive U.S. taxpayer dollars––have been financing foreign shrimp farm operations.
As a result, the bill would place a condition on any contribution from Treasury, or any other U.S. federal agency, to the budget of any international financial institution, that such contributions cannot be used to for the purposes of financing any shrimp farm capacity, operations, maintenance, or production in any foreign nation.
BILL ACTIONS:
The bill would provide a condition that federal funds being made available to international institutions cannot be used to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in any foreign country.
Additionally, the bill would also trigger a GAO investigation and annual reports thereafter on the extent to which United States Executive Directors at International Monetary Institutions are complying with the USC 262(h) mandate.
USC 262(h) stipulates that the Treasury shall instruct U.S. Executive Directors at International Monetary Institutions to vote against and oppose any assistance by such institutions that facilitates an export commodity surplus that causes injury or harm to U.S. producers. We’ve found very limited circumstances where Treasury is in compliance by this law on the book.
MORE:
Read the "Save Our Shrimpers Act" in its entirety HERE.
