Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) has introduced bipartisan legislation improving US Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to aquaculture and seafood producers.
Aptly named the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, Rep. Cammack's bill addresses longstanding inabilities for these producers to work with the USDA, which has favored terrestrial agriculture and ranching.
Specifically, the SEAS Act directs the Department to develop a strategy to fully integrate these industries into its operational system, ensuring that seafood and aquacultural producers can receive grants toward research, technical assistance, and conservation.
"America's national security is closely tied to our food security," said Rep. Cammack in her press release, adding, "As aquaculture continues to advance with new technologies and techniques, it offers the promise of more affordable, sustainable, and safe seafood for American families. Florida's aquaculture industry generates over $165 million in annual sales, ranking among the top states nationwide."
Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the bill's cosponsor, said, "Aquaculture has enormous potential to strengthen our food system, reduce our seafood trade deficit, and expand access to safe, sustainable American seafood."
"But for too long, USDA programs have overlooked coastal producers. The SEAS Act fixes that by putting seafood on equal footing with traditional agriculture and making smart investments to help this industry grow," Rep. Pallone added.
In April, the Florida Congresswoman applauded the United States' decision to withdraw from the 2019 Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico, which she said put domestic tomato growers at a disadvantage.
"For half a decade now, our producers have been subject to an unfair marketplace," Cammack said. "In the past five years alone, Mexican tomato producers have violated the suspension agreement over 100 times. The economic impact of these violations has been catastrophic on our domestic tomato producers."
"As the only Florida Member on the House Agriculture Committee, I'm proud to work on behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and producers to deliver the support they deserve and keep their industry alive," she concluded.
