August is when Congress is in recess. Members are in their States of Districts until September 1. Now is the time to reach out to your Representative and Senators and build bipartisan support which is essential for aquaculture beneficial legislation intended to improve 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

Sponsors: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1)

Co-sponsors: Ed Case (D-HI-1), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-2), 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

Sponsors: Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Co-sponsors: Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS)

What does the bill accomplish? 

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:

Both bills would greatly benefit from additional sponsors.  The NAA recommends members reach out to their Senators and House member and ask for co-sponsorship. Senator Whitehouse’s lead staffer is Zoe Wong (Zoe_Wong@whitehouse.senate.gov) and Congresswoman Bonamici’s lead staffer is Morgan McCue (Morgan.McCue@mail.house.gov).

HR 4127 Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act

Sponsors: Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)

Co-sponsors: Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Kat Cammack (R-FL-3), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO-08), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Andre Carson (D-IN-7), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), John Duarte (R-CA-13), Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Josh Harder (D-CA-9), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Marcus Molino (R-NY-19), David Rouzer (R-NC-7), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-6), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Franklin Scott (R-FL-18), Darren Soto (D-FL-9), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Mike Thompson (D-CA-4), Robert Wittman (R-VA-1)

S xxx Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act

Sponsor: Alex Padilla (CA)

Co-sponsor: John Cornyn (TX)

What does the bill accomplish? 

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:

Reach out to your Senators and ask that they join as co-sponsors. Senators Padilla and Cornyn will be introducing a companion bill when Congress reconvenes. Interested Senate Offices should contact Senator Padilla’s lead staff person Angela Ebiner (angela_ebiner@padilla.senate.gov).

Additional House co-sponsors are needed. The NAA requests that members reach out to their Representative and ask the House member to contact Congressman Panetta’s lead staff person Trey Elizondo (Trey.Elizondo@mail.house.gov) or Congresswoman Cammack’s lead staff person Christina Lassiter (Christina.Lassiter@mail.house.gov) to become a co-sponsor.

HR 3542 Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act

Sponsors: 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

Sponsors: Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Co-sponsor: Roger Wicker (R-MS)

What does the bill accomplish? 

The House bill is focused on increasing the funding authorization for the five USDA Regional Aquaculture Centers that fund farmer directed applied research. Current authorization is $5 million, or $990,000 per Center per year, 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:

The NAA requests that members reach out to their Senators and ask that they contact Senator Hirono’s lead staff person Laakea Stone (Laakea_Stone@hirono.senate.gov) and become a co-sponsor.

Additional House co-sponsors are needed.  The NAA requests that members reach out to their Representative and ask them to contact Congresswoman Tokuda’s lead staff person Mitch Heidenreich (Heidenreich@mail.house.gov) to become a co-sponsor.

If you have questions or need additional information, contact the NAA Office at naa@nationalaquaculture.org.