West Houston News

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A bipartisan effort led by Congressman Troy E. Nehls aims to address the challenges faced by the nation's domestic shrimpers with the introduction of the Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024. The bill, co-sponsored by several coastal members, seeks to tackle the issue of foreign shrimp dumping that is impacting the U.S. shrimping industry.

Congressman Nehls highlighted the plight of domestic shrimpers, stating, “Shrimpers in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and Atlantic Coast are faced with similar difficult decisions of whether to catch shrimp, tie up the trawlers for the season, or even be forced to sell their trawlers. In order to save our nation’s shrimping industry, we must exhaust every legislative option on the table.”

Echoing the sentiment, Congressman Higgins emphasized the importance of supporting the local shrimping industry, stating, “The taxpayer’s hard-earned treasure shouldn’t go toward building competition against the American people.”

Similarly, Congressman Gonzalez expressed concern over the impact of foreign shrimp imports on South Texas’s shrimping industry, emphasizing the need to protect domestic seafood markets from subsidized foreign products.

Congressman Graves underscored the urgency of the situation, pointing out that American taxpayer dollars are inadvertently contributing to the decline of the American shrimp industry. He emphasized the importance of fair trade practices to safeguard the interests of American shrimpers.

The Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024 aims to prohibit federal funds from supporting activities related to foreign shrimp farming, processing, and export to the U.S. It also calls for increased oversight to ensure compliance with existing laws that protect U.S. producers from unfair competition.

The proposed legislation has garnered support from various organizations, including the Southern Shrimp Alliance and state-specific shrimp associations, reflecting a unified effort to protect American shrimpers from unfair trade practices.

In response to the bill, industry representatives have expressed gratitude for the initiative, highlighting the potential positive impact on the struggling domestic shrimping industry. They have called for prompt action to pass the legislation and provide much-needed support to American shrimpers facing challenges in the current market landscape.