S. 4236

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4236 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4236

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand 
eligibility of Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing 
and mariculture businesses, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 26, 2026

Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. King, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Merkley, and 
Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand 
eligibility of Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing 
and mariculture businesses, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``American Seafood Competitiveness Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS FOR FISHING AND 
MARICULTURE BUSINESSES.

(a) Definitions of Farmer and Farming.--Section 343(a) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``farming.'' and 
inserting ``farming, commercial fishing, or fish processing.'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``farming.'' and 
inserting ``farming, commercial fishing, and fish 
processing.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(14) Commercial fishing.--The term `commercial fishing' 
means fishing (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)) in 
which the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are 
intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale, 
barter, or trade.
``(15) Commercial fishing vessel.--The term `commercial 
fishing vessel' means a fishing vessel and a fish processing 
vessel (as those terms are defined in section 2101 of title 46, 
United States Code).
``(16) Fish.--The term `fish' has the meaning given the 
term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.
``(17) Fish processing.--The term `fish processing' means 
the processing of fish for commercial use or consumption.
``(18) Fish processing facility.--The term `fish processing 
facility' means a facility or vessel, boat, ship, or other 
craft used or equipped for fish processing.''.
(b) Farm Ownership Loans.--
(1) Eligibility.--Section 302(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(3) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes 
of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle--
``(A) the terms `farmer' and `rancher' shall 
include an individual or entity engaged in commercial 
fishing or fish processing; and
``(B) the terms `farm' and `ranch' shall include--
``(i) a commercial fishing vessel; and
``(ii) a fish processing facility.''.
(2) Purposes.--Section 303(a) of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1923(a)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(3) Commercial fishery participants; fish processors.--
``(A) Commercial fishery participants.--An 
individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may 
only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this 
subtitle for--
``(i) acquiring a commercial fishing 
permit;
``(ii) acquiring a commercial fishing 
vessel; and
``(iii) making capital improvements to a 
commercial fishing vessel.
``(B) Fish processors.--An individual or entity 
engaged in fish processing may use a direct or 
guaranteed loan under this subtitle for acquiring or 
making capital improvements to a fish processing 
facility.''.
(c) Farm Operating Loans.--
(1) Eligibility.--Section 311(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(3) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes 
of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle--
``(A) the terms `farmer' and `rancher' shall 
include an individual or entity engaged in commercial 
fishing or fish processing; and
``(B) the terms `farm' and `ranch' shall include--
``(i) a commercial fishing vessel; and
``(ii) a fish processing facility.''.
(2) Purposes.--Section 312 of the Consolidated Farm and 
Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1942) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
``(f) Commercial Fishery Participants; Fish Processors.--
``(1) Commercial fishery participants.--An individual or 
entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or 
guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated 
with operating and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel.
``(2) Fish processors.--An individual or entity engaged in 
fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this 
subtitle for the costs associated with operating and 
maintaining a fish processing facility.''.
(d) Local Agriculture Market Program.--
(1) Farmers' markets and local food promotion program.--
Section 210A(d)(6) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 
U.S.C. 1627c(d)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(F) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and 
shellfish.--For purposes of this paragraph--
``(i) an agricultural commodity or product 
described in subsection (a)(12) shall include 
fish (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, 
United States Code) that is caught, taken, or 
harvested from the wild; and
``(ii) the eligible activities described in 
paragraph (2) shall include domestic seafood 
marketing.''.
(2) Waiver of matching funds requirements.--Section 210A(i) 
of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(i)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Waiver of matching funds requirements.--The Secretary 
may waive a requirement for a recipient of a grant under this 
section to provide matching funds, or reduce the amount of 
matching funds required to be provided, if the recipient is 
engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing (as those 
terms are defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm 
and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))).''.
(e) Implementation and Coordination.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take 
such actions as are necessary to ensure the successful and 
effective integration of individuals and entities in the 
commercial fishing industry, including those engaged in 
commercial fishing or fish processing (as those terms are 
defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))), into each program of the 
Department of Agriculture for which those individuals and 
entities are made eligible under the amendments made by this 
section.
(2) Technical assistance and guidance.--In carrying out 
paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall--
(A) provide outreach and technical assistance to 
participants in the commercial fishing industry, 
including through cooperative agreements and public-
private and other partnerships, to promote awareness of 
and access to relevant programs;
(B) provide guidance and training to relevant 
agency personnel of the Department of Agriculture, 
including through cooperative agreements and public-
private and other partnerships, to ensure program 
services are effectively delivered to the commercial 
fishing industry; and
(C) coordinate, as appropriate, with the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other 
relevant Federal and State agencies to implement the 
amendments made by this section.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CREDIT TO BUSINESSES PROVIDING SERVICES TO 
PRODUCERS OR HARVESTERS OF AQUATIC PRODUCTS.

(a) Farm Credit Banks.--
(1) Eligibility for credit and financial services.--Section 
1.9 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2017) is 
amended--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or'' at the 
end;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
(4); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of 
aquatic products services directly related to their operating 
needs; or''.
(2) Purposes for extensions of credit.--Section 1.11(c)(1) 
of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2019(c)(1)) is 
amended by inserting ``and to persons furnishing services 
directly related to the operating needs of producers or 
harvesters of aquatic products'' after ``needs''.
(b) Production Credit Associations.--Section 2.4(a) of the Farm 
Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2075(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of 
aquatic products services directly related to their operating 
needs.''.
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