House Passes Nehls’ Save Our Shrimpers Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) announced his bill, H.R. 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 391-18-1.  

"For far too long, foreign shrimp has flooded our markets while U.S. tax dollars have been used to subsidize overseas shrimp operations, which are putting our domestic shrimpers out of business,” said Congressman Nehls.  "My bipartisan legislation puts an end to that by requiring United States representatives at international financial institutions to oppose the use of American taxpayer money to fund foreign shrimp farming and processing. This is a huge win for American shrimpers and a clear win for the America First agenda. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives stood up for the hardworking shrimpers in Texas and across America's coastal communities who depend on a strong domestic shrimping industry."

 The Save Our Shrimpers Act is supported by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), Texas Shrimp Association, South Carolina Shrimper’s Association (SCSA), GA Commercial Fisherman’s Association (GACFA), North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. (NCFA), US Shrimp Coalition (USSC), Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA), the Alabama Commercial Fishermen’s Association, LLC, the Port of Palacios, Texas, the American Shrimp Association, and the American Shrimp Processors Association. 

 “Until Representative Nehls introduced the SOS Act, the U.S. had never once voted against funding a foreign shrimp aquaculture project, despite the detrimental impact on American shrimpers and coastal communities,” said Blake Price, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “But now, thanks to Representative Nehl’s leadership, there is growing awareness and strong bipartisan demand to end the practice of subsidizing multinational foreign corporations with hundreds of millions of dollars. Give U.S. shrimpers a fair fight, and we will provide more sustainable, premium quality shrimp right here at home.”

"Passage of the Save Our Shrimpers Act is integral to helping the shrimp industry achieve a level playing field, said Chris Londrie, President, Texas Shrimp Association. "For years, our competitors have been funded by International Financial Institutions (IFI's) and millions of dollars have been handed over to develop shrimp farms overseas which compete with domestic wild-caught shrimpers.  This practice needs to stop and passage of this bill is a step in the right direction.  Thank you to all who have supported this bill and thereby elevated the U.S. shrimp industry."

 “The Save Our Shrimpers Act is about one simple principle: American tax dollars should not be used to subsidize foreign shrimp operations that are putting American shrimpers out of business,” said Bryan Jones, Vice President, South Carolina Shrimpers Association.  "For years, our industry has been crushed by unfair trade practices and artificially cheap imports while family shrimp boats across the South have struggled to survive. We’re grateful to Congressman Troy Nehls and the bipartisan group of cosponsors, including South Carolina’s Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Congressman Russell Fry, for standing up for working waterfronts, American food security, and the families who have helped feed this country for generations. This bill is a common-sense step toward finally putting American shrimpers first," 

 “The Louisiana Shrimp Association applauds the U.S. House for passing the Save Our Shrimpers Act and urges the U.S. Senate to quickly take action and send this critical legislation to the President’s desk,” said Acy Cooper, President of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. "America’s shrimpers are fighting to survive, and this bill will provide much-needed relief to hardworking fishing families and coastal communities.” 

 "Supporting the Save Our Shrimpers Act is a no-brainer because it opposes the funding of foreign farmed shrimp operations that make it hard for domestic producers to compete," said Ryan Bradley, Director of Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, Inc. 

“The American Shrimp Association proudly supports the Save our Shrimpers Act,” said Mr. Tuyen Bui, Director, American Shrimp Association.  The U.S. should not support foreign shrimp development projects that compete with and undermine our domestic shrimp industry. This legislation protects critical jobs in coastal communities and signals to the world that America values our shrimp harvesters and processors first."

“America's shrimp processors strongly support the Save Our Shrimpers Act (HR 2071),” said Trey Pearson, President of the American Shrimp Processors Association. “For far too long, international institutions have poured public dollars into overseas shrimp farming and processing, fueling massive overcapacity and waves of unfair imports that have repeatedly harmed our domestic shrimp industry. This bill will put an end to this practice and ensure that international institutions which are financed with U.S. taxpayer dollars do not use those funds to prop up our competitors overseas.”

The Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2025 passed the House Financial Services Committee on March 4, 2026, with bipartisan support.

Congressman Nehls first introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act in the 118th Congress and reintroduced the bipartisan legislation in the 119th Congress on March 11, 2025.

The bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act would require the Secretary of State to instruct the United States Executive Directors at International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to use their voice and always vote against any financial assistance by such institution to support shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp in a foreign country. 

The Save our Shrimpers Act is cosponsored by Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Congresswoman Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13), Congressman Greg Murphy (R-NC-03), Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL-05), Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL-01), Congressman Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Congressman Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Congressman Russell Fry (R-SC-07), Congressman Buddy Carter (R-GA-01), Congressman Mike Haridopolos (R-FL-08), Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC-07), and Congressman Don Davis (D-NC-01).

In April 2025, for the first time in history, after Congressman Nehls reintroduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act, the U.S. voted against funding a shrimp aquaculture project at an IFI.