Buy American Seafood Act

HR 8337, the Buy American Seafood Act, mandates that federal agencies procure seafood for various government food programs exclusively from domestic sources. This requirement applies to programs such as emergency food assistance, Department of Defense food services, and school lunch and breakfast programs, directly impacting federal procurement and the domestic seafood industry. Seafood must be harvested in the U.S. by a U.S.-flagged vessel, or produced and processed domestically through aquaculture or local facilities. Agencies can obtain a waiver if the Secretary of Agriculture determines U.S.-produced seafood is insufficient or doesn't meet safety standards, but these waivers must be publicly reported to Congress.