Save Our Shrimpers Act

119th Congress Introduced by Bill Cassidy and 3 co-sponsors

The bill requires the U.S. to direct IFIs to oppose financial support for shrimp farming, processing, or export in borrowing countries for seven years.

Introduced in Senate

Purpose and intent

The Save Our Shrimpers Act aims to influence international financial institutions (IFIs) by requiring U.S. influence to oppose funding for activities related to shrimp production, processing, or export in borrowing countries.

The overarching goal appears to be protecting domestic shrimpers by limiting foreign-financed shrimp industry projects that could affect competition, markets, or environmental conditions in borrowing countries.

Key provisions and changes

Voice and Vote requirement (Section 2):

The Secretary of the Treasury must instruct the United States Executive Director at each international financial institution (as defined by the International Financial Institutions Act) to use the United States’ voice and vote to oppose any financial assistance for:
Projects that support shrimp farming
Shrimp processing
The export of shrimp in a borrowing country

Waiver authority:

The Secretary of the Treasury may waive the above opposition if Congress is notified that the waiver serves the national interest of the United States.

Sunset/expiration:

The voice-and-vote opposition authority expires seven years after the enactment date of the bill.

Who would be affected

International financial institutions in which the United States has a seat and voting power (e.g., multilateral development banks) would be directed to oppose financing for shrimp-related projects in borrowing countries.

Borrowing countries seeking IFI financing for shrimp farming, processing, or shrimp export projects could be affected, as such projects would face U.S. opposition within those institutions.

U.S. government officials (primarily the Secretary of the Treasury and the U.S. Executive Directors to IFIs) would have heightened procedural requirements to implement the policy and report any waivers to Congress.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Trigger: When IFIs consider or approve financial assistance for shrimp-related projects in borrowing countries.

Implementation: The Secretary of the Treasury must issue instructions to U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs, directing them to vote against such projects.

Waivers: Congress would be notified if a waiver is granted, indicating the national-interest justification.

Duration: The policy is temporary, with an expiration date seven years from enactment, unless extended or renewed by subsequent legislation.

Additional notes

The measure is introduced in the 119th Congress by Senators Cruz, with co-sponsors Warnock, Cassidy, and Kennedy.

The bill is currently in the Committee on Foreign Relations (as of introduction date, June 23, 2026).

The bill focuses specifically on shrimp-related projects and does not address broader fisheries or agricultural lending beyond shrimp farming, processing, and export.