Save Our Shrimpers Act

119th Congress Introduced by Katie Britt and 5 co-sponsors

The bill directs U.S. officials at international financial institutions to oppose funding for shrimp farming, processing, or export abroad for seven years, with a waiver option.

Introduced in Senate

Overview

Title: Save Our Shrimpers Act

Bill number: S. 4805 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Introduced: June 17, 2026

Primary sponsors: Cynthia Hyde-Smith (and co-sponsors listed: Rick Scott, John Neely Kennedy, Katie Britt, Bill Cassidy, Roger Wicker)

Committee: Foreign Relations

Purpose: To require the United States Executive Directors at international financial institutions to oppose financial assistance for projects involving shrimp production, processing, or export in borrowing countries. The act imposes a time-limited prohibition and provides a waiver mechanism.

Main purpose and intent

The bill seeks to protect U.S. shrimpers by ensuring that U.S. representatives at international financial institutions (IFIs) actively oppose funding for shrimp-related projects abroad. It aims to prevent subsidized or financed shrimp farming, processing, and export initiatives in other countries from receiving support from IFIs.

Key provisions and changes

Voice and vote requirement (Section 2(a)):

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

Waiver authority (Section 2(b)):

The Secretary of the Treasury may waive the prohibition for a specific project if they notify Congress that the waiver serves the national interest of the United States.

Expiration (Section 2(c)):

The prohibitions and requirements expire at the end of the seven-year period beginning on the date of enactment. After expiration, the requirement does not have force or effect unless renewed.

Who is affected

United States Executive Directors at international financial institutions (e.g., World Bank, IMF IFIs covered under the applicable act) are obligated to oppose financing for shrimp-related projects abroad.

Borrowing countries and shrimp industry stakeholders abroad could be affected indirectly, as IFI funding for shrimp farming, processing, or export projects would be opposed by the U.S. position.

The U.S. Treasury, through the Secretary, is responsible for directing those voting instructions and any waiver determinations.

Congress is provided a waiver notification role for national-interest determinations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and referral: June 17, 2026; referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Effective period: The voting prohibition and related instructions are in effect for seven years from enactment, after which they expire unless renewed or reenacted.

Waiver process: A waiver can be granted on a case-by-case basis with congressional notification indicating national-interest grounds.

Practical implications

The bill imposes a targeted trade/financing stance designed to limit international financing support for the shrimp sector abroad.

It creates a time-bound policy instrument, allowing reconsideration or renewal after seven years.

The waiver mechanism introduces a potential exception where the administration could permit a specific project if it determines it serves U.S. national interests, subject to congressional notification.

This summary provides a concise picture of the bill’s intent, mechanisms, and potential policy impact on international shrimp-related financing and U.S. participation in IFI decisions.