ILLEGAL RED SNAPPER AND TUNA ENFORCEMENT ACT

On 2026-09-14, Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR-4) delivered a floor speech titled "ILLEGAL RED SNAPPER AND TUNA ENFORCEMENT ACT" in the House.

ILLEGAL RED SNAPPER AND TUNA ENFORCEMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 144 (Monday, September 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5557-H5559] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ILLEGAL RED SNAPPER AND TUNA ENFORCEMENT ACT Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 283) to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 283 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 ``Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act''. SEC. 2. METHODOLOGY FOR IDENTIFYING COUNTRY OF ORIGIN OF SEAFOOD. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means-- [[Page H5558]] (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (3) Illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing; iuu fishing.--The terms ``illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing'' and ``IUU fishing'' mean ``illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing'' as such term is defined for purposes of section 609(e) of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826j(e)). (4) Key agency leadership.--The term ``key agency leadership'' means the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard. (5) Red snapper.--The term ``red snapper'' means the species Lutjanus campechanus. (6) Tuna.--The term ``tuna'' means the following species of tuna: (A) Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). (B) Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). (C) Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). (7) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology. (b) Standard Methodology for Identification.-- (1) In general.--Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against IUU fishing and seafood fraud. (2) Requirements.--Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection-- (A) is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing and seafood fraud; (B) minimizes processing time; (C) involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and (D) to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke. (3) Initial species for identification.--In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock. (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following: (1) A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b). (2) A plan for operationalizing such methodology. (3) If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas. general leave Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 283, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas? There was no objection. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. This legislation would direct the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the NOAA Administrator to jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood products to support enforcement against illegal, unregulated, or unreported fishing, otherwise known as IUU fishing. IUU fishing undermines the sustainability of the seafood supply chain and the United States' leadership as a gold standard for fisheries management. This bill will promote innovation to help keep IUU products out of American markets. I thank Representative Brian Babin from Texas, a sponsor of companion legislation, for his leadership on this issue in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 283, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, or IUU fishing, threatens domestic fisheries and ecosystems around the world. In the United States, up to 32 percent of seafood imports are derived from IUU fishing. These illegal practices harm our economy, disadvantage fishermen, and threaten the long-term health of our oceans and fish stocks. Mr. Speaker, S. 283 would address one part of that challenge by investing in science to improve the detection of illegally sourced seafood. This bill would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology and NOAA to develop a chemical analysis to identify the origin of seafood. If successful, this could assist law enforcement in identifying products from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. This legislation specifically focuses on red snapper and several species of tuna, offering an opportunity to determine whether the chemical analysis research would apply to reef fish and migratory species. This is a practical, bipartisan piece of legislation that would strengthen our ability to identify seafood linked to IUU fishing and improve enforcement efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 283, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), the lead sponsor of the House companion to this bill and chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 283, the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, as amended. This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology using chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood. Both commercial and recreational fishing contribute significantly to the Texas economy. Red snapper, in particular, is highly sought after by the recreational fishing sector. This effort is especially important in the Gulf of America, where red snapper is a valuable resource for American fishermen and coastal communities. Illegally harvested seafood can make its way into U.S. markets, undercutting the fishermen and seafood producers who play by the rules. {time} 1530 NIST scientists have developed chemical methods to identify the geographic origin of foods like beef, honey, fruits, and rice. This bill would build on that expertise to give law enforcement another tool to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and seafood fraud. Today's bill also incorporates edits made by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee during our bipartisan markup earlier this year as part of H.R. 3706, the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act, also known as the SUSHI Act, which I sponsored. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, S. 283 supports the development of new technology that can help identify and cut off IUU fish products entering our markets. I greatly appreciate Senator Cruz and Representative Babin for their leadership on this legislation. I urge the passage of S. 283 and yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 283, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. [[Page H5559]] ____________________

Referenced legislation: S283, S283, HR3706