House Votes to Restore American Seafood Competitiveness

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.). This legislation extends a current regulatory pause to provide much-needed certainty for the families and communities that rely on Maine's lobster fishery.

"Maine's iconic lobster fishery contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy and employs thousands of Mainers. Unfortunately, the men and women who work the fishery have dealt with extreme regulatory uncertainty that threatens to stifle lobster fishing. I applaud Representative Lawler for his work to remove an undue burden on lobstermen and support American seafood." - House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)

"While this legislation is particularly important to Maine's fishing communities, the Northeast lobster industry supports small businesses and hardworking families far beyond the coastline, including restaurants here in New York. Fishermen have spent years adapting to conservation requirements and deserve regulatory certainty instead of constantly shifting rules that threaten their ability to operate and plan for the future. I'm grateful to Congressman Jared Golden for his partnership on this bipartisan effort and to the Natural Resources Committee for their support. We are proud to see this bill pass the House." - U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler

Background

H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, supports Maine's lobster fishery and the fishermen who work it by extending the deadline for implementation of new National Marine Fisheries Service regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. This action will allow for more complete scientific data about whales' interactions with fishing gear without harming coastal communities that depend on the lobster fishery for their livelihoods.

This legislation supports President Trump's Executive Order 14276, "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness."

In May, the Trump administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy supporting identical legislation, H.R. 8509, introduced by Representative Jared Golden (D-Maine). H.R. 9436 passed out of the Committee in July by a bipartisan vote of 22-13.