Rep. Nancy Mace Delivers Win For South Carolina's Shrimpers, Save Our Shrimpers Act Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 13, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) announced the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act, by a vote of 391-18. Rep. Mace was a lead cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation, which requires United States representatives at international financial institutions to oppose providing financial assistance to foreign shrimp farming and processing operations which directly compete with domestic shrimpers.

"South Carolina's shrimping industry is part of our identity, our heritage, and our economy," said Congresswoman Mace."For too long, our shrimpers have been undercut by foreign competitors bankrolled with American tax dollars. The Save Our Shrimpers Act puts an end to it. This is about a level playing field. It is about making sure American tax dollars work for American shrimpers and not against them. We will always go to bat for the hardworking men and women of South Carolina's coast."

The Save Our Shrimpers Act requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose any financial assistance for foreign shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or shrimp export projects.

The Save Our Shrimpers Act is supported by shrimping and fishing industry organizations across the country:

"The Save Our Shrimpers Act is about one simple principle: American tax dollars should not be used to subsidize foreign shrimp operations that are putting American shrimpers out of business. For years, our industry has been crushed by unfair trade practices and artificially cheap imports while family shrimp boats across the South have struggled to survive. We're grateful to Congressman Troy Nehls and the bipartisan group of cosponsors, including South Carolina's Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Congressman Russell Fry, for standing up for working waterfronts, American food security, and the families who have helped feed this country for generations. This bill is a common-sense step toward finally putting American shrimpers first," said Bryan Jones, Vice President, South Carolina Shrimpers Association.

"Passage of the Save Our Shrimpers Act is integral to helping the shrimp industry achieve a level playing field. For years, our competitors have been funded by International Financial Institutions (IFI's) and millions of dollars have been handed over to develop shrimp farms overseas which compete with domestic wild-caught shrimpers. This practice needs to stop and passage of this bill is a step in the right direction. Thank you to all who have supported this bill and thereby elevated the U.S. shrimp industry," said Chris Londrie, President, Texas Shrimp Association.

"The Louisiana Shrimp Association applauds the U.S. House for passing the Save Our Shrimpers Act and urges the U.S. Senate to quickly take action and send this critical legislation to the President's desk. America's shrimpers are fighting to survive, and this bill will provide much-needed relief to hardworking fishing families and coastal communities," said Acy Cooper, President of the Louisiana Shrimp Association.

"Supporting the Save Our Shrimpers Act is a no-brainer because it opposes the funding of foreign farmed shrimp operations that make it hard for domestic producers to compete," said Ryan Bradley, Director of Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, Inc.

"The American Shrimp Association proudly supports the Save our Shrimpers Act. The U.S. should not support foreign shrimp development projects that compete with and undermine our domestic shrimp industry. This legislation protects critical jobs in coastal communities and signals to the world that America values our shrimp harvesters and processors first," said Mr. Tuyen Bui, Director, American Shrimp Association.

"America's shrimp processors strongly support the Save Our Shrimpers Act (HR 2071). For far too long, international institutions have poured public dollars into overseas shrimp farming and processing, fueling massive overcapacity and waves of unfair imports that have repeatedly harmed our domestic shrimp industry. This bill will put an end to this practice and ensure that international institutions which are financed with U.S. taxpayer dollars do not use those funds to prop up our competitors overseas," said Trey Pearson, President of the American Shrimp Processors Association.

South Carolina's shrimping communities have faced years of economic pressure from artificially cheap foreign imports, threatening coastal livelihoods across the Lowcountry. Rep. Mace has been at the forefront of standing up for them in Washington. She introduced the Protect American Fisheries Act, cosponsored the Save Our Shrimpers Act, secured amendments supporting the industry in the House-passed farm bill, and secured provisions in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of War to purchase only American-caught seafood.

The Save Our Shrimpers Act heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

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