Save Our Shrimpers Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act.
For far too long, hardworking American shrimpers have been devastated by the flood of foreign shrimp imports entering our markets, driving down the prices, undermining fair competition, and forcing generation after generation of fishing families out of business.
For decades, billions of dollars tied to international development financing have helped support foreign shrimp production overseas.
According to publicly available data from the Department of the Treasury, U.S. executive directors at international financial institutions have voted in favor of nearly 89 percent of multilateral shrimp and aquacultural projects over the last 30 years. Think about that--89 percent.
American taxpayer dollars have effectively helped finance foreign shrimp industries while our own shrimpers are being forced to compete against foreign producers benefiting from the subsidies, unfair trade practices, and lower label and environmental standards, allowing imported shrimp to be sold below the cost of production. It is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the men and women from our Gulf Coast and coastal communities wake up before dawn and work long hours in dangerous conditions to help feed this country. They deserve a level playing field, not a Federal Government helping bankroll their foreign competition.
The Save Our Shrimpers Act directs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to use the voice and vote of the United States to oppose projects that finance foreign shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or shrimp exports overseas.
The Save Our Shrimpers Act stands up for American jobs, American seafood producers, and the coastal communities that depend on the shrimping industry to survive.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand up for our shrimpers and protect the American industry, and I ask them to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2071.
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Mr. NEHLS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
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