WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a huge win for Louisiana families who make their living shrimping and fishing, the U.S. Senate voted 87-11 today in favor of an amendment by U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to spend an additional $3.1 million in Fiscal Year 2019 – or 26% more - on imported seafood inspections.  The amendment aims to tackle funding problems that result in only roughly 2% of seafood imports receiving FDA inspections.

The amendment, which was attached to H.R. 6147, addresses concerns that were raised by Louisiana shrimpers during a meeting with Sen. Kennedy earlier this summer in Houma.  U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) is a co-sponsor.

“Louisiana produces the best seafood in the world.  Unfortunately our commercial fishermen have to compete with foreign fishermen who are unfairly subsidized by their governments, face virtually no environmental regulations and pump their product full of drugs.  Other countries know they can cheat because the U.S. can only inspect a fraction of what’s coming in.  That’s about to change,” said Sen. Kennedy. 

“Louisiana shrimpers are being undercut by inferior, uninspected seafood from foreign countries,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This measure increases the FDA’s ability to inspect foreign seafood coming into our country, protecting American consumers and Louisiana workers.”

Click here or the link below to watch Sen. Kennedy’s floor remarks.