Press Releases

Today, Congressman Mike Ezell (MS-04) joined Congressman Troy Nehls (TX-22) and a coalition of coastal members in introducing the bipartisan Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2025.

This bipartisan legislation would prohibit federal funds from being made available to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to finance any activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp from any foreign country to the United States. Additionally, this legislation would trigger an investigation within the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) and require annual reports to Congress to what extent U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs comply with USC 262(h). 

"American tax dollars should support American workers—not subsidize foreign shrimpers who engage in unfair trade practices," Ezell said. "I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Save Our Shrimpers Act to level the playing field and stand up for our hardworking shrimpers."

“American shrimpers, including those in my district, are struggling to stay afloat due to an excess of foreign shrimp flooding our markets,” Nehls said. “Worse, American tax dollars are being used to finance foreign shrimp farms, which are driving our own shrimpers out of business. My bill, the Save Our Shrimpers Act, would halt funding to international institutions that bankroll foreign shrimp operations. We must do everything we can to protect our nation’s shrimping industry and put American shrimpers first.”

Original cosponsors of the Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2025 include Representatives  Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX34), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13), Greg Murphy (R-NC-03), John Rutherford (FL-05), Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Barry Moore (R-AL-01), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), and Michael Cloud (R-TX-27). 

Background:

The United States domestic shrimpers are struggling to stay in business, primarily due to foreign shrimp being dumped into U.S. markets, making it difficult for domestic shrimpers to continue operating. It’s been uncovered that American taxpayer dollars are being used to finance foreign shrimp operations through International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is contributing to the demise of the U.S.’s shrimping industry. 

Federal law USC 262(h) stipulates that the U.S. Department of the Treasury shall instruct United States Executive Directors at International Monetary Institutions to vote against any assistance by such institutions that facilitates an export commodity surplus that causes injury or harm to United States producers. Unfortunately, there have been limited circumstances where the Treasury has been in compliance with this law, and it is difficult to trace how U.S. Executive Directors at IFIs have complied or not complied with this no-vote mandate.

In the 118^th Congress, the Save Our Shrimpers Act was supported by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), Texas Shrimp Association, South Carolina Shrimper’s Association (SCSA), GA Commercial Fisherman’s Association (GACFA), North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. (NCFA), US Shrimp Coalition (USSC), Louisiana Shrimp Association (LSA), the Alabama Commercial Fishermen’s Association, LLC, and the Port of Palacios, Texas. 

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