SEAS Act

To require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress on Department of Agriculture spending related to seafood purchases and grants, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act SEAS Act 2. Report on USDA seafood purchases and grants Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report that includes, with respect to the previous fiscal year— (1) the total amount of expenditures of the Department of Agriculture on seafood purchases and aquaculture purchases and the value of such expenditures; (2) the total amount of expenditures of the Department on seafood and aquaculture promotion and outreach supporting the seafood and aquaculture industries and the value of such expenditures; (3) the number of grants made by the Secretary of Agriculture to the seafood and aquaculture industries, and the amount of such grants; and (4) the number of grants made by the Secretary of Agriculture to facilitate seafood and aquaculture research, the amount of such grants, and the subject matter of such research. 3. Report on USDA support for aquaculture and the seafood industry (a) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Congress a report— (1) evaluating the Department of Agriculture’s role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood industry; (2) evaluating the domestic seafood processing capacity of the United States and the impact of overseas processing on domestic supply chains, aquaculture, and the seafood industry; (3) examining the access to the Department of Agriculture’s grants and resources aquaculture and seafood producers have, as compared to traditional land-based farmers; (4) evaluating the potential environmental benefits of aquaculture, with respect to climate, conservation, and pollution; (5) evaluating the potential negative impacts of aquaculture, with respect to pollution, waste, disease, and other repercussions; and (6) providing recommendations to support and advance best practice for aquaculture in the United States. (b) Definitions In this Act: (1) Aquaculture The term aquaculture (2) Seafood industry The term seafood industry 4. USDA internal education requirement (a) In general Subtitle B of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6931 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 6934 226C. Aquaculture education (a) FSA offices The Secretary shall develop and implement a requirement for employees of each regional office of the Farm Service Agency with respect to education on aquaculture. Such requirement shall include training for all existing and new employees on— (1) eligibility for aquaculture-related Federal grants and programs; (2) the role of aquaculture in United States agriculture; and (3) the support the Department of Agriculture provides to seafood producers and aquaculture. (b) Memorandum Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue a department-wide memorandum that— (1) affirms the Department of Agriculture’s current position that aquaculture plays a vital role in the United States agriculture system; and (2) reiterates the eligibility of aquaculture and seafood products and producers for programs administered by the Secretary. (c) Webinars The Secretary shall, beginning not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section and every 2 years thereafter, convene a conference (including a conference held on a virtual platform or through webinars) providing for education of officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture and relevant stakeholders on the state of aquaculture in the United States. . (b) Technical correction Effective as if included in the enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2018, subtitle A of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 ( 7 U.S.C. 6912 et seq. 7 U.S.C. 6925 5. Regional aquaculture centers (a) Extension Section 1477(a) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3324(a) (1) in paragraph (1), by striking and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) to carry out subsection (b), $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. . (b) Indirect costs Section 1477 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 ( 7 U.S.C. 3324 (c) Indirect costs Of the funds made available under subsection (a) to carry out this section for a fiscal year, not more than 15 percent may be used for expenses related to administering the program under this section. . 6. Shellfish research under Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (a) In general Subsection (b)(2)(B)(i) of the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act ( 7 U.S.C. 3157(b)(2)(B)(i) (i) (I) aquaculture; and (II) methods of increasing survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification; . (b) Developing next generation technology for the seafood and aquaculture industries Title IX of the Food Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 ( 7 U.S.C. 8101 et seq. 9015. Developing next generation technology for the seafood and aquaculture industries (a) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall make competitive grants to eligible entities to develop next generation technology, which may include more efficient gear and equipment, to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. (b) Eligible entity defined The term eligible entity 7 U.S.C. 3322 section 501(c)(5) (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028. . 7. Grant programs (a) In general In awarding grants (or other assistance), the Secretary shall give the same consideration to aquaculture producers as animal agriculture producers. (b) Aquaculture funding The Secretary shall ensure adequate and fair funding levels are made available to aquaculture producers through grants (or other assistance) under Department of Agriculture programs. (c) Animal agriculture defined animal agriculture 8. Crop insurance Section 522(c) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 ( 7 U.S.C. 1522 (20) Aquaculture products (A) In general The Corporation shall carry out research and development, or offer to enter into 1 or more contracts with 1 or more qualified persons to carry out research and development, regarding a policy to insure aquaculture products. (B) Availability The Corporation shall establish a policy to insure aquaculture products for the first reinsurance year that begins after the date of the enactment of this paragraph. .

Summary: Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act or the SEAS ActThis bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase support for aquaculture grants and assistance. (Aquaculture is the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and sea vegetables.)Specifically, the bill directs USDA to give aquaculture producers the same consideration as animal agriculture producers in awarding grants or other assistance. Further, USDA must ensure adequate and fair funding levels for aquaculture producers under USDA programs. USDA must also provide its staff with specific education and trainings on aquaculture.&nbsp;USDA must submit to Congress (1) an annual report that includes information on USDA seafood and aquaculture purchases and grants, and (2) a report on USDA's role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood industry.USDA must make competitive grants (e.g., to regional aquaculture centers or nonprofit organizations) to develop next generation technology to reduce pollution and fuel usage in the seafood and aquaculture industries. Further, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative program grants must address methods of increasing the survival rate and adaptability of shellfish, including resistance to heat, disease, salinity, and acidification.In addition, the federal crop insurance program (FCIP) must research and develop a policy to insure aquaculture products and the&nbsp;Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (the agency that finances FCIP operations) must establish a policy to insure aquaculture products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;