HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS USDA PLAN TO PURCHASE $20 MILLION IN WILD-CAUGHT SHRIMP FOR SCHOOLS, FOOD BANKS

HYDE-SMITH HIGHLIGHTS USDA PLAN TO PURCHASE $20 MILLION IN WILD-CAUGHT SHRIMP FOR SCHOOLS, FOOD BANKS

Gulf Coast Shrimp Industry Should Benefit from USDA Section 32 Program Purchase

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today highlighted the U.S. Department of Agriculture decision to purchase up to $20 million in surplus wild-caught shrimp products for distribution to schools and food banks.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is purchasing the domestic shrimp through the Section 32 Program, a permanently authorized program that allows the USDA to buy surplus U.S. commodities for domestic food and nutrition assistance programs.

"This $20 million purchase of domestic shrimp will offer some much-needed relief to our shrimp industry as it continues to fight through unfair and foreign competition. Our shrimpers work hard every day to provide safe, nutritious shrimp to American tables. I'm glad this purchase will support food banks and school nutrition programs across the country," said Hyde-Smith, who consistently advocates for Section 32 purchases of Mississippi commodities.

The latest AMS purchase of wild-caught shrimp was announced in late August as part of an overall $156 million Section 32 acquisition of domestic agricultural commodities. Hyde-Smith also recently led a letter promoting a Section 32 purchase of U.S. farm-raised catfish, which resulted in a USDA decision in July to purchase $20 million of the product.

Early last month, the Senate Agriculture Committee adopted an amendment to a pending new Farm Bill that is based on Hyde-Smith's Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act (S.3065), which would ensure all seafood, whether wild-caught or farm-raised, is clearly labeled with its country of origin and method of production.

Hyde-Smith has also introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act (S.4805), which would prohibit federal funds from being made available to international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, for financing activities related to foreign shrimp farming, processing, or exporting. It follows her introduction of the Safer Shrimp Imports Act (S.667), which would require overseas shrimp facility inspections and require foreign countries wishing to export shrimp to the United States to meet food safety inspection standards equivalent to those of U.S. shrimp producers.

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