Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act
Introduced Jan 28, 2025 by Sen. Ted Cruz
Both chambers passed it. It's headed to the President to be signed or vetoed.
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to jointly develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). It also authorizes technical assistance to other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime.
NOAA and NIST must consult with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard in developing the methodology, which must use chemical analysis to identify the country of origin of seafood. The methodology must be consistent with the needs of federal and state law enforcement agencies in combating IUU fishing. The methodology must also include a portable field kit and, to the extent practicable, be appropriate for testing prepared food (including raw preparations of seafood such as sushi). The agencies must conduct pilot studies of the methodology on red snapper and tuna.
Within two years after the bill's enactment, NIST must report to Congress regarding the methodology and a plan for operationalizing it. The report must explain any aspects of its methodology that are impracticable, whether additional research would make the methodology practicable, and whether an alternate approach might be practicable.
The bill also authorizes the Department of Defense to use operation and maintenance funds to provide technical assistance to maritime forces of other countries to help combat IUU fishing and transnational organized crime (e.g., by providing observers or data analysis).
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
No recorded roll-call vote on this bill — it may have passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record individual votes.
- Oct 5, 2026Presented to President.
- Sep 28, 2026Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 24, 2026Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 283 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- Sep 24, 2026Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 283 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- Sep 15, 2026Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
- Sep 14, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Sep 14, 2026On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5557-5558)
- Sep 14, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5557-5558)
- Sep 14, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 283.
- Sep 14, 2026Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5557-5558)
- Sep 14, 2026Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Jul 15, 2025Held at the desk.
- Jul 15, 2025Received in the House.
- Jul 15, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Jul 14, 2025Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4341; text: CR S4341-4342)
- Jul 14, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- May 21, 2025Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 86.
- May 21, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-24.
- Feb 5, 2025Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Jan 28, 2025Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Jan 28, 2025Introduced in Senate