June 4, 2025
Mr. Babin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the Administrator of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Standards for Understanding Source and Habitat Identification Act
or the SUSHI Act
.
Sec. 2. Methodology for identifying the country of origin of seafood
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Administrator
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
(3) Key agency leadership
The term key agency leadership means the Administrator and the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(4) Red snapper
The term red snapper means the species Lutjanus campechanus.
(5) Tuna
The term tuna means the following species of tuna:
(A)
Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus).
(B)
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).
(C)
Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).
(6) Under Secretary
The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
(b) Standard methodology for identification
(1) In general
Key agency leadership shall jointly develop a standard methodology, based on chemical analysis, for identifying the country of origin of seafood to support enforcement against unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
(2) Requirements
Key agency leadership shall ensure that the methodology developed under this subsection—
(A)
is consistent with the needs of Federal and State law enforcement agencies in combating unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
(B)
minimizes processing time;
(C)
involves the use of a field kit that can be easily carried by one individual; and
(D)
to the extent practicable, can be used to test prepared food, including raw preparations of seafood, such as ceviche, sashimi, sushi, and poke.
(3) Initial species for identification
In developing the methodology under this subsection, key agency leadership shall conduct pilot studies on red snapper, as an example of a stationary stock, and tuna, as an example of a highly migratory stock.
(c) Report
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:
(1)
A summary of the methodology developed under subsection (b).
(2)
A plan for operationalizing such methodology.
(3)
If the Under Secretary determines any aspect of such methodology is impractical, an explanation relating thereto, whether additional research would make developing such a methodology practicable, and whether a different approach other than chemical analysis might be practicable.