In the News

US congresswoman Suzan DelBene introduced bipartisan legislation to require fish products purchased for federally subsidized school lunches be domestically harvested on Thursday.

“The Pacific Northwest produces some of the world’s best and healthiest seafood. We should be supporting our local industries, especially when they are producing a superior product for our nation’s children,” DelBene, a congresswoman for Washington state, said.

“I want to ensure school district funds stretch as far as possible, but not at the expense of child nutrition. This bipartisan bill is not only good for our fishermen, but also our children, who will be receiving more nutritious fish as a result," she said.

According to the release from DelBene, 60% of the pollock served in the school lunch program comes from Russia.

The bill would strengthen the "buy American" provision in the US school lunch program by stating “without exception” that federally subsided school lunches should use domestically sourced fish, or fish from a US flagged vessel in the case of tuna.

DelBene serves on the House Agriculture Committee, which has part jurisdiction over the US school lunch program.

“We appreciate congresswoman DelBene and her House colleagues' continued support for the region's seafood industry, especially this legislation to restrict federally subsidized seafood purchases by school districts to fish harvested in the US,” said Joe Bundrant, CEO of Trident Seafoods Corporation.

“Alaska pollock is a versatile, nutritious and affordable seafood product, ideal for the school lunch program. This legislation can help ensure that our children get the best choice at a good value for school districts," he said.