H.R. 9154 explained  ·  119th Congress  ·  Pending in Congress

SHRIMP Act of 2026

Create a free account or sign in to follow H.R. 9154 and get alerts. Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources Create a free account or sign in to follow the Public Lands and Natural Resources policy area and get alerts. ▲ 138 days since action Sponsor: Nancy Mace, SC-01, R → Congress.gov

Cosponsors: 4 (2 D, 2 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-08

Introduced: 2026-06-04

Latest action (2026-06-04): 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.

What H.R. 9154 does, in plain terms

The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 9154 yet. Its official title: “SHRIMP Act of 2026”.

Constitution Index

“VFA Constitution grade”

Not graded yet

H.R. 9154 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.

The Framers

“Founders’ Verdict”

CONSTITUTIONAL

Confidence 0.75

Archived SI output (machine-generated)

No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.

Synthesis

Three of four Founders (Hamilton, Madison, Marshall) find the bill constitutional, as it falls within Congress's enumerated power to regulate foreign commerce under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, and the delegation to the Secretary of Commerce is a permissible use of legislative discretion.

Hamilton YES

The proposed legislation directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop a methodology for identifying the country of origin of shrimp. This falls squarely within the power of Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, as granted by Article I, Section 8, Clause 3. The requirement for a methodology is a reasonable means to enforce trade laws and protect domestic industries, consistent with the federal government's authority to lay and collect duties and to regulate foreign trade. The delegation to the Secretary of Commerce is a proper exercise of legislative discretion, as Congress may as…

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 Federalist No. 11
Jefferson NO

The Constitution grants Congress only those powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8. Nowhere does it authorize the federal government to prescribe a methodology for identifying the country of origin of shrimp or any other commodity. Such a power is not necessary and proper to any delegated authority, as the commerce power is strictly limited to regulating interstate and foreign commerce, not dictating internal labeling methodologies. The Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not delegated to the United States to the States or to the people. This bill intrudes upon that reservation, as the Stat…

Amendment X Article I, Section 8
Madison YES

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop a methodology for identifying the country of origin of shrimp. The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), and to make all laws necessary and proper for executing that power (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18). Requiring a methodology to trace the origin of imported shrimp is a reasonable regulation of foreign commerce, as it enables enforcement of trade laws and protects domestic industries from fraudulent labeling. The bill does not exceed the enumerated powers of C…

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 Tenth Amendment Federalist No. 42
Marshall YES

This bill, directing the Secretary of Commerce to develop a methodology for identifying the country of origin of shrimp, falls within the constitutional authority of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. The power to regulate commerce among the several states and with foreign nations, as vested in Congress by Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, includes the authority to prescribe rules for identifying the origin of goods entering the stream of commerce. Such a methodology is a necessary and proper means to enforce trade laws, prevent fraud, and ensure the integrity of commercial tr…

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (Commerce Clause) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
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