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HR 6338 119th Congress House Public Lands and Natural Resources Congressional oversight Marine and coastal resources, fisheries Marine and inland water transportation Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Sanctions Visas and passports

Stop Illegal Fishing Act

Introduced: December 1, 2025 Introduced by: Meeks, Gregory W. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 9, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:16 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:16 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3968-3969)
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:16 PM EDT
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3968-3969)
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:12 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6338.
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:12 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3968-3970)
Jun 8, 2026 · 5:12 PM EDT
Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 3, 2025
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 47 - 2.
Dec 3, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced in House
Dec 1, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Stop Illegal Fishing Act

This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign vessels and persons engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).

The bill directs the President to block and prohibit all transactions involving property (including interests in property) of a covered foreign vessel or person if such property comes within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person. The President must also deny or revoke any visa or other entry documentation issued to or sought by a covered foreign person. Civil and criminal penalties apply to violations, including attempts or conspiracies to violate the sanctions. 

A covered foreign vessel is any vessel that is registered or operated under the authority of a foreign country and engages in IUU fishing. Covered foreign persons are individuals or entities that are not U.S. persons and knowingly (1) own any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (2) work as a captain or senior crew member on any vessel that engages in IUU fishing, (3) operate as an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing, or (4) serve as an officer or senior manager in an entity primarily engaged in IUU fishing.

The President may waive the application of these sanctions after notifying Congress that the waiver is important to U.S. national security interests. Other exceptions apply, such as to provide life-saving assistance to a covered vessel.

The bill directs the President to periodically report to Congress on efforts to carry out these provisions.

What's happening now June 9, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 1

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

  • RADIUS ADVOCACY, LLC
    for INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION · District of Columbia · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2
D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Jun 3, 2026
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Jan 7, 2026
 R
Kim, Young
California · Dec 1, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6338: Stop Illegal Fishing Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6338/
MLA
"H.R. 6338: Stop Illegal Fishing Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6338/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6338, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6338/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6338: Stop Illegal Fishing Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-6338/)
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