Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026

August Pfluger

Republican · TX · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)Original· 2026-01-15
• Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA-24)Original· 2026-01-15
• Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-7)Original· 2026-01-15
• Tracey Mann (R-KS-1)Original· 2026-01-15
• John J. McGuire III (R-VA-5)· 2026-01-16
• Barry Moore (R-AL-1)· 2026-01-20
• Dale W. Strong (R-AL-5)· 2026-01-22

Received in the Senate.

2026-04-02

Source: Congress.gov

Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 This bill authorizes the President to prohibit the entry of a vessel into the United States if the vessel has transited any U.S. port, harbor, or marine terminal that has been nationalized or expropriated (e.g., seized) by a Western Hemisphere country that has a free trade agreement with the United States. Under the bill, the President may prohibit the entry and operation of a vessel if it has called at any port, harbor, or marine terminal that was owned, held, or controlled by a U.S. entity or individual, but has been nationalized or expropriated by the government of a country that is located in the Western Hemisphere and has a free trade agreement in effect with the United States. The prohibition ends when the President determines that (1) the applicable country has restored ownership of the property that had been nationalized or expropriated, (2) the applicable country has provided mutually acceptable compensation for the nationalized or expropriated property, (3) the conditions for the prohibition are no longer satisfied, or (4) the dispute has been otherwise resolved to the satisfaction of the President. The bill permits certain foreign vessels that are otherwise prohibited from entering the United States under this bill or current law to enter if the vessel is experiencing an emergency (involving the vessel or an individual on the vessel) and in certain instances where access to a covered facility was granted by a U.S. property owner.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7084 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7084 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the types of vessels that may enter or operate in navigable waters of the United States or transfer cargo in any port or place under the jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. CONDITION FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. Section 70022 of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A)-- (A) in clause (i)-- (i) by striking ``subsection (b)(1)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(A)''; and (ii) in subclause (II) by striking ``; or'' and inserting a semicolon; (B) in clause (ii)-- (i) by striking ``subsection (b)(2)'' and inserting ``subsection (b)(1)(B)''; and (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(iii) vessel described in subsection (b)(1) in the case of-- ``(I) an emergency being experienced by a vessel or an individual on the vessel; or ``(II) a vessel authorized by the owner, as described in subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii), to transit the facilities described in subsection (b)(1)(C).''; and (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B) (and by moving the margins of such subparagraphs accordingly); (C) by striking ``A vessel referred'' and inserting the following: ``(1) In general.--A vessel referred''; and (D) by adding at the end the following: ``(C) a vessel that has transited a port, harbor, or marine terminal, that at the time of such transit-- ``(i) was located within the territory of a Western Hemisphere country that has in effect a free trade agreement with the United States; ``(ii) was accessible only through land that is owned, held, or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a United States person; and ``(iii) was designated by the President under paragraph (2), and has not had such designation removed under paragraph (3). ``(2) Designation.--The President may designate a port, harbor, or marine terminal under this subsection if an agency or official of the government of the Western Hemisphere foreign trade partner has-- ``(A) nationalized, or expropriated the port, harbor, or marine terminal, owned, held, or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a United States person; or ``(B) taken any other action that has the effect of expropriating or nationalizing that port, harbor, or marine terminal, or land providing the exclusive access to that port, harbor, or marine terminal, as described in paragraph (1)(C)(ii), as long as the matter is not the subject of a currently pending arbitration under a free trade agreement described in paragraph (1)(C)(i). ``(3) Removal of designation.--The President shall remove the designation of a port, harbor, or marine terminal made under paragraph (2) if the President determines that-- ``(A) the conditions set forth in paragraph (2) are no longer met; ``(B) the Western Hemisphere country has restored ownership of the property of the United States person and terminated any measures that had the effect of seizing ownership or possession of that property; ``(C) the Western Hemisphere country has provided adequate and effective compensation for such property in convertible foreign exchange or other mutually acceptable compensation equivalent to the full value thereof, as required…

by international law; or ``(D) the dispute has otherwise been resolved to the satisfaction of the President.''. Passed the House of Representatives March 27, 2026. Attest: Clerk. 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7084 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the types of vessels that may enter or operate in navigable waters of the United States or transfer cargo in any port or place under the jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes.

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