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© 2026 Govwatch

HR8020Referred to Committee

American LNG First Act of 2026

Share:
Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-03-19
Introduced
4
Cosponsors
HR
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Scott Perry
Scott Perry
Republican · PA · Representative
Votes with party: 85.9% (548 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/P000605

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (4)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

  • Chip Roy (R-TX-21)Original· 2026-03-19
  • Warren Davidson (R-OH-8)Original· 2026-03-19
  • Mark Harris (R-NC-8)· 2026-03-26
  • Tom McClintock (R-CA-5)· 2026-03-26

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

2026-03-20

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

  • House Committee on Transportation and InfrastructureReferred To · 2026-03-19

Previously

  • Transportation and Infrastructure CommitteeReferred To · 2026-03-19

Plain-English Summary

This bill would prioritize the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in the United States, likely by streamlining approval processes or giving preference to American LNG in federal contracts and international trade agreements. The measure would affect energy companies, workers in the natural gas and shipping industries, and potentially consumers by influencing domestic energy prices and export opportunities. It reflects an effort to boost American energy independence and the domestic natural gas sector's competitiveness in global markets.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Transportation and Public Works

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8020 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8020 To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2026 Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Roy, and Mr. Davidson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, 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 ``American LNG First Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM COASTWISE LAWS FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS. (a) General Eligibility Requirements.--Section 12103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) Exception for Vessels Transporting Liquefied Natural Gas.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a certificate of documentation may be issued under this chapter for any vessel transporting methane, refrigerated liquid, commonly known as liquefied natural gas. ``(2) Certain vessels excluded.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to-- ``(A) a vessel that is owned, in whole or in part, by-- ``(i) a Russian national; or ``(ii) the Government of the Russian Federation; ``(B) a Russian-flagged vessel; ``(C) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Russian national; ``(D) a vessel that is owned in whole or in part, by-- ``(i) a Chinese national; or ``(ii) the Government of the People's Republic of China; ``(E) a Chinese-flagged vessel; or ``(F) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Chinese national.''. (b) Coastwise Endorsement.--Section 12112(a)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in clause (ii) by striking ``or'' at the end; (2) in clause (iii) by striking ``and'' at the end and inserting ``or''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(iv) transports methane, refrigerated liquid, commonly known as liquefied natural gas; and''. <all>
Open clean-text viewRead on Congress.gov →

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