[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7084 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7084
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 15, 2026
Mr. Pfluger (for himself, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Mann, and Mr.
Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
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 (1) by inserting ``the'' before
``Federal Register'';
(B) in paragraph (2) by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; or'';
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B);
(D) by striking ``A vessel referred'' and inserting
the following:
``(1) In general.--A vessel referred''; and
(E) 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 returned
the property of the United States person and terminated
any measures that had the effect of seizing ownership
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.''.
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