Reported in House

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7084 Reported in House (RH)] Union Calendar No. 484 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7084 [Report No. 119-563] 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 March 20, 2026 Additional sponsors: Mr. McGuire, Mr. Moore of Alabama, and Mr. Strong March 20, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 15, 2026] _______________________________________________________________________ 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.

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.

SEC. 2. CONDITION FOR ENTRY INTO PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Section 70022 of title 46, United States Code, is amended--

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.''. Union Calendar No. 484 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7084 [Report No. 119-563] _______________________________________________________________________ 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. _______________________________________________________________________ March 20, 2026 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed