Rules Committee · Mar 27, 2026
H.Amdt. 173: Its purpose is not yet published.
Adopted
With no one objecting, no names recorded
August Pfluger (R-TX)
Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026
H.R. 7084 · House bill Transportation and Public Works
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Received in the Senate.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House 247–164
- Awaiting Senate
What this bill would do
The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 seeks to amend title 46 of the United States Code. This legislation changes the rules regarding which vessels are allowed to enter or operate in United States navigable waters or transfer cargo in U.S. ports. It specifically addresses vessels that have transited through certain ports or harbors in the Western Hemisphere. The bill allows the President to designate specific locations where property owned by a United States person has been nationalized or expropriated. These designations can be removed if certain conditions regarding ownership or compensation are met.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Would business owners be better off under this?
The act offers protections and paths to compensation for business owners facing property expropriation abroad.
- Scored +5
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands presidential authority to designate specific foreign ports and restrict associated vessel entries.
- Scored +4
Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this?
The bill protects high-value property interests and assets held by U.S. persons in foreign territories.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the bill This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President. Passed 247 yes · 164 no
03/27/2026 · Roll call 105 · recorded as “On Passage”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Property Rights: The bill establishes a mechanism to address situations where a Western Hemisphere country has nationalized or expropriated property owned, held, or controlled by a United States person (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)(C) and (2)).
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Path to Restoring Designation: The President can remove a designation if the Western Hemisphere country restores ownership of the property to the United States person and stops the measures used to seize it (Section 2, subsection (b)(3)(B)).
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Ensuring Fair Compensation: The bill provides a way to address property disputes if the foreign country provides adequate and effective compensation for the property in convertible foreign exchange or other mutually acceptable compensation equivalent to the full value (Section 2, subsection (b)(3)(C)).
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Emergency Exceptions: The bill includes provisions for vessels experiencing an emergency or vessels authorized by an owner to transit certain facilities (Section 2, subsection (a)(1)(C)(iii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Restrictions on Vessel Entry: The bill introduces new conditions that may affect which vessels can enter or operate in United States waters or transfer cargo in United States ports based on their recent transit history (Section 2, subsection (b)(1)(C)).
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Presidential Discretionary Power: The President has the authority to designate specific ports, harbors, or marine terminals as subject to these rules based on the actions of foreign governments (Section 2, subsection (b)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The act offers protections and paths to compensation for business owners facing property expropriation abroad. Would people with substantial wealth be better off under this? — The bill protects high-value property interests and assets held by U.S. persons in foreign territories.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands presidential authority to designate specific foreign ports and restrict associated vessel entries.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill provides a mechanism for protecting the property rights of U.S. persons whose assets are nationalized abroad.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill seeks to protect U.S. commercial interests and property rights in the Western Hemisphere.
- 4/2/2026
- Received in the Senate.
- 3/27/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105).
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2783)
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7084.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8029, H. Res. 1128, H.R. 5103 and H.R. 7084. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8029, H. Res. 1128, H.R. 5103, and H.R. 7084 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 8029, H.R. 5103, and H.R. 7084.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1131. (consideration: CR H2782-2788)
- 3/25/2026
- Rule H. Res. 1131 passed House.
- 3/24/2026
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1131 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8029, H. Res. 1128, H.R. 5103 and H.R. 7084. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8029, H. Res. 1128, H.R. 5103, and H.R. 7084 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on H.R. 8029, H.R. 5103, and H.R. 7084.
- 3/20/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-563.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.
- 1/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2026
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 22.
- 1/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/16/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Chuck EdwardsRepublican · North Carolina
Tracey MannRepublican · Kansas
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
John McGuireRepublican · Virginia
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Dale StrongRepublican · Alabama