H.R. 7084 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Mar 27, 2026. Received Apr 2, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRestricts ships from seized U.S. ports
This bill gives the President power to block ships from entering U.S. ports if those ships have visited a port or harbor that was once owned by Americans but was seized by a Western Hemisphere country that has a trade agreement with the United States. The ban would stay in place until the country either returns the property, pays fair compensation, or resolves the dispute in a way the President accepts. The bill does allow exceptions for ships facing emergencies or in certain other situations.
How it affects you
This mainly affects shipping companies and businesses that operate vessels internationally. If a ship has docked at a seized American-owned port, it could be blocked from coming into U.S. waters, which could disrupt their routes and business operations. For most everyday Americans, this is not directly felt, though it could indirectly influence prices for goods shipped by sea.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Mar 20, 2026)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 7084
AN ACT
Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) · Introduced Jan 15, 2026 · Transportation and Public Works · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 2, 2026: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Mar 27, 2026
Passage Passed 247–164
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 41 | 164 | 9 |
| Independents | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 205 | 0 | 11 |
41 members voted against most of their party: 41 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.