This Act may be cited as the American LNG First Act of 2026.

(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.