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CIVIC HERALD
HR 7084 · 119th Congress · HouseOther

Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

In plain language: Cargo ships that visit certain foreign ports would be blocked from entering U.S. ports if those facilities were seized from American owners without fair compensation. The restriction applies to ports in Western Hemisphere nations that hold free trade agreements with the U.S., though it exempts ships facing emergencies or those authorized by the American property owner. It also does not apply while an expropriation dispute is undergoing active trade arbitration. The President must lift the ban once the foreign government returns the property, pays full compensation, or reaches an acceptable settlement.

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Provisionalunreviewed: impact, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—Not determinable from the text provided; the number of vessels, shipping operators, or property owners affected depends on future executive designations and trade disputes.
Fiscal magnitude—Not determinable from the text provided; the bill contains no appropriations, authorizations of funding, or fee provisions.
Reach
provisional · pending review28rigor: heuristic llm
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Issues

What this bill touches.

Trade & tariffs−20

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Provisional: our reading of who it affects, pending review.

Who it helps

  • U.S. owners of expropriated foreign port propertiesGain legal leverage to recover seized property or obtain full compensation from foreign governments, and receive the right to authorize specific vessels to use their expropriated facilities without facing U.S. port bans (Sec. 2(1)(C) and Sec. 2(2)(D)).provisional

Who it burdens

  • Commercial vessel operatorsAre barred from entering U.S. ports or navigating U.S. waters if their vessels call at designated foreign ports, harbors, or terminals that were nationalized or seized from U.S. owners, unless they receive permission from the affected U.S. owner or face an emergency (Sec. 2(1)(C) and Sec. 2(2)(D)).provisional

Who opposes it

  • Operators of nationalized foreign ports and terminalsHave their commercial operations targeted by U.S. law, which bans vessels that dock at their facilities from subsequently entering U.S. ports or waters unless the property dispute is resolved (Sec. 2(2)(D)).provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

Provisional: our reading of what the bill does, pending review.

  1. Bar vessels from entering U.S. ports or operating in U.S. waters if they have used a port, harbor, or marine terminal in a Western Hemisphere free-trade partner country that was nationalized or seized from a U.S. owner and designated by the President.

    Sec. 2(2)(D)provisional

  2. Authorize the President to designate a foreign port, harbor, or marine terminal if a Western Hemisphere free-trade partner government expropriates or nationalizes the facility or its access land from a U.S. owner, unless the dispute is in active trade arbitration.

    Sec. 2(2)(D)provisional

  3. Require the President to remove the designation if the foreign government restores ownership to the U.S. person, pays full and effective compensation, or otherwise resolves the dispute.

    Sec. 2(2)(D)provisional

  4. Exempt vessels from the U.S. port ban if they are experiencing an emergency or if the affected U.S. property owner authorized them to use the foreign port or terminal facilities.

    Sec. 2(1)(C)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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The record

How members voted on Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026.

Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.

  • House · Mar 27, 2026 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Passage · Passed

    Source →

Timeline

How it moved.

Show all 18 actions
  1. Apr 2, 2026Received in the Senate.
  2. Mar 27, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Mar 27, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2783)
  4. Mar 27, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105).
  5. Mar 27, 2026The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  6. Mar 27, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7084.
  7. Mar 27, 2026Rule 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.
  8. Mar 27, 2026Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1131. (consideration: CR H2782-2788)
  9. Mar 25, 2026Rule H. Res. 1131 passed House.
  10. Mar 24, 2026Rules 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.
  11. Mar 20, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 484.
  12. Mar 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-563.
  13. Jan 21, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 22.
  14. Jan 21, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  15. Jan 21, 2026Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Discharged
  16. Jan 16, 2026Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
  17. Jan 15, 2026Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  18. Jan 15, 2026Introduced in House
  1. Apr 2, 2026Received in the Senate.
  2. Mar 27, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Mar 27, 2026On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2783)
  4. Mar 27, 2026Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 164 (Roll no. 105).
  5. Mar 25, 2026Rule H. Res. 1131 passed House.
  6. Mar 24, 2026Rules 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.
  7. Mar 20, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-563.
  8. Jan 21, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 22.
  9. Jan 15, 2026Introduced in House

The original text

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Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 4 months ago

Cite this page

Civic Herald. “Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 (H.R. 7084, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-7084. Congress.gov record as of Jul 13, 2026.

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