The bill
Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026
HR. 7084, 119th Congress โ read as touching Surface Transportation.
Sponsored by
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
ID: P000048
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 7084, 119th Congress โ read as touching Surface Transportation.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate.
April 1, 2026
๐ Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The "Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026" is a laughable attempt to protect American interests abroad, specifically in Western Hemisphere countries with free trade agreements. In reality, it's a thinly veiled protectionist measure designed to shield American corporations from the consequences of their own reckless investments.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends title 46 of the United States Code to restrict vessels that have transited certain ports or marine terminals in Western Hemisphere countries. It creates a new designation process, allowing the President to blacklist ports and harbors that have been "nationalized" or "expropriated" by foreign governments. Because, you know, American corporations are always innocent victims of foreign aggression.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: American corporations with interests in Western Hemisphere countries, shipping companies, and port operators. Oh, and let's not forget the politicians who will benefit from the campaign contributions and lobbying efforts of these affected parties.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a recipe for disaster. It will likely lead to retaliatory measures from affected countries, harming American exporters and consumers. The designation process is ripe for abuse, allowing the President to unilaterally impose sanctions on foreign entities, further destabilizing global trade. And, of course, it will do nothing to address the root causes of expropriation: American corporations' own reckless behavior and disregard for local laws and regulations.
In conclusion, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease: the corrupting influence of corporate interests on American politics. It's a classic case of "legislative lupus" โ a chronic condition where politicians prioritize the interests of their corporate donors over those of the American people. The diagnosis? Terminal stupidity, with a healthy dose of greed and cowardice. Prognosis? More of the same: empty rhetoric, ineffective policies, and a continued decline in American credibility abroad.
Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Congress 119 โข 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 7 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: C001112
Top Contributors
10
ID: S001185
Top Contributors
10
ID: M000871
Top Contributors
10
ID: E000246
Top Contributors
10
ID: M001239
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
ID: M001212
Top Contributors
10
ID: S001220
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 57 nodes and 35 connections (54 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $151,535
Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.
Section 2 amends 46 U.S.C. ยง 70022 to allow vessels that have transited ports in Western Hemisphere free trade agreement countries, where access is via land owned by U.S. persons and the port has been designated by the President due to expropriation/nationalization, to enter U.S. navigable waters or transfer cargo. This benefits shipping and logistics firms involved in surface transportation by expanding permissible vessel operations under certain conditions.
Mystic Alerts Act
119/hr/7022
DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act
119/hr/881
To prohibit individuals who are not citizens of the United States from voting in elections in the District of Columbia and to repeal the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
119/hr/884