Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. EZELL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1131, I call up the bill (H.R. 7084) to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the types of vessels that may enter or operate in navigable waters of the United States or transfer cargo in any port or place under the jurisdiction of the United States, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

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Mr. EZELL. 7084.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7084, the Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026.

This bill provides the President with the authority to effectively address an unlawful taking of a United States citizen-owned port, harbor, or marine terminal by another government in the Western Hemisphere.

United States companies operate maritime facilities throughout North and South America. Their investments must be protected.

It is essential that the United States President be able to act quickly and decisively in response to another government expropriating or nationalizing a United States citizen-owned port, harbor, or marine terminal.

This bill establishes a new, narrowly constructed authority for a President to impose a consequence on a foreign government that illegally takes a maritime facility.

Sanctions are an accepted tool used in diplomacy and economic statecraft. The authorities that H.R. 7084 establishes are completely complementary to similar authorities that Congress has already granted the President.

Nothing in this bill precludes or preempts any other option for dispute resolution. It simply gives the President another meaningful, targeted tool that can encourage negotiations and resolution.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act builds on sanctions, legislation previously passed over the past six decades, and provides the President with one or more options in a continuum for protecting overseas American investments.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, passage of H.R. 7084 gives the President the authority to effectively address the illegal taking of a United States citizen-owned port, harbor, or marine terminal throughout the Western Hemisphere.

American companies are the source of more investments in the Western Hemisphere nations than investors from any other country.

Infrastructure projects in the Americas, especially port infrastructure projects, represent significant potential business opportunities for American companies.

Protecting overseas U.S. investments is an important policy objective. This bill creates an appropriate cost and consequence for stealing property from an American-owned business.

The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 is consistent with other authorities Congress has given the President to act against the illegal taking of American businesses and investments.

Mr. Speaker, I am a former sheriff from Mississippi. Where I come from, when you take something that doesn't belong to you, that is stealing, and you have broken the law. If you break the law, there are consequences.

This bill ensures there are consequences for foreign countries that steal from our companies. Simply put, this legislation is common sense.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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