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Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4577| House 
| Updated: 7/21/2025
August Pfluger

August Pfluger

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (39)
Barry Moore (Republican)John R. Carter (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Shomari Figures (Democratic)Carlos A. Gimenez (Republican)Mike Collins (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Aaron Bean (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)David Rouzer (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Brian Jack (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Morgan Luttrell (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Tony Wied (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Blake D. Moore (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Gary J. Palmer (Republican)Jim Costa (Democratic)Dale W. Strong (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)John J. McGuire (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Tracey Mann (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Tim Moore (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Ways and Means Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025," seeks to protect the assets of United States persons from nationalization or expropriation by certain foreign governments. It establishes a mechanism to identify and impose restrictions related to specific foreign properties where such actions have occurred. The legislation defines "prohibited property" as any port, harbor, or marine terminal located in a covered foreign trade partner (a Western Hemisphere country with a U.S. free trade agreement) if it is accessible only through land owned by a U.S. person that has been nationalized, expropriated, or had contracts repudiated by the foreign government since January 1, 2024. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretaries of Treasury and State, must identify and designate all such prohibited properties within 60 days of the bill's enactment and publish this list. Once property is designated as prohibited, the President must implement strict prohibitions on vessels that have loaded at or previously used these locations. These prohibitions include preventing such vessels from importing or releasing goods into the United States, docking passenger vessels, releasing passengers, or receiving any servicing or maintenance activities in U.S. ports. Furthermore, the bill amends Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to broaden the definition of "unreasonable or discriminatory" foreign acts, policies, and practices. This expansion now explicitly includes direct or indirect expropriation or nationalization of a United States person's assets, arbitrary or capricious treatment, denial of due process, or discrimination based on nationality concerning those assets. This change allows the U.S. to take retaliatory trade measures against countries engaging in such practices.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8411
Defending American Property Abroad Act
Jul 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2368
Introduced in Senate
Jul 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 21, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8411
    Defending American Property Abroad Act


  • July 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2368
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 21, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 119-2368: Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025

Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4577| House 
| Updated: 7/21/2025
This bill, titled the "Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025," seeks to protect the assets of United States persons from nationalization or expropriation by certain foreign governments. It establishes a mechanism to identify and impose restrictions related to specific foreign properties where such actions have occurred. The legislation defines "prohibited property" as any port, harbor, or marine terminal located in a covered foreign trade partner (a Western Hemisphere country with a U.S. free trade agreement) if it is accessible only through land owned by a U.S. person that has been nationalized, expropriated, or had contracts repudiated by the foreign government since January 1, 2024. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretaries of Treasury and State, must identify and designate all such prohibited properties within 60 days of the bill's enactment and publish this list. Once property is designated as prohibited, the President must implement strict prohibitions on vessels that have loaded at or previously used these locations. These prohibitions include preventing such vessels from importing or releasing goods into the United States, docking passenger vessels, releasing passengers, or receiving any servicing or maintenance activities in U.S. ports. Furthermore, the bill amends Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to broaden the definition of "unreasonable or discriminatory" foreign acts, policies, and practices. This expansion now explicitly includes direct or indirect expropriation or nationalization of a United States person's assets, arbitrary or capricious treatment, denial of due process, or discrimination based on nationality concerning those assets. This change allows the U.S. to take retaliatory trade measures against countries engaging in such practices.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8411
Defending American Property Abroad Act
Jul 21, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2368
Introduced in Senate
Jul 21, 2025
Introduced in House
Jul 21, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8411
    Defending American Property Abroad Act


  • July 21, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2368
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 21, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • July 21, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
August Pfluger

August Pfluger

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (39)
Barry Moore (Republican)John R. Carter (Republican)Tim Burchett (Republican)Shomari Figures (Democratic)Carlos A. Gimenez (Republican)Mike Collins (Republican)Beth Van Duyne (Republican)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Aaron Bean (Republican)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)David Rouzer (Republican)Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Republican)Nathaniel Moran (Republican)Brian Jack (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Rudy Yakym (Republican)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Morgan Luttrell (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Tony Wied (Republican)W. Gregory Steube (Republican)Blake D. Moore (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)John H. Rutherford (Republican)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Gary J. Palmer (Republican)Jim Costa (Democratic)Dale W. Strong (Republican)Addison P. McDowell (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)John J. McGuire (Republican)Ben Cline (Republican)Chuck Edwards (Republican)Tracey Mann (Republican)Robert B. Aderholt (Republican)Tim Moore (Republican)Craig A. Goldman (Republican)

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Ways and Means Committee

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 119-2368: Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted