American LNG First Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8020 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8020 To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2026 Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Roy, and Mr. Davidson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``American LNG First Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM COASTWISE LAWS FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS. (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