The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 allows the U.S. President to block ships from entering the United States if they have visited ports or terminals that were seized by countries in the Western Hemisphere that have free trade agreements with the U.S. The block can be lifted if the country returns the property to its U.S. owner, compensates them, or resolves the issue satisfactorily. Exceptions can be made for emergencies or if a U.S. property owner permits the ship to enter.
Supporters in the media have praised the bill as a strong measure to protect American property rights abroad, emphasizing its potential to deter countries from unlawfully seizing U.S.-owned assets. They argue that it reinforces the importance of respecting international trade agreements and provides a clear mechanism for resolving disputes involving expropriated property.
Critics in the media have expressed concerns that the bill could strain diplomatic relations with countries in the Western Hemisphere and potentially lead to trade disruptions. They also worry about the broad discretion given to the President, which could result in inconsistent application of the law and impact global shipping operations negatively.
The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026, sponsored by August Pfluger, shows a low risk of potential conflicts of interest. The top donor industries for Pfluger are Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government, none of which directly overlap with the bill's subject matter. This lack of overlap minimizes the risk of conflicts of interest. However, it's worth noting that there has been significant lobbying activity in this bill's policy area, with the highest contribution coming from Morgan Stanley & Co LLC at $1,230,000. While this is a significant amount, it's important to note that Morgan Stanley & Co LLC is not a direct donor to Pfluger, which reduces the potential for a conflict of interest.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO LLC | MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | $1,230,000 |
| ZIMMER BIOMET, INC. | ZIMMER BIOMET, INC. | $185,000 |
| SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS US LLC | SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS US LLC | $117,000 |
| D-WAVE GOVERNMENT INC. | D-WAVE GOVERNMENT INC. | $90,000 |
| TRIUMPH FINANCIAL, INC. | K&L GATES, LLP | $60,000 |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | K&L GATES, LLP | $50,000 |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRAILER MANUFACTURERS | K&L GATES, LLP | $40,000 |
| CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | BECKER & POLIAKOFF, P.A. | $30,000 |
| THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST | K&L GATES, LLP | $20,000 |
| MT. HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CFM STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS (CONKLING FISKUM & MCCORMICK) | $15,000 |
| CITY OF WEST PARK, FLORIDA | BECKER & POLIAKOFF, P.A. | $10,000 |
| CITY OF TAMARAC, FL | BECKER & POLIAKOFF, P.A. | $10,000 |
| FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION | K&L GATES, LLP | undisclosed |
| COASPIRE, LLC | COASPIRE, LLC | undisclosed |
| POINTSTATE CAPITAL, LP | DCI GROUP, L.L.C. | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding August Pfluger, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
Source: GovTrack.us roll call vote data.
