Introduced in House — H.R. 8020

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8020

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.

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 Chinese national.

(b) Coastwise endorsement

Section 12112(a)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in clause (ii) by striking or at the end;

(2)

in clause (iii) by striking and at the end and inserting or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(iv)
transports methane, refrigerated liquid, commonly known as liquefied natural gas; and