I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4577 
To take measures with respect to certain property that is nationalized or 
expropriated by certain foreign governments, to amend section 301 of 
the Trade Act of 1974 to include expropriation of the assets of United 
States persons in acts, policies, and practices of foreign countries that 
are unreasonable or discriminatory, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 21, 2025 
Mr. PFLUGER (for himself, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. ROUZER, Mr. BEAN of Florida, 
Mr. STRONG, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. COLLINS, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of 
Texas, Mr. CARTER of Texas, Mr. MCDOWELL, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. CAR-
TER of Georgia, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. PALMER, Mr. ADERHOLT, 
Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. MCGUIRE, Mr. MOORE of North Caro-
lina, Mr. GOLDMAN of Texas, Mr. BURCHETT, Mr. LUTTRELL, Ms. SALA-
ZAR, Mr. KEAN, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. CLINE, Ms. VAN DUYNE, Mr. 
FIGURES, and Mr. STEUBE) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To take measures with respect to certain property that is 
nationalized or expropriated by certain foreign govern-
ments, to amend section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 
to include expropriation of the assets of United States 
persons in acts, policies, and practices of foreign coun-
tries that are unreasonable or discriminatory, and for 
other purposes. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6652
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defending American 
Property Abroad Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. IDENTIFICATION AND PROHIBITIONS WITH RE-
SPECT TO PROPERTY NATIONALIZED OR EX-
PROPRIATED BY CERTAIN FOREIGN GOVERN-
MENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, 
and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security, 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and the Permanent 
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House 
of Representatives. 
(2) COVERED FOREIGN TRADE PARTNER.—The 
term ‘‘covered foreign trade partner’’ means a coun-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
try in the Western Hemisphere that has in effect a 
free trade agreement with the United States. 
(3) PASSENGER VESSEL.—The term ‘‘passenger 
vessel’’ means a vessel that— 
(A) is authorized to carry 149 or more 
passengers; 
(B) has onboard sleeping facilities for each 
passenger; 
(C) is on a voyage that embarks or dis-
embarks passengers; and 
(D) is not engaged in a coastwise voyage 
subject to chapter 105 of title 46, United 
States Code. 
(4) PROHIBITED PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘pro-
hibited property’’ means any port, harbor, or marine 
terminal, including any relevant port infrastruc-
ture— 
(A) that is located within the territory of 
a covered foreign trade partner; 
(B) that is accessible only through land 
that is owned, held, or controlled, directly or in-
directly, by a United States person; and 
(C) if an agency or official of the govern-
ment of the covered foreign trade partner has, 
on or after January 1, 2024— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) nationalized, forcibly limited, or ex-
propriated the land described in subpara-
graph (B); 
(ii) repudiated or nullified any con-
tract, permit, concession, easement, or 
similar authorization with a United States 
person related to that land; or 
(iii) taken any other action that has 
the effect of seizing ownership or control of 
that land. 
(5) RELEVANT PORT INFRASTRUCTURE.—The 
term ‘‘relevant port infrastructure’’ means the fol-
lowing infrastructure at a port or harbor: 
(A) Conveyors and other equipment used 
to load or unload freight or passenger vessels. 
(B) Roads and pathways used to load or 
unload freight or passenger vessels. 
(C) Docks and piers used to load or unload 
freight or passenger vessels. 
(D) Moorings, dolphins, or other structures 
used for anchoring freight or passenger vessels. 
(E) Silos, domes, or other structures used 
for the storage of any good, ware, article, mer-
chandise, or other freight. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(F) Offices, facilities, and other buildings 
used for the administration and security of the 
port or harbor. 
(6) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ includes the 50 States, the District of Co-
lumbia, and any territory or possession of the 
United States. 
(7) 
UNITED
STATES
PERSON.—The 
term 
‘‘United States person’’ means— 
(A) a United States citizen or an alien law-
fully admitted for permanent residence to the 
United States; or 
(B) an entity not less than 50 percent of 
the ownership interest in which is owned by 
United States citizens. 
(b) DESIGNATION OF PROHIBITED PROPERTY.—Not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with and with the concurrence of the Secretary of the 
Treasury and the Secretary of State, shall— 
(1) identify and designate all prohibited prop-
erty; 
(2) provide a list of all prohibited property des-
ignated under paragraph (1) to— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(A) the agencies and officials within the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Depart-
ment of the Treasury, and the Department of 
State responsible for the implementation of sub-
section (c); and 
(B) the appropriate congressional commit-
tees; and 
(3) publish the list required under paragraph 
(2) in the Federal Register. 
(c) PROHIBITIONS ON USE OF PROHIBITED PROP-
ERTY.—The President shall prohibit any vessel loaded or 
previously held at a port, harbor, or marine terminal that 
is designated as prohibited property under subsection 
(b)(1) from— 
(1) importing into the United States any good; 
(2) releasing into the United States any good; 
(3) docking any passenger vessel in the United 
States; 
(4) releasing into the United States any pas-
senger from a passenger vessel; or 
(5) dry docking, completing repair work, refur-
bishing, victualing, refueling, or conducting any 
other servicing or maintenance-related activities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF ACTS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES 
THAT ARE UNREASONABLE OR DISCRIMINA-
TORY UNDER TITLE III OF THE TRADE ACT 
OF 1974. 
Section 301(d)(3)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2411(d)(3)(B)) is amended— 
(1) in clause (iii)(V), by striking ‘‘, or’’ and in-
serting a comma; 
(2) by moving clause (iv) 2 ems to the left; 
(3) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘, or’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) constitutes, with respect to the 
assets of a United States person— 
‘‘(I) direct or indirect expropria-
tion or nationalization, 
‘‘(II) 
arbitrary 
or 
capricious 
treatment, 
‘‘(III) denial of due process, or 
‘‘(IV) discrimination on the basis 
of nationality.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:26 Jul 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4577.IH
H4577
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS