Congressman August Pfluger’s legislation to protect American companies operating overseas passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 27, with a vote of 247-164 and support from both parties. The Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 aims to safeguard U.S.-owned assets from unlawful seizure by foreign governments.
The bill was introduced in response to incidents where foreign countries have targeted American businesses, which supporters say threatens job security and economic interests in the United States. According to Pfluger, “Today’s House passage of my Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026 is a necessary step to protect American businesses and workers from unfair treatment overseas.” He said that when countries violate trade agreements and seize assets, it puts national security at risk.
The legislation strengthens maritime security laws so that U.S. companies are not unfairly stripped of their property abroad. A recent example cited by lawmakers involves attempts by the Mexican government to take control of a deep-water port owned by Vulcan Materials Company, an action described as violating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Speaker Mike Johnson said, “Today’s passage of the Defending American Property Abroad Act reaffirms America’s commitment to the rule of law by ensuring U.S.-based entities operating and investing globally are protected from foreign governments undermining basic property rights.” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise added that the act “deters foreign nations from unlawfully seizing American property by imposing retaliatory prohibitions on those that commit this blatant theft.”
Background information shows that in May 2022, then-Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador shut down Vulcan Materials Company operations amid contract disputes and pressure campaigns involving lawsuits and military presence at company facilities. Since then, Pfluger has led several efforts related to this issue including bipartisan letters and earlier versions of similar legislation.
Pfluger has represented Texas’s 11th District since winning election in 2020 according to Ballotpedia. He succeeded Mike Conaway as representative for Texas’ 11th district starting in 2021 according to his official biography. Born in Houston in 1978, he currently lives in San Angelo according to his official biography.