Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · 2025-06-10
American Cargo for American Ships Act This bill requires 100% of equipment, materials, and commodities procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and transported on ocean vessels to be transported on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels. (Current cargo preference laws require that a minimum percentage of federally financed ocean cargo be transported on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels. For civilian agencies and agricultural cargo, the minimum is generally 50%.) Specifically, the bill imposes the requirement on DOT (for cargo it contracts for or procures for itself) and recipients of DOT funding (for cargo DOT has financed with federal funds or advanced funds for the recipient to obtain). As under current cargo preference laws, the requirement applies to the extent those vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates for U.S.-flagged commercial vessels, in a manner that will ensure fair and reasonable participation of U.S.-flagged commercial vessels by geographic area.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2025-06-10
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-06-09
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-06-09
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 373 - 14 (Roll no. 157). (text: CR H2546-2547)
2025-06-09
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 373 - 14 (Roll no. 157). (text: CR H2546-2547)
2025-06-09
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2557-2558)
2025-06-09
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2025-06-09
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2035.
2025-06-09
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2546-2547)
2025-06-09
Mr. Ezell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
2025-06-06
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 116.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 2035 EH: American Cargo for American Ships Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2035 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 46, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to ensure that all cargoes procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation are transported on privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the American Cargo for American Ships Act . 2. Cargoes procured, furnished, or financed by United States Government Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a) by striking When the United States Government and inserting Except as provided in subsection (c), when the United States Government ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (f) as subsections (d) through (g), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Exception When the Department of Transportation procures, contracts for, or otherwise obtains for its own account, or provides financing in any way with Federal funds or advances funds or credits, for the furnishing or obtaining of the equipment, materials, or commodities, the Secretary of Transportation or recipient of such financing shall take steps necessary and practicable to ensure that 100 percent of the gross tonnage of the equipment, materials, or commodities (computed separately for dry bulk carriers, dry cargo liners, and tankers) which may be transported on ocean vessels is transported on privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States, as provided under subsection (b), to the extent those vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the United States, in a manner that will ensure a fair and reasonable participation of commercial vessels of the United States in those cargoes by geographic areas. . Passed the House of Representatives June 9, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
Loading intelligence layer…