Bill

H.R. 2035 (119th): American Cargo for American Ships Act

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.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Official source

Summary

Recorded summary

The bill requires that 100% of equipment, materials, and commodities procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation and shipped by ocean vessels be carried on U.S.-flagged commercial vessels. It applies to DOT for cargo it contracts for itself and to DOT funding recipients for cargo financed with federal funds. The requirement applies only where U.S.-flagged vessels are available at fair and reasonable rates, and it seeks fair participation by geographic area. Current law generally requires a 50% minimum for civilian agency cargo.

cargo_preferencecommerce_supporteconomic_policymaritime_commerce

Theological note: The measure concerns fair dealing in commerce and the stewardship of public funds, which Scripture addresses through honest weights and just wages. Its relevance is mainly prudential: whether preferring domestic shipping serves the common good or raises costs to taxpayers. It does not directly advance or restrain a named moral evil.

Scoring

How this bill is scored

Debt and war Cloture and Tier 1 Procedural votes Scoring mechanics

Roll

Recorded votes

Roll 157 · 9-Jun-2025 6:51 PM · On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass · Passed

Yea 373 · Nay 14 · Other 44

Yea

Nay

Other

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