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Defending American Property Abroad Act of 2026

Floor Speech

Date: March 27, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to this bill.

First of all, this bill and the substance of the bill, this dispute, is undergoing consideration by the international bodies established by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. We really should wait until a decision is arrived at with respect to that mechanism, but there are other considerations.

First, let's consider other far-reaching implications. The bill gives the President the authority to prohibit vessels that travel through certain Western Hemisphere ports, which he designates, from entering U.S. waters. While supporters say that the bill is narrowly written to target a specific project in a specific country, the reality is that the President will be given broad authority that could be applied to other countries in the future.

Let's not forget who we are talking about here. This is the same President who used military force in Venezuela to force regime change, the same President who is now engaging in an illegal war with Iran without even consulting Congress.

Mr. Speaker, do we really want to entrust the President with this new authority granted under this bill?

Equally damaging, the bill ignores the objections of local people fighting for their right to safe drinking water in a surrounding environment free of contamination. That is what is in the dispute resolution matter being addressed now.

I have spoken to local community leaders who have suffered from the environmental damage caused by these mining operations. This bill limits the ability of foreign governments to adopt measures that protect their communities and their environment, essentially coercing those foreign governments to prioritize the interests of U.S. corporations over their people.

We should not be legislating to hinder a foreign government's ability to protect its citizens from environmental harm. We should not be granting the President a new authority that could have broad foreign policy implications.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me and to vote ``no'' on this proposal.

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