HR 8021 — American Petroleum First Act

Summary

The American Petroleum First Act exempts vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products from certain coastwise endorsement requirements under federal maritime law. This allows such vessels to obtain a certificate of documentation for domestic shipping of oil without standard restrictions. However, the exemption does not apply to vessels owned by or flagged to Russia or China, or to vessels with Russian or Chinese crew members. The bill modifies maritime regulations to facilitate domestic petroleum transportation.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10] (R-PA)

4 cosponsors

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Scott Perry’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

BRODIE GENERATIONAL CAPITAL PARTNERS $13,200
SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $13,200
COMMONWEALTH OF PA $8,350
NULL $7,326
FOUR SEASONS PRODUCE $7,300

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Scott Perry → · Outside spending →

Actions (3)

Mar 20, 2026 Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. · house
Mar 19, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
Mar 19, 2026 Introduced in House

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

Full text

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 19, 2026

Mr. Perry (for himself, Mr. Roy, and Mr. Davidson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To exempt certain vessels transporting crude oil and petroleum products from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “American Petroleum First Act”.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM COASTWISE LAWS FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING CRUDE OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

(a) General Eligibility Requirements.—Section 12103 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(d) Exception for Vessels Transporting Crude Oil and Petroleum Products.—

“(1) In general.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), a certificate of documentation may be issued under this chapter for any vessel transporting crude oil and petroleum products.

“(2) Certain vessels excluded.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

“(A) a vessel that is owned, in whole or in part, by—

“(i) a Russian national; or

“(ii) the Government of the Russian Federation; and

“(B) a Russian-flagged vessel;

“(C) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Russian national;

“(D) a vessel that is owned, in whole or in part, by—

“(i) a Chinese national; or

“(ii) the People’s Republic of China;

“(E) a Chinese-flagged vessel; or

“(F) a vessel for which any crewmember is a Chinese national.”.

(b) Coastwise Endorsement.—Section 12112(a)(2)(B) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in clause (ii) by striking “or” at the end;

(2) in clause (iii) by striking “and” at the end and inserting “or”; and

HR 8021

Introduced