The American LNG First Act of 2023 exempts certain vessels that transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) from federal coastwise endorsement requirements, which are rules typically restricting cargo transport between U.S. ports to American-owned and crewed vessels. The bill allows foreign vessels to carry LNG between domestic ports, potentially lowering transportation costs and increasing domestic LNG availability. However, the exemption explicitly excludes vessels owned by or flagged to Russia or China, as well as vessels with Russian or Chinese crew members, reflecting national security and geopolitical concerns. The legislation applies immediately upon enactment with no specific funding requirements or sunset date specified. This change primarily affects LNG shipping companies, energy producers, and consumers who rely on liquefied natural gas supply chains.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.