June 11, 2026
Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To permit the use of NATO and major non-NATO ally dredge ships in the United States.
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 Allied Partnership and Port Modernization Act
.
Sec. 2. Dredging; dredged material
(a) Dredging
Section 55109 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by inserting or (c)
after subsection (b)
;
(2)
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(3)
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
(c) Dredging by NATO-Affiliated vessels
(1) In general
A vessel described in paragraph (2) may engage in dredging in the navigable waters of the United States.
(2) Vessels
A vessel described in this paragraph is a vessel—
(A)
documented under the laws of a country that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization;
(B)
built by a country that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or a major non-NATO ally (as defined in section 2350a(i) of title 10); and
(C)
for which a majority of the owners and operators of the vessel are entities incorporated in a country that is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(b) Excluding dredged material from transportation requirements
Section 55110 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by striking or dredged material
and inserting (excluding dredged material)
; and
(2)
by striking or dredged material
and inserting (excluding dredged material)
.