American Cargo for American Ships Act

This measure says that when the Department of Transportation (DOT) buys, provides, or funds equipment, materials, or other goods that travel by ocean, all of that cargo must go on U.S.-flagged commercial ships—if those ships are available at fair and reasonable rates and with fair participation across regions . Today, many federally backed shipments only have to use U.S.-flag ships for part of the cargo (often 50% for civilian and agricultural loads). This bill raises that to 100% for DOT-funded or DOT-procured ocean cargo.

Key points:

• Who is affected: DOT and anyone receiving DOT funds for goods shipped by ocean; U.S.-flag ship operators and supporting U.S. maritime jobs.
• What changes: Moves from partial use to 100% use of U.S.-flag commercial vessels for DOT-related ocean shipments, as long as ships are available at fair and reasonable rates and with fair geographic participation; applies across ship types like dry bulk, dry cargo liners, and tankers .
• Practical impact: More DOT-backed cargo would sail on U.S. ships, with safeguards that rates must be fair and ships must be available.