Yellowhammer Times

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have reintroduced the Defending American Property Abroad Act, a legislative effort aimed at penalizing foreign governments in the Western Hemisphere that unlawfully seize American assets. The bill is a response to ongoing actions by the Mexican government against Vulcan Materials Company, an Alabama-based firm operating a deep-water port in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

“For years, the Mexican Government has shown undue aggression toward American businesses, primarily Alabama’s Vulcan Materials,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The continued attempts to exploit Vulcan’s operation in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is a disgrace to our longstanding trade agreement with Mexico. The Trump Administration has hit the ground running to prioritize and empower American companies — I look forward to seeing this bill get across the finish line to ensure American companies are fully protected.”

Senator Hagerty also criticized Mexico’s actions, stating: “I strongly condemn the Mexican government’s threats against Vulcan Materials Company, and I am pleased to see this bipartisan and bicameral rebuke from the United States Senate. Under the leadership of Mexico’s previous president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and now the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government is committing a blatant theft against a major American company and, by extension, the United States itself. No nation should be allowed to bully an American firm without consequences. Our legislation will counter any attempt by the Mexican government to profit from illegal moves to expropriate, nationalize, or otherwise seize U.S. assets.”

The proposed legislation would give authority to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to block vessels from entering U.S. ports if they had previously used infrastructure that was illegally seized from a U.S. entity by another country in the region. It would also allow the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate and respond when foreign governments deny fair treatment or seize assets belonging to U.S. companies.

Additional cosponsors include Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX-11).

Tensions between Vulcan Materials Company and Mexican authorities escalated in May 2022 when then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered operations at Vulcan's facility shut down over alleged contract violations. Since then, there have been lawsuits and reported instances where military or law enforcement officers were sent to Vulcan's site.

Alabama lawmakers have repeatedly advocated for Vulcan during its dispute with Mexico through letters and meetings with officials such as Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, and Ambassador Moctezuma.

Senator Tuberville serves on several Senate committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; and Aging.