American LNG First Act of 2022
This bill exempts certain vessels transporting methane or refrigerated liquid (commonly known as liquefied natural gas or LNG) from vessel documentation requirements as well as coastwise endorsement requirements.
Specifically, the bill authorizes a vessel certificate of documentation (i.e., registration) to be issued for a vessel transporting methane or LNG, unless the vessel is (1) owned by a Russian national or Russia, (2) a Russian-flagged vessel, or (3) a vessel with any Russian crew member.
The bill also authorizes a coastwise endorsement to be issued for a vessel that is transporting methane or LNG. Such an endorsement allows a vessel to engage in certain trade.
To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas 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 LNG First Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION FROM COASTWISE LAWS FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING 
              LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS.

    (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 Liquefied Natural Gas.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), a 
        certificate of documentation may be issued under this chapter 
        for any vessel transporting methane, refrigerated liquid, 
        commonly known as liquefied natural gas.
            ``(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;
                    ``(B) a Russian-flagged vessel; or
                    ``(C) a vessel for which any crewmember is a 
                Russian 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
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(iv) transports methane, refrigerated liquid, 
                commonly known as liquefied natural gas; and''.
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American LNG First Act of 2022
To exempt certain vessels transporting liquefied natural gas from certain coastwise endorsement requirements, and for other purposes.
American LNG First Act of 2022
Rep. Perry, Scott