118th Congress Foreign Trade and International Finance
H.R. 4443: Countering China’s Exploitation of Strategic Metals and Minerals and Child and Forced Labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Act
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill prohibits the importation of goods containing metals or minerals (particularly cobalt, lithium, and their derivatives) that are mined, produced, smelted, or processed by child labor or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It also requires certain federal actions to address this issue.
The prohibition does not apply if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (1) determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the goods were not made with child labor or forced labor; and (2) submits to Congress a report containing such a determination (and makes this report publicly available).
The bill requires the President to annually report to Congress on each foreign person determined to have (1) knowingly engaged in child labor or forced labor in DRC's mining industry, and (2) knowingly engaged in efforts to contravene U.S. law regarding the importation of covered DRC goods. The President must impose property- and visa-blocking sanctions against each identified foreign person.
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The bill requires
- the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to submit to Congress a report containing an enforcement strategy for effectively addressing child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry,
- the Department of State to submit to Congress a strategy for addressing child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry, and
- the U.S. Agency for International Development to increase efforts to prevent child labor and forced labor in DRC's mining industry.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Mark Green R-TN
- Andy Harris R-MD
- Ralph Norman R-SC
- Pete Sessions R-TX
- Joe Wilson R-SC
- Garland Barr R-KY
- Tim Burchett R-TN
- Mike Kelly R-PA
- Brian Mast R-FL
- Daniel Meuser R-PA
- Zachary (Zach) Nunn R-IA
- Maria Salazar R-FL
- Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ
- Tim Walberg R-MI
- Brad Wenstrup R-OH
- Ryan Zinke R-MT
- Thomas Tiffany R-WI
- Derrick Van Orden R-WI
Who scored on this bill
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Other bills by Christopher Smith
- H.R. 1744: United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026
- H.R. 10346: Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act
- H.R. 4348: To reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 5160: Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2025
- H.R. 5250: To provide for the foreign assistance authority of the Department of State, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 2170: To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, VA Clinic, and for other purposes.
History
- Introduced in the House by Christopher Smith.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.