118th Congress Foreign Trade and International Finance
H.R. 6515: FOREST Act of 2023
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed House (not reached)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill restricts certain commodities produced on illegally deforested land from accessing the U.S. market.
Specifically, the bill prohibits the importation of any product made wholly or in part of a covered commodity produced on illegally deforested land. The bill outlines requirements for import declarations of covered commodities.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) must, within 30 days, publish (1) an initial list of covered commodities that consists of palm oil, soybeans, cocoa, cattle, and rubber; and (2) an initial list of covered products that are defined by the bill in accordance with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. These lists must be updated at least on an annual basis.
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Further, the USTR must identify foreign countries without adequate and effective protection against illegal deforestation for the production of commodities that are likely to enter the United States. The USTR must develop an action plan that includes benchmarks for each identified country.
Additionally, the bill creates an interagency working group to provide advice and recommendations to the USTR, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other relevant agencies.
The bill provides funding to assist foreign governments in combating illegal deforestation.
The bill also includes illegal deforestation as a specified unlawful activity under a federal financial crime statute.
The bill establishes a federal procurement preference for commodities that are not produced on land subject to deforestation.
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
- Brian Fitzpatrick R-PAOriginal
- Emanuel Cleaver D-MO
- Steve Cohen D-TN
- Eleanor Norton D-DC
- Nanette Barragán D-CA
- Jill Tokuda D-HI
- Jared Huffman D-CA
- Delia Ramirez D-IL
- Mary Scanlon D-PA
- Jahana Hayes D-CT
- Betty McCollum D-MN
- Bonnie Watson Coleman D-NJ
- Lloyd Doggett D-TX
- Mark DeSaulnier D-CA
- Ted Lieu D-CA
- Chellie Pingree D-ME
- Janice Schakowsky D-IL
- Eric Swalwell D-CA
- Dina Titus D-NV
- Zoe Lofgren D-CA
- Donald Beyer D-VA
- Andrea Salinas D-OR
- Doris Matsui D-CA
- Rashida Tlaib D-MI
- Barbara Lee D-CA
- Pramila Jayapal D-WA
- Paul Tonko D-NY
- Dwight Evans D-PA
- Sean Casten D-IL
- Kevin Mullin D-CA
Who scored on this bill
- 1Earl Blumenauer SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reached a cosponsor milestone3 events+12
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
History
- Introduced in the House by Earl Blumenauer.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
- Introduced in House
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Accountability, 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.