Politiparty
Politiparty

118th Congress Foreign Trade and International Finance

S. 3371: FOREST Act of 2023

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Nov 30, 2023
  2. Passed Senate (not reached)
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in Senate, Nov 30, 2023

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

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

1

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

6 points earned
  1. 1Brian Schatz D-HI SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced2 events+6
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Brian Schatz

History

  1. Nov 30, 2023Introduced in the Senate by Brian Schatz.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Nov 30, 2023Introduced in Senate
  2. Nov 30, 2023Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.