Legis Daily

FOREST Act of 2023

USA118th CongressHR-6515| House 
| Updated: 12/17/2024
Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (30)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)
Committees (6)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Trade Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Judiciary Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Fostering Overseas Rule of law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2023 or the FOREST Act of 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. 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-5334
FOREST Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-5508
FOREST Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1898
FOREST Act
Nov 30, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-3371
Introduced in Senate
Nov 30, 2023
Introduced in House
Nov 30, 2023
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.
Dec 17, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5334
    FOREST Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-5508
    FOREST Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1898
    FOREST Act


  • November 30, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-3371
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 30, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • November 30, 2023
    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.


  • December 17, 2024
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 118-3371: FOREST Act of 2023

FOREST Act of 2023

USA118th CongressHR-6515| House 
| Updated: 12/17/2024
Fostering Overseas Rule of law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2023 or the FOREST Act of 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. 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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-5334
FOREST Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-5508
FOREST Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-1898
FOREST Act
Nov 30, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 118-3371
Introduced in Senate
Nov 30, 2023
Introduced in House
Nov 30, 2023
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.
Dec 17, 2024
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5334
    FOREST Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-5508
    FOREST Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-1898
    FOREST Act


  • November 30, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 118-3371
    Introduced in Senate


  • November 30, 2023
    Introduced in House


  • November 30, 2023
    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.


  • December 17, 2024
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (30)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Jill N. Tokuda (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)
Committees (6)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Trade Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Judiciary Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 118-3371: FOREST Act of 2023
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted