Legis Daily

FOREST Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-5508| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (31)
John Garamendi (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)
Committees (7)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• 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 2021 or the FOREST Act of 2021 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 from illegally deforested land. The bill outlines requirements for import declarations of covered commodities. 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, rubber, and wood pulp; 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 caused by 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 from 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
Oct 6, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-2950
Introduced in Senate
Oct 8, 2021
Introduced in House
Oct 8, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Oct 8, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, 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.
Nov 4, 2021
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6186-6187)
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5334
    FOREST Act


  • October 6, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-2950
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 8, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • October 8, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.


  • October 8, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, 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.


  • November 4, 2021
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6186-6187)


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 117-2950: FOREST Act of 2021

FOREST Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-5508| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Fostering Overseas Rule of law and Environmentally Sound Trade Act of 2021 or the FOREST Act of 2021 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 from illegally deforested land. The bill outlines requirements for import declarations of covered commodities. 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, rubber, and wood pulp; 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 caused by 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 from 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
Oct 6, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 117-2950
Introduced in Senate
Oct 8, 2021
Introduced in House
Oct 8, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Oct 8, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, 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.
Nov 4, 2021
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6186-6187)
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-5334
    FOREST Act


  • October 6, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 117-2950
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 8, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • October 8, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.


  • October 8, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, 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.


  • November 4, 2021
    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H6186-6187)


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
Earl Blumenauer

Earl Blumenauer

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (31)
John Garamendi (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Shontel M. Brown (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Christopher H. Smith (Republican)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Lloyd Doggett (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)
Committees (7)
• Ways and Means Committee• Foreign Affairs Committee• Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee• Trade Subcommittee• Financial Services Committee• Judiciary Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Related Bills

  • S 117-2950: FOREST Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted