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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 6515 (118th)

FOREST Act of 2023

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

30 November 2023

Last action

17 December 2024 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Sponsors

Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Eric Swalwell, Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Barbara Lee, Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Dwight Evans, Sean Casten, Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

Subjects

Rule of law

Source updated

5 December 2025

Rule of law

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 30 November 2023

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 30 November 2023

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 30 November 2023

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 17 December 2024

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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