[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8471 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8471
To support United States investment opportunities, strengthen bilateral
collaboration in addressing criminal elements operating in the
Brazilian Amazon, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2024
Mr. Connolly (for himself, Ms. Salazar, and Ms. Kamlager-Dove)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial
Services, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To support United States investment opportunities, strengthen bilateral
collaboration in addressing criminal elements operating in the
Brazilian Amazon, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Crimes.--The term ``crimes'' means--
(A) any crime related or contributing to the
illegal fishing and wildlife trade, illicit mining, or
illegal logging and land-clearing in the Brazilian
Amazon; and
(B) associated corruption, financial crimes, and
violent crimes (as such terms are defined by the laws
of Brazil).
(2) International financial institutions.--The term
``international financial institutions'' means--
(A) the World Bank Group;
(B) the Inter-American Development Bank Group; and
(C) the International Monetary Fund.
(3) Relevant federal agencies.--The term ``relevant Federal
agencies'' means--
(A) the Department of State;
(B) the United States Agency for International
Development;
(C) the Department of Justice;
(D) the Department of the Treasury;
(E) the Department of Homeland Security;
(F) the Department of Agriculture;
(G) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(H) the Department of the Interior; and
(I) any other Federal agency that the President
determines is a relevant Federal agency for purposes of
this Act.
SEC. 2. IDENTIFYING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON.
(a) Business Development.--The Chief Executive Officer of the
United States International Development Finance Corporation should
consider placing a staff member in Brazil with duties that include--
(1) identifying and implementing more sustainable and
viable economic opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon; and
(2) identifying possible investment risks and mitigation
measures related to operations and actors that contribute to
criminal activity in the Brazilian Amazon.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States
International Development Finance Corporation shall submit a report to
Congress that describes--
(1) the opportunities identified pursuant to subsection
(a)(1); and
(2) the most significant barriers to greater investment in
sustainable and viable economic opportunities in the Brazilian
Amazon.
SEC. 3. COMBATING CRIMINAL ELEMENTS OPERATING IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State should direct the Assistant
Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies and the United
States mission in Brazil, to prioritize supporting Brazil's efforts to
identify and disrupt the complex and transnational criminal networks
contributing to the destruction of communities and deforestation in the
Brazilian Amazon by providing capacity building and technical
assistance, including--
(1) information sharing, training, and capacity-building
for Brazilian agencies, including through United States
Government agencies;
(2) collaborating on tracing funds generated from crimes;
(3) supporting investigations of crimes that are associated
with deforestation, environmental degradation, money
laundering, asset laundering, or corruption offenses;
(4) assisting with the identification of the proceeds of
such crimes to help facilitate asset recovery; and
(5) providing appropriate United States assistance to
funding mechanisms consistent with the goals of this Act.
(b) Community Assistance.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, in consultation with relevant
Federal agencies, should provide financial and technical assistance to
help prevent crimes by supporting--
(1) sustainable, lawful livelihoods in the Brazilian
Amazon;
(2) the protection of rights and authorities for Indigenous
Peoples and local communities;
(3) economic activities and natural resource management,
including mining, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable
forest-based activities; and
(4) the management of protected areas, including indigenous
territories, buffer zones, water resources, terrestrial and
aquatic habitats of species deemed to be threatened by
extinction, and other spaces vulnerable to conversion and
deforestation.
(c) Annual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the following 5
years, the Secretary of State, in coordination with relevant Federal
agencies and nongovernmental organizations, shall submit a report to
Congress that describes the progress made in carrying out subsections
(a) and (b).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of State up to $10,000,000 for each of
the fiscal years 2025 through 2028, which should be used to help
Brazilian authorities combat crimes in accordance with subsections (a)
and (b).
SEC. 4. REPORT ON CERTAIN DRIVERS OF DEFORESTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with relevant Federal
agencies, shall submit a report to Congress regarding certain drivers
of deforestation and environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon
that includes--
(1) a description of the agricultural commodities, illegal
timber, minerals, and wildlife entering the United States
market that are contributing to deforestation and environmental
degradation of the Brazilian Amazon;
(2) a description of the role of the People's Republic of
China's in facilitating illicit resource extraction and
environmental degradation, including deforestation, in the
Brazilian Amazon;
(3) the funding levels and efficacy of United States
foreign assistance programs in identifying and disrupting the
criminal elements operating in the Brazilian Amazon; and
(4) an assessment of the Government of Brazil's
contributions to countering criminal elements operating in the
Brazilian Amazon.
SEC. 5. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including any Executive
order), the Secretary of the Treasury should direct the United States
executive director to each international financial institution, in
consultation with relevant Federal agencies, to use the voice, vote,
and influence of the United States--
(1) to prioritize promoting sustainable and broad-based
development in the Brazilian Amazon; and
(2) to oppose any loans or programs at any such institution
that would facilitate or exacerbate deforestation and
environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon.
<all>