[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5157 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5157

 To prohibit the designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act 
                                of 1974.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 27, 2012

  Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California (for herself, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of 
   California, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, and Mrs. Davis of 
 California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To prohibit the designation of Vietnam under title V of the Trade Act 
                                of 1974.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering Rights through Economic 
Engagement in Vietnam Act'' or ``FREE Vietnam Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DESIGNATION OF VIETNAM UNDER TITLE V OF THE 
              TRADE ACT OF 1974.

    (a) In General.--Section 502(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2462(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Vietnam.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In addition to the countries 
                listed in paragraph (1), Vietnam may not be designated 
                as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of 
                this title unless the President submits to Congress a 
                certification described in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Certification.--A certification referred to 
                in subparagraph (A) is a certification that contains a 
                determination of the President that--
                            ``(i) Vietnam is not on the special watch 
                        list under section 110(b)(3)(A) of the 
                        Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
                        U.S.C. 7107(b)(3)(A));
                            ``(ii) the Government of Vietnam does not 
                        engage in pervasive violations of 
                        internationally-recognized human rights, 
                        including freedom of speech and freedom of 
                        religion; and
                            ``(iii) Vietnam otherwise meets the 
                        requirements of this title.
                    ``(C) Waiver.--The President may waive the 
                application of subparagraph (A) if the President 
                determines and certifies to Congress that it is in the 
                national interest of the United States to do so.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section applies to 
goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
the 15th day after the date of enactment of this Act.
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