[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8471 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.
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