[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H8863-H8864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PERU AND ILLEGAL LOGGING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I have long championed the concept that 
trade done right requires strong environmental protections as well as 
enforcement of those commitments.
  Many of our most serious environmental challenges, from climate 
change to deforestation to protecting the oceans from being strip-mined 
with industrial fishing practices, can only succeed in the context of 
enforceable international agreements.
  Democrats reached an accord with the Bush administration through the 
May 10 Agreement, which is one tool. The 2008 Lacey Act amendments are 
another. There are now a host of trade-related tools to fight some of 
the most egregious environmental challenges.
  In the Peru Free Trade Agreement, we were able to include an entire 
Forest Annex that requires Peru to sustainably manage its forest 
resources and protect their forests, under penalty of law. The impact 
of those tools, however, is dependent on our willingness to use things 
like the Peru Free Trade Agreement.
  Recent events present a chance to put those tools to work to fight 
against illegal logging in Peru, a country where 60 percent of its land 
is in the Amazon rainforest, and estimates on the rate of illegal 
logging in that area are as high as 80 percent.
  Last week, over 70 shipping containers of what is suspected to be 
illegally harvested timber from Peru was stopped at the Port of 
Houston. This action was taken after we received compelling information 
from OSINFOR, Peru's independent body tasked with oversight of their 
forests and wildlife resources.
  Troublingly, this shipment is linked to a company whose logging 
practices are already suspect, having been one of 10 companies whose 
export documents were found fraudulent during Operation Amazonas 2014, 
an operation carried out in coordination with INTERPOL to investigate 
illegal logging in Peru.
  While it appears as though the timber is under American control, the 
same bad actor is once again conveying illegally harvested timber out 
of Peru's Amazon rainforest and to its borders for export.
  Thanks to the courageous action of a handful of individuals at 
OSINFOR--again, Peru's independent agency tasked with overseeing that 
their timber laws are followed--a shipment of timber likely of illegal 
origin has been stopped at the border in Peru. As a result, 
unfortunately, these brave people are being threatened with bodily 
damage or death.
  Given the savage history of these criminals, no doubt lives are in 
jeopardy. One only has to look last fall at how serious these threats 
were when Edwin Chota, an environmental activist trying to end the 
practice of illegal logging, was murdered by criminals that lead such 
illegal activity. Just 3 days ago, OSINFOR's office was firebombed. 
Thugs are threatening to storm government offices if OSINFOR does not 
ease up and go quietly into the night.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning, I urge my colleagues to insist that the 
administration stand up to these criminals, these murderers, and that 
we will not turn our back on the courageous individuals, but support 
them in their efforts. We have the tools to do exactly that, thanks to 
the Peru Free Trade Agreement, as well as the Lacey Act.
  The shipment held in Houston should be thoroughly investigated and, 
if evidence permits, we should bring to bear the full weight of the 
2008 Lacey Act amendments by pursuing civil fines, forfeiture of timber 
and equipment, and criminal penalties, if supported by the evidence. 
And, frankly, also pushing back on Peru. The shipment held in Peru must 
also be investigated and the bad actors brought to justice. The 
Peruvian Government should immediately make clear they stand behind 
OSINFOR as an independent oversight agency.
  At a time when we will be considering the Trans-Pacific Partnership, 
which has promising protections, it is more important than ever that 
the administration make sure that they are not merely protections on 
paper, but protections backed by action. It is time to step up with 
robust enforcement.

[[Page H8864]]

  If we are serious about combating climate change, we must not only 
hold ourselves accountable for following our carbon-cutting 
commitments, but other countries as well. Peru, for example, has made 
protection of the Amazon rainforest the centerpiece of its proposed 
climate proposal.
  When unsustainable logging practices contribute to 17 percent of 
total global carbon emissions annually, it is clear that progress 
cannot be made on this front and many others if we do not stand up and 
empower people in Peru and elsewhere who want to do the right thing and 
fight the illegal trade in timber. The administration has a perfect 
opportunity to show good faith by acting now.

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