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119-hr-9783119th CongressWALLET

CANADA FIRE Act

Sponsored By: Representative James, John [R-MI-10]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would let the United States impose targeted economic and diplomatic penalties if Canadian-sourced wildfire smoke causes serious air-quality harms. It creates a two-step finding process and a sanctions regime aimed at getting Canada to adopt verifiable wildfire prevention and response measures.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

How the U.S. would find smoke events

If enacted, the bill would require the President, with agency input, to decide within 30 days whether major wildfire smoke from Canada happened in the past 12 months. The bill would define a "material transboundary smoke event" by clear criteria, like air-quality standard exceedances, an Air Quality Index of "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups," or public-health advisories. If the President does not decide in 30 days, the finding would count as affirmative. The President would review the finding at least every 180 days.

Mandatory and extra economic sanctions

If enacted, the bill would require the President to impose mandatory sanctions after an affirmative finding. Mandatory steps include banning U.S. government procurement from the Government of Canada, blocking Export-Import Bank support for exports to Canada, and directing U.S. IFI representatives to oppose loans or policies that benefit Canada. The President must also pick at least three extra measures from a menu (banking limits, bans on new Canadian debt or equity, import or investment prohibitions, and asset blocking). Sanctions would apply even to existing contracts, but a wind-down period up to 60 days could be allowed.

Lists, asset blocks, and visa bans

If enacted, the President would publish a public list of foreign people and entities responsible for qualifying smoke events within 60 days of an affirmative finding. The list could include leaders, officials, companies, family members, and those who hid information or blocked help. U.S. persons would be barred from dealing in property or transactions of listed people and facing blocking penalties, except for limited humanitarian or diplomatic exceptions. The bill would also make listed people ineligible for U.S. visas and cancel any existing visas, subject to narrow waivers.

When sanctions can be ended or reimposed

If enacted, the President could end sanctions by certifying to Congress four conditions: no material transboundary smoke from Canada in the prior 90 days; Canada has adopted and begun funding a credible wildfire prevention and response plan that shares timely data; Canada has cooperated and taken reasonable remedial steps; and termination is in the U.S. national interest. If another qualifying event happens and Canada again fails to act, the President must reimpose sanctions.

Humanitarian and implementation protections

If enacted, the bill would preserve exceptions so sanctions do not block humanitarian goods and wildfire help. Food, medicine, medical devices, wildfire response, environmental cleanup, public-health tools, disaster relief, and emergency telecom would be exempt. The President could also waive sanctions when four national-security and humanitarian tests are met, with notice to Congress. The President would be allowed to use IEEPA powers and must issue implementing regulations within 90 days of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

James, John [R-MI-10]

MI • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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