SHIELD Act
Sponsored By: Representative Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Introduced
Summary
Authorizes targeted U.S. sanctions on foreign people who use forced or child labor in cobalt mining. This bill would let the President block property and bar or revoke U.S. entry documents to impose economic costs on employers who exploit workers and children in cobalt mining abroad.
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- Workers and children in cobalt mining: The bill would focus U.S. pressure on employers that use forced labor or illegal child labor in cobalt mining, aiming to impose economic consequences on those practices.
- Foreign individuals and companies: Designated foreign persons could have property in the United States blocked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and be made inadmissible to the United States, with current visas revoked immediately.
- U.S. persons and businesses: The bill would prohibit transactions with designated parties and expose violators to penalties under IEEPA, creating compliance obligations for U.S. firms and financial institutions.
- Humanitarian and timing rules: It includes exceptions for food, medicine, medical devices, agricultural commodities, humanitarian assistance, and transport for humanitarian operations. The President could waive sanctions with at least 15 days' notice to key congressional committees and the authority would expire seven years after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Sanctions on cobalt forced labor
If enacted, the bill would require the President to sanction any foreign person who uses forced labor or child labor in cobalt mining. The President would be able to block and prohibit transactions and property in the United States under IEEPA. Sanctioned people would be inadmissible to the United States. Their visas and entry documents would be revoked under INA section 221(i). The bill would exempt humanitarian goods, aid transactions, and admissions needed for U.S. compliance with the U.N. Headquarters Agreement. The President could waive sanctions with a 15-day certification to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees. The authority to impose these sanctions would end seven years after enactment. The bill would also define who counts as a "foreign person" and a "United States person" for these rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov