Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act
Sponsored By: Senator Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Target illegal criminal networks and steer U.S. investment toward sustainable opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon. This bill would push U.S. agencies to help Brazil disrupt transnational crime tied to illegal logging, mining, wildlife trade, and corruption while supporting lawful, forest-friendly economic activity.
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- The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation would consider placing a staff member in Brazil to identify sustainable investment opportunities, spot risks tied to criminal actors, and report to Congress within 180 days on opportunities and barriers.
- The State Department and USAID would provide training, information sharing, financial and technical assistance to help Brazilian agencies trace criminal funds, support investigations and asset recovery, and promote sustainable livelihoods and protection of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
- The Treasury would direct U.S. executive directors at the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the International Monetary Fund to prioritize sustainable Amazon development and oppose loans that could worsen deforestation. The State Department would also deliver a report within 180 days and annually for five years on drivers of deforestation, including commodities entering U.S. markets and China’s role.
*This bill would authorize up to $10 million per year for fiscal years 2025 through 2028 to the State Department to support Brazilian authorities, totaling up to $40 million in potential spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Help Brazil break up criminal networks
If enacted, the State Department would direct its law enforcement office to help Brazil find and break up criminal networks that drive Amazon deforestation. That help could include sharing information, training, tracing criminal funds, and supporting investigations. The bill would also authorize up to $10 million a year for the State Department for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2028 to fund these efforts.
Steer finance toward sustainable projects
If enacted, the Treasury Secretary would tell U.S. officials at the World Bank, Inter‑American Development Bank, and IMF to use U.S. votes and influence to oppose loans that would worsen deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. The bill would also ask the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to consider placing a staff member in Brazil and to report to Congress within 180 days on sustainable investment opportunities and barriers.
New Amazon reports and definitions
If enacted, the State Department would report to Congress within 180 days on goods and activities that drive Amazon deforestation. The report must name agricultural commodities, illegal timber, minerals, wildlife, assess China’s role, U.S. assistance funding, and Brazil’s efforts. The bill would also require an initial progress report and annual reports for five years and would define the covered crimes, which IFIs are named, and the federal agencies that are "relevant" for the work.
USAID help for Amazon livelihoods
If enacted, USAID would be authorized to give financial and technical help to people and communities in the Brazilian Amazon. The help would support lawful jobs, protect Indigenous Peoples and local rights, back sustainable farming, lawful mining where allowed, forest activities, and help manage protected areas and water resources.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov