Text of Senate Amendment 5958

On 2026-06-23, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5958" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5958

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3102-S3103] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5958. Mr. KAINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1210. IMPROVING THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act''. (b) Definitions.--In this section: (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. (2) Environmental degradation.--The term ``environmental degradation'' means physical damage to land, water, or wildlife resources that results from crimes described in paragraph (1). (3) 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. (4) Relevant federal agencies.--The term ``relevant Federal agencies'' means-- (A) the Department of State; and (B) other Federal departments and agencies the President has designated as having significant domestic or foreign affairs equities in identifying investment opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon and combating criminal elements in the Brazilian Amazon. (c) Identifying Investment Opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon.-- (1) 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-- (A) identifying and implementing more viable economic opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon; and (B) identifying possible investment risks and mitigation measures related to operations and actors that contribute to criminal activity in the Brazilian Amazon. (2) 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-- (A) the opportunities identified pursuant to paragraph (1)(A); and (B) the most significant barriers to greater investment in sustainable and viable economic opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon. (d) Combating Criminal Elements Operating in the Brazilian Amazon.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of State may direct the Assistant Secretary of State [[Page S3103]] for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies and the United States mission in Brazil, to support 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-- (A) information sharing, training, and capacity-building for Brazilian agencies, including through United States Government agencies; (B) collaborating on tracing funds generated from crimes; (C) supporting investigations of crimes that are associated with deforestation, environmental degradation, money laundering, asset laundering, or corruption offenses; (D) assisting with the identification of the proceeds of such crimes to help facilitate asset recovery; and (E) providing appropriate United States assistance to funding mechanisms consistent with the goals of this section. (2) Community assistance.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, should provide financial and technical assistance to help prevent crimes by promoting-- (A) lawful livelihoods in the Brazilian Amazon; (B) the economic, social, and political advancement of local communities, including internationally recognized human rights in Afro-descendent and indigenous communities; (C) economic activities and natural resource management, including mining, agriculture, and forest-based activities; and (D) 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. (3) 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 paragraphs (1) and (2). (e) 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. (f) International Cooperation.--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 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. ______