Bill > HR2310

This bill aims to prevent the importation of goods containing cobalt refined in China that may have been extracted or processed using child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The legislation establishes a rebuttable presumption that goods containing Chinese-refined cobalt are produced with forced or child labor, effectively blocking their entry into the United States. The bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prohibit the importation of such goods, with importers having the burden of proving their goods do not contain Chinese-refined cobalt. Additionally, the legislation mandates the creation of an enforcement strategy by the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, which includes developing a comprehensive list of entities involved in cobalt mining, refining, and importation, and creating plans to trace and prevent the entry of these goods. The bill also requires the President to annually certify that federal vehicle purchases are free of parts made with child or forced labor in the DRC or the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with an exception for Department of Defense purchases. The legislation highlights the significant role of China in the DRC's cobalt industry, where an estimated 40,000 children work in artisanal and small-scale mining, and seeks to address these labor and human rights concerns through strict import restrictions and supply chain transparency measures.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2310/all-info