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Bill
Notes

No Timber From Tyrants Act

H.R. 7437 · 117th Congress · Apr 7, 2022 · Lineage

A BILL

To prohibit the importation of wood and related articles from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “No Timber From Tyrants Act”.

Sec. 2 Prohibition on the importation of wood and related articles from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

(a)
In general— The President shall prohibit the importation into the United States of all wood and related articles classifiable under chapter 44 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States that are determined to originate from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus, without regard to whether such articles are shipped through third countries.
(b)
Termination— The President may terminate the prohibition under subsection (a) with respect to either the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus (or both) beginning 90 days after the date on which the President certifies to Congress that the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus (or both, as applicable)—
(1)
has reached an agreement relating to the respective withdrawal of Russian or Belarusian forces (or both, if applicable) and cessation of military hostilities that is accepted by the free and independent Government of Ukraine;
(2)
poses no immediate military threat of aggression to any North Atlantic Treaty Organization member; and
(3)
recognizes the right of the people of Ukraine to independently and freely choose their own government.

Sec. 3 Timber production to replace prohibited imports

(a)
In general— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary concerned—
(1)
shall authorize timber harvest in an amount sufficient to equal the volume, with respect to calendar year 2021, of imports of wood and related articles described in section 2; and
(2)
may only authorize timber harvest under paragraph (1)—
(A)
on public lands or National Forest System lands designated as suitable for timber production; and
(B)
in accordance with the allowable sale quantity of timber applicable to such lands on the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b)
Prohibition— The Secretary concerned shall not approve any forest plan or land management plan revision that reduces the allowable sale quantity of timber under the plan unless the Secretary concerned submits a written explanation to the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate certifying that such revision will not interfere with the obligations of the Secretary concerned under subsection (a).
(c)
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior shall each submit a report to the Committees specified in subsection (b) that includes—
(1)
a list of timber sales initiated and completed by the Secretary concerned to fulfill the obligations established under subsection (a); and
(2)
a list of planned timber sales proposed by the Secretary concerned to fulfill the obligations established under subsection (a).
(d)
Secretary concerned defined— In this section, the term Secretary concerned means—
(1)
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public lands; and
(2)
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to National Forest System lands.