S. 2578 — Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act

This section defines "crimes" as any offense related to illegal fishing and wildlife trade, illicit mining, or illegal logging and land-clearing in the Brazilian Amazon, including associated corruption, financial crimes, and violent crimes. It also defines "international financial institutions" as the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the International Monetary Fund, and lists the nine relevant Federal agencies covered by the Act.

This section directs the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation to consider placing a staff member in Brazil to identify sustainable economic opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon and investment risks tied to criminal activity there. It also requires the officer to report to Congress within 180 days on identified opportunities and the main barriers to greater investment in such opportunities.

This section directs the Secretary of State to assist Brazil in disrupting transnational criminal networks contributing to deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon through information sharing, training, fund tracing, investigations, and asset recovery. It directs the USAID Administrator to promote sustainable livelihoods, protect Indigenous rights, and manage protected areas. The section requires annual reports to Congress for five years and authorizes up to $10 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2028.

This section directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies, to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment on drivers of deforestation and environmental degradation in the Brazilian Amazon. The report must address agricultural commodities, illegal timber, minerals, and wildlife entering the U.S. market; the role of the People’s Republic of China in illicit resource extraction; funding levels and efficacy of U.S. foreign assistance programs; and the Government of Brazil’s contributions to countering criminal elements.

This section directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States executive director at each international financial institution to prioritize sustainable and broad-based development in the Brazilian Amazon and to oppose any loans or programs that would facilitate or exacerbate deforestation and environmental degradation there.