Video Release: Doggett Introduces “Trade Responsibly for Environmental Emissions Act”

Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), an active member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee and of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), released a video introducing the "Trade Responsibly for Environmental Emissions Act," or "TREE Act." By prohibiting the import of commodities and products derived from lands affected by deforestation or forest degradation, this bill is designed to position the United States as a leader together with the European Union in the struggle to protect one of our greatest tools to reduce greenhouse emissions: our forests.

In this new video, Rep. Doggett discusses the importance of the TREE Act with Jennifer Skene, the Global Forest Policy Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

WATCH VIDEO HERE.

Each year, over 25 million acres around the world are being deforested, accounting for up to 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To incentivize forest protection, a new law, the European Union Deforestation Regulation, requires companies marketing products in the EU to certify that certain commodities-palm oil, rubber, soy, cocoa, cattle, and wood- and products derived from them have not been sourced from areas of deforestation and forest degradation. The TREE Act would establish a similar requirement for U.S. companies importing and selling these commodities and derived products, ensure consistent trade standards and ensure that American companies lead the way in the effort to protect the world's invaluable forests. Many American companies already responsibly doing just that.

"Our world's incredible forests, which serve as the lungs of our planet and the habitat for so many diverse plants and animals, are vanishing at an incredible pace," said Rep. Doggett. "The TREE Act will not only protect our forests from those who seek to profit from their destruction, it will also help American businesses by assuring that they are responsible for compliance with a single, uniform set of sustainability trade rules."

"Forest loss and degradation do not occur in a vacuum: they are driven by outmoded, irresponsible trade practices. From wood pulp to palm oil, the U.S. marketplace is saturated with products that needlessly come at the expense of forests and the invaluable role they play in sustaining life on earth, "said Jennifer Skene, Global Forest Policy Director at Natural Resources Defense Council. "The TREE Act creates long-overdue guardrails that ensure U.S. purchasers aren't unwittingly purchasing forest destruction alongside their toilet paper and shampoo. It sets up consistent, common-sense trade standards that make the marketplace-and our future- healthier and more resilient."

"Addressing deforestation, both global and domestic, is a key solution to the climate crisis," said Anna Medema, Associate Director of Legislative Affairs for Forests and Public Lands at Sierra Club. "By curbing demand for commodities derived from deforestation and forest degradation, the TREE Act will protect forests for both their carbon sequestration and their biodiversity values, as well as support sustainable sourcing for American businesses. Sierra Club applauds the introduction of this important bill and thanks Rep. Doggett for his leadership in this effort.

"At a time when too many in power are eager to roll back environmental protections in the U.S., we support the lawmakers who are standing up for global forests by introducing the TREE Act," said Alex Armstrong, Vice President of External Affairs at Mighty Earth. "Products coming into the U.S. like beef, soy, timber, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil are tainted by legal and illegal deforestation that is harming communities and wildlife. People and animals around the world rely on standing forests for their survival, and Americans don't want to buy goods produced in the ashes of tropical rainforests. This legislation would set a new standard for forest protection in global supply chains. The world lost the equivalent of more than 15 football fields of primary forest every minute last year, so we are encouraged to see an ambitious policy proposal - one that is commensurate with the scale of the challenge of global deforestation."

This bill is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sean Casten (IL-06), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C. At-large), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jamie Raskin (MA-08), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05).

You can watch the video here.

The bill text can be found here and a bill summary can be found here.

###