I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9151 
To strengthen the Department of Justice’s enforcement against trade-related 
crimes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2024 
Mrs. HINSON (for herself, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. IVEY, 
Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LIEU, Mr. MORAN, Ms. ROSS, Mr. CLINE, Ms. 
DELAURO, Mr. KILEY, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. STEFANIK, and Mr. CORREA) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To strengthen the Department of Justice’s enforcement 
against trade-related crimes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting American 
Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act 
of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 
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(1) 
TRADE-RELATED
CRIMES.—The 
term 
‘‘trade-related crimes’’ shall be defined as violations 
of law that are implicated by criminal activities in 
furtherance of the evasion of duties, tariffs, and 
other import- and export-related fees, import and ex-
port restrictions, or requirements imposed by the 
Tariff Act of 1930, the Trade Expansion Act of 
1962, and/or the Trade Act of 1974, each as amend-
ed, the Countering America’s Adversaries Through 
Sanctions Act, as well as all other laws and regula-
tions involving criminal activities relating to United 
States imports and exports, trade-based money laun-
dering, and smuggling. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW STRUCTURE TO PROS-
ECUTE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CRIMES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—A task force, named program, or 
other similar structure to investigate and prosecute trade- 
related crimes, with particular emphasis on violations of 
the statutes enumerated in section 4(a)(2), will be estab-
lished within the Criminal Division of the Department of 
Justice within 120 days, after availability of appropria-
tions, and coordinated by a supervisory criminal trial at-
torney selected by the Assistant Attorney General of the 
Criminal Division or other official designated by the Attor-
ney General. 
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(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—To support this effort, the 
Department of Justice shall— 
(1) create within the Criminal Division new po-
sitions for criminal trial attorneys and associated 
support personnel responsible for leading and coordi-
nating trade-related crime investigations and cases, 
including those that may significantly impact more 
than one district; 
(2) ensure that experienced and technically 
qualified criminal prosecutors support this effort; 
and 
(3) promote and ensure effective interaction 
with law enforcement, industry representatives, and 
the public in matters relating to trade-related 
crimes. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF NEW TRADE CRIMES 
STRUCTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Through the efforts of the task 
force, named program, or other structure identified in sec-
tion 3(a), the Department of Justice shall accomplish each 
of the following: 
(1) Increase the capabilities and capacity of its 
Criminal Division to prosecute trade-related crimes. 
(2) Increase the number of trade-related crimes 
being investigated and prosecuted pursuant but not 
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limited to health, safety, financial, and economic 
trade-related crimes under titles 13, 15, 18, and 21, 
United States Code, including but not limited to— 
(A) 13 U.S.C. 305; 
(B) 15 U.S.C. 2614–15; 
(C) 18 U.S.C. 371; 
(D) 18 U.S.C. 541; 
(E) 18 U.S.C. 542; 
(F) 18 U.S.C. 543; 
(G) 18 U.S.C. 545; 
(H) 18 U.S.C. 546; 
(I) 18 U.S.C. 554; 
(J) 18 U.S.C. 1001; 
(K) 18 U.S.C. 1341; 
(L) 18 U.S.C. 1343; 
(M) 18 U.S.C. 1349; 
(N) 18 U.S.C. 1956; 
(O) 18 U.S.C. 1957; 
(P) 18 U.S.C. 2320; and 
(Q) 21 U.S.C. 331. 
For the purposes of this Act, this list does not in-
clude violations of national security-related laws and 
regulations, including the Arms Export Control Act 
(22 U.S.C. 2771 et seq.), International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), Ex-
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port Control and Reform Act (50 U.S.C. 4801 et 
seq.), and the Trading with the Enemy Act (50 
US.C. 4305(b)). 
(3) Participate in basic and advanced training 
events with Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, and other Federal 
agencies and provide technical assistance, where ap-
propriate, to Homeland Security Investigations and 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other Fed-
eral agencies with respect to the investigation and 
prosecution of trade-related crimes. 
(4) Develop multijurisdictional responses and 
partnerships with respect to trade-related crimes 
through informational, administrative, and techno-
logical support to other Federal agencies and agen-
cies of countries that are trading partners of the 
United States, as a means for such agencies to ac-
quire the necessary knowledge, personnel, and spe-
cialized equipment to investigate and prosecute 
trade-related crimes. 
(5) Participate in nationally coordinated inves-
tigations in any case in which the Attorney General 
determines such participation to be necessary, as 
permitted by the available resources of the Depart-
ment of Justice. 
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(6) Ensure that all components that enforce 
against trade-related crimes regularly consult with 
each other. 
(b) ABSENCE OF EXCLUSION OF PURSUING OTHER 
REMEDIES.—Litigation by the Criminal Division shall not 
preclude additional criminal prosecution or civil action 
against trade-related violations. Nothing in this statute 
shall prevent the Criminal Division, Civil Division, and 
other Department of Justice components from pursuing 
enforcement action where appropriate. 
SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, Committee on Ways and Means, 
and Committee on Financial Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary and 
Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the work 
of the Department of Justice with respect to investigation 
and enforcement of trade-related crimes. Specifically, the 
report shall— 
(1) be submitted not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter, not later than February 1 of each year 
that begins after the submission of the first report; 
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(2) include annual statistics on the volume of 
publicly charged trade-related crimes and indict-
ments, as defined in section 2; 
(3) include a summary as to how the funds ap-
propriated for trade-related crimes were utilized in 
the prior reporting period, including staff and oper-
ating expenses; and 
(4) provide an estimate of any additional fund-
ing needed to combat trade-related crimes. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Attorney General $20,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2025 to carry out this Act. Of sums appropriated, 
at least 80 percent shall be used by the Criminal Division 
to support criminal prosecution of trade crimes as defined 
in this Act, including salaries and expenses necessary to 
hire and train investigatory and prosecutorial personnel, 
develop multijurisdictional and multiagency partnerships, 
and conduct enforcement actions. 
(b) OTHER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AND CIVIL EN-
FORCEMENT.—Remaining sums may be used by the De-
partment of Justice to support criminal prosecution of 
trade crimes by other components and civil enforcement. 
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(c) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Amounts appro-
priated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations 
under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. 
Æ 
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