Clean Diamond Trade Act

Bill: 108-hr-1584
Sponsor: Rep. Houghton, Amo [R-NY-29]
Introduced: 2003-04-03 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Armed Forces and National Security
Business records
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil War
Commerce
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional investigations
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Corporation directors
Crime and Law Enforcement
Customs administration
Delegation of powers
Diamonds
Export controls
Federal advisory bodies
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Forfeiture
Free trade
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government statistics
Human rights
Import restrictions
International agencies
International cooperation
Jewelry trade
Law
President and foreign policy
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Searches and seizures
Standards
Technical assistance
Trade agreements
Trade negotiations
United Nations
War

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Clean Diamond Trade Act -Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition.
Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS.
Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census.
Declares that the Congress supports the trade policy that the U.S. Trade Representative and other pertinent Government agencies take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community.
Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act.
Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies, including the BCBP, to make available technical assistance, relating to compliance with U.S. trade laws, to countries seeking to export rough diamonds to the United States consistent with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Urges the President to work with Participants to strengthen the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS.
Urges the executive branch continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics.
Declares the sense of Congress that the President should establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Clean Diamond Trade Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification (KPCS) Scheme. Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition.
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS.
(Sec. 6) Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census.
(Sec. 7) Declares that the Congress supports the policy that the President shall take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community.
(Sec. 8) Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the BCBP and the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce this Act and the laws and regulations governing exports of rough diamonds, including with respect to the validation of the Kimberley Process Certificate by the exporting authority.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance to countries seeking to implement the KPCS.
(Sec. 10) Urges the President to work with states, customs territories, or regional economic integration organizations identified by the Secretary of State (Participants) to strengthen the KPCS through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS.
Urges the executive branch continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics.
(Sec. 11) Directs the President to establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
(Sec. 12) Prescribes annual reporting requirements.
(Sec. 13) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress within two years after enactment of this Act on the effectiveness of its provisions in preventing the prohibited importation or exportation of rough diamonds.
(Sec. 14) Authorizes the President to delegate the duties and authorities under this Act to appropriate Federal officers, departments, or agencies.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Clean Diamond Trade Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition.
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS.
(Sec. 6) Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census.
(Sec. 7) Declares that the Congress supports the policy that the President shall take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community.
(Sec. 8) Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the BCBP and the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce this Act and the laws and regulations governing exports of rough diamonds, including with respect to the validation of the Kimberley Process Certificate by the exporting authority.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance to countries seeking to implement the KPCS.
(Sec. 10) Urges the President to work with states, customs territories, or regional economic integration organizations identified by the Secretary of State (Participants) to strengthen the KPCS through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS.
Urges the executive branch continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics.
(Sec. 11) Directs the President to establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
(Sec. 12) Prescribes annual reporting requirements.
(Sec. 13) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress within two years after enactment of this Act on the effectiveness of its provisions in preventing the prohibited importation or exportation of rough diamonds.
(Sec. 14) Authorizes the President to delegate the duties and authorities under this Act to appropriate Federal officers, departments, or agencies.
action_date: 2003-04-25
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it passed the Senate on April 10, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Clean Diamond Trade Act - (Sec. 4) Directs the President to prohibit the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Prescribes criteria for waiver of such prohibition.
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to require the appropriate Government agency to conduct annual reviews of the standards, practices, and procedures of any entity in the United States that issues Kimberley Process Certificates for the exportation from the United States of rough diamonds to determine whether they accord with the KPCS.
(Sec. 6) Makes the importing authority under this Act the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP) and the exporting authority the Bureau of the Census.
(Sec. 7) Declares that the Congress supports the policy that the President shall take appropriate steps to promote and facilitate the adoption of the KPCS by the international community.
(Sec. 8) Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violation of this Act. Authorizes the BCBP and the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce this Act and the laws and regulations governing exports of rough diamonds, including with respect to the validation of the Kimberley Process Certificate by the exporting authority.
(Sec. 9) Authorizes the President to direct the appropriate Federal agencies to make available technical assistance to countries seeking to implement the KPCS.
(Sec. 10) Urges the President to work with states, customs territories, or regional economic integration organizations identified by the Secretary of State (Participants) to strengthen the KPCS through the adoption of measures for: (1) sharing statistics on rough diamonds production and trade; and (2) monitoring the effectiveness of the KPCS in stemming trade in diamonds whose importation or exportation is not controlled through the KPCS.
Urges the executive branch continue to: (1) keep and publish statistics on imports and exports of rough diamonds; (2) make them available for analysis by interested parties and by Participants; and (3) take a leadership role in negotiating a standardized methodology among Participants for reporting such statistics.
(Sec. 11) Directs the President to establish a Kimberley Process Implementation Coordinating Committee to coordinate the implementation of this Act.
(Sec. 12) Prescribes annual reporting requirements.
(Sec. 13) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress within two years after enactment of this Act on the effectiveness of its provisions in preventing the prohibited importation or exportation of rough diamonds.
(Sec. 14) Authorizes the President to delegate the duties and authorities under this Act to appropriate Federal officers, departments, or agencies.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-04-25
text: Became Public Law No: 108-19.
action_date: 2003-04-25
text: Became Public Law No: 108-19.
action_date: 2003-04-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-04-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-04-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-04-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration:  CR H3332-3334; text as House agreed to Senate amendments:  CR H3332-3333)
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration:  CR H3332-3334; text as House agreed to Senate amendments:  CR H3332-3333)
action_date: 2003-04-11
text: Mr. Thomas asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-04-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5112-5113)
action_date: 2003-04-09
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2, 1 Present (Roll no. 118). (text:  CR H2895-2897)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 2, 1 Present (Roll no. 118).(text:  CR H2895-2897)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration:  CR H2911)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1584.
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration:  CR H2895-2901)
action_date: 2003-04-08
text: Mr. Crane moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-03
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 108-19