United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act

Bill: 118-s-797
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Introduced: 2023-03-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Colombia
Crime prevention
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Economic development
Ecuador
Environmental health
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Law enforcement administration and funding
Metals
Mining
Nicaragua
Peru
Public-private cooperation
Terrorism
Venezuela
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: 

United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act

 
This bill requires the Department of State to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), a form of mining typified by labor-intensive techniques, dangerous working conditions, and limited regulation.
 
The required strategy shall include policies, programs, and initiatives to (1) interrupt the linkages between ASM and illicit actors such as drug traffickers and foreign terrorist organizations; (2) deter ASM in environmentally protected areas; (3) build the capacity of foreign civilian law enforcement to counter linkages between illicit gold mining and money laundering, forced labor, sex work, child labor, and trafficking; and (4) support efforts by foreign governments to increase regulation of the ASM sector. 
 
This bill also requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to coordinate with democratically elected governments in the region to establish a public-private partnership to improve transparency and traceability in the international gold trade.

action_date: 2023-05-04
text: 

United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act

 
This bill requires the Department of State to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, with a focus on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), a form of mining typified by labor-intensive techniques, dangerous working conditions, and limited regulation.
 
The required strategy shall include policies, programs, and initiatives to (1) interrupt the linkages between ASM and illicit actors such as drug traffickers and foreign terrorist organizations; (2) deter ASM in environmentally protected areas; (3) build the capacity of foreign civilian law enforcement to counter linkages between illicit gold mining and money laundering, forced labor, sex work, child labor, and trafficking; (4) support efforts by foreign governments to increase regulation of the ASM sector; and (5) interrupt the illicit gold trade in Nicaragua. The strategy must also include policy recommendations for responding to linkages between the government of Venezuela and the illicit mining, trafficking, and commercialization of precious metals and stones. 
 
Additionally, the bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development to coordinate with democratically elected governments in the region to establish a public-private partnership to improve transparency and traceability in the international gold trade.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-05-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 57.
action_date: 2023-05-04
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-05-04
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-05-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2023-03-14
text: Introduced in Senate