Skip to main content
HR 3840 102th Congress House International Affairs American economic assistance Biological diversity Developing countries Environmental Protection Executive reorganization Foreign Trade and International Finance Forest conservation Forest products International environmental cooperation Sustainable agriculture Tariff Treaties

Rainforest Protection Act of 1991

Introduced: November 21, 1991 Introduced by: Hoyer, Steny H. Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 102nd Congress ended
It never became law before the 102nd Congress (1991–1992) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 2, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.
Nov 25, 1991
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Nov 21, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Nov 21, 1991
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Nov 21, 1991
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rainforest Protection Act of 1991 - Title I: Foreign Assistance to Protect Rainforests in Developing Countries - Authorizes the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to furnish assistance to developing countries in exchange for commitments by such countries to preserve areas of rainforest for a period of at least ten years. Requires rainforest protection agreements to provide for annual payment of grants and periodic on-site inspections.

Authorizes appropriations.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should urge other developed countries to initiate similar programs of rainforest protection.

Title II: Duty-Free Status for Products Harvested from Rainforests Using Sustainable Methods - Accords any product certified by the Secretary of the Treasury under this title duty-free treatment upon entry into U.S. customs territory. Requires the Secretary to certify any product upon determining that: (1) the product was harvested from a rainforest using sustainable methods; and (2) the importation of the product does not present a threat to employment in the United States or to the profitability of U.S. production of any product.

Directs the Secretary to establish a review board to: (1) determine whether production activities carried out by commercial operations comprise a sustainable use of a rainforest; (2) review any product for consideration for duty-free status; and (3) provide for on-site inspections of commercial operations submitting products for review.

What's happening now December 2, 1991

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3840: Rainforest Protection Act of 1991. 102nd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3840/
MLA
"H.R. 3840: Rainforest Protection Act of 1991." 102nd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3840/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3840, 102nd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3840/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3840: Rainforest Protection Act of 1991](https://openamerica.io/bill/102-HR-3840/)
Report a problem