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S 496 111th Congress Senate

Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009

Official title: A bill to provide duty-free treatment for certain goods from designated Reconstruction Opportunity Zones in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 3, 2009 Introduced by: Cantwell, Maria Democratic · Washington See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance AfghanistanAsiaEconomic developmentFraud offenses and financial crimes
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Human rightsPakistanTariffsTerrorismTrade restrictions
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 26, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 26, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action February 26, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009 - Declares the purposes of this Act, including to stimulate economic activity and development in Afghanistan and the border region of Pakistan in an effort to combat violent extremism.

Authorizes the President to: (1) designate an area within Afghanistan or Pakistan as a Reconstruction Opportunity Zone, provided such country meets certain eligibility requirements; and (2) proclaim duty-free treatment for certain articles (including certain textile and apparel articles as well as non-textile or non-apparel articles) that are imported into the United States from a designated zone within such country, provided certain requirements are met. Specifies rules of origin for such articles.

Prohibits duty-free treatment for any such articles unless the country in question adopts certain enforcement measures to prevent their unlawful transshipment and the use of false documents relating to importation into the United States.

Authorizes the President to: (1) waive duty-free treatment for such articles if it is inconsistent with the national interests of the United States; and (2) withdraw, suspend, or limit such treatment.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2410 Related bill Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 2
R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Mar 30, 2009
 R
Murkowski, Lisa
Alaska · Mar 30, 2009
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Mar 3, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 496: Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-496/
MLA
"S. 496: Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-496/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 496, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-496/.
Markdown link
[S. 496: Afghanistan and Pakistan Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-496/)
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