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HR 5579 114th Congress House

Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act

Official title: To control the export of electronic waste in order to ensure that such waste does not become the source of counterfeit goods that may reenter military and civi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To control the export of electronic waste in order to ensure that such waste does not become the source of counterfeit goods that may reenter military and civilian electronics supply chains in the United States, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 24, 2016 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Computers and information technologyGovernment information and archivesIntellectual propertyLicensing and registrations
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Photography and imagingSolid waste and recyclingTelevision and filmTrade restrictions
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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
Jun 24, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 24, 2016
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 24, 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act

This bill prohibits any person from exporting or reexporting electronic waste (specified items containing electronic components or fragments, including computers, televisions, video display devices, and consumer electronics) or exempted electronic waste items (tested, working used electronics, low-risk counterfeit electronics, or recalled electronics), except as specified.

"Low-risk counterfeit electronics" means electronic components or items that: (1) have been subjected to destruction processes that render the items unusable for their original purpose; and (2) are exported as a feedstock, with no additional mechanical or hand separation required, in a reclamation process to render the components or items recycled consistent with the laws of the foreign country performing such process.

A person may export or reexport exempted electronic waste items only if:

  • the person is listed on a publicly available registry maintained by the Department of Commerce;
  • for each export transaction, the person files specified electronic export information in the Automated Export System;
  • the export or reexport of exempted electronic waste items otherwise complies with applicable international agreements and other U.S. trade laws; and
  • the exempted items are accompanied by certain required documentation.

Commerce may provide exceptions to the requirements of this bill under specified circumstances for exports or reexports of five items or fewer per transaction of electronic components intended for personal use, and of electronic components to a person or entity under the ownership or control of the person exporting or reexporting the components, with the intent that they be used for the purpose for which they were used in the United States.

Any violator of this bill or regulations issued under it shall be subject to the same penalties as those applicable to violators of any other provision of the Export Administration Regulations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5579: Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5579/
MLA
"H.R. 5579: Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5579/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5579, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5579/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5579: Secure E-Waste Export and Recycling Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-5579/)
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