H.R. 1869

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To strengthen the Department of Justice’s enforcement against trade-related crimes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · March 5, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Hinson · Committee: Committee on the Judiciary

H.R. 1869

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025.

In this Act, the term shall be defined as violations of law that are implicated by criminal activities in furtherance of the evasion of duties, tariffs, and other import- and export-related fees, import and export restrictions, or requirements imposed by the Tariff Act of 1930, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the Trade Act of 1974, or the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, as well as all other laws and regulations involving criminal activities relating to United States imports and exports, trade-based money laundering, and smuggling. trade-related crimes

SEC. 3. Establishment of new structure to prosecute international trade crimes

(a) In general
- A task force, named program, or other similar structure to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes, with particular emphasis on violations of the statutes enumerated in section 4(a)(2), shall be established within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice not later than 120 days after the date on which appropriations are made available to carry out this Act, and coordinated by a supervisory criminal trial attorney selected by the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division or other official designated by the Attorney General.
(b) Implementation
- To support this effort, the Attorney General shall—
  - create within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice new positions for criminal trial attorneys and associated support personnel responsible for leading and coordinating trade-related crime investigations and cases, including those that may significantly impact more than one district;
  - ensure that experienced and technically qualified criminal prosecutors support the effort; and
  - promote and ensure effective interaction with law enforcement, industry representatives, and the public in matters relating to trade-related crimes.

SEC. 4. Duties and functions of new trade crimes structure

(a) In general
- Through the efforts of the task force, named program, or other structure identified in section 3(a), the Attorney General shall accomplish each of the following:
  - Increase the capabilities and capacity of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to prosecute trade-related crimes.
  - Increase the number of trade-related crimes being investigated and prosecuted, including pursuant to health, safety, financial, and economic trade-related crimes, including—
    - section 305 of title 13, United States Code;
    - section 15 or 16 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2614 or 2615);
    - section 371 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 541 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 542 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 543 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 545 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 546 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 554 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1001 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1341 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1343 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1349 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1589 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1956 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 1957 of title 18, United States Code;
    - section 2320 of title 18, United States Code; and
    - section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (). 21 U.S.C. 331
  - For the purposes of this Act, this list does not include violations of national security-related laws and regulations, including the Arms Export Control Act (), International Emergency Economic Powers Act (), Export Control and Reform Act (), and the Trading with the Enemy Act (). 22 U.S.C. 2771 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.; 50 U.S.C. 4305(b)
  - Participate in basic and advanced training events with Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other Federal agencies and provide technical assistance, where appropriate, to Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other Federal agencies with respect to the investigation and prosecution of trade-related crimes.
  - Develop multi-jurisdictional responses and partnerships with respect to trade-related crimes through informational, administrative, and technological support to other Federal agencies and agencies of countries that are trading partners of the United States, as a means for such agencies to acquire the necessary knowledge, personnel, and specialized equipment to investigate and prosecute trade-related crimes.
  - Participate in nationally coordinated investigations in any case in which the Attorney General determines such participation to be necessary, as permitted by the available resources of the Department of Justice.
  - Ensure that all components that enforce laws against trade-related crimes regularly consult with each other.
(b) Absence of exclusion of pursuing other remedies
- Litigation by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice shall not preclude additional criminal prosecution or civil action against trade-related violations. Nothing in this Act shall prevent the Criminal Division, Civil Division, and other Department of Justice components from pursuing enforcement action where appropriate.

SEC. 5. Annual report to Congress

The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Ways and Means, and Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Finance of the Senate a report on the work of the Department of Justice with respect to investigation and enforcement of trade-related crimes. Specifically, the report shall—
- be submitted not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, not later than February 1 of each year that begins after the submission of the first report;
- include annual statistics on the volume of publicly charged trade-related crimes and indictments;
- include a summary on how the funds appropriated for trade-related crimes were utilized in the prior reporting period, including staff and operating expenses; and
- provide an estimate of any additional funding needed to combat trade-related crimes.

SEC. 6. Authorization of appropriations

(a) In general
- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out this Act. Of sums appropriated, at least 80 percent shall be used by the Criminal Division to support criminal prosecution of trade crimes as defined in this Act, including salaries and expenses necessary to hire and train investigatory and prosecutorial personnel, develop multijurisdictional and multiagency partnerships, and conduct enforcement actions.
(b) Other criminal prosecution and civil enforcement
- Remaining sums may be used by the Department of Justice to support criminal prosecution of trade crimes by other components and civil enforcement.
(c) Availability of amounts
- Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.