Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act
Latest Action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 730.
Official Summary
Official summary has not been imported yet.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™H.R. 7981, titled the Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act, is a bill introduced in the 118th Congress aimed at addressing forced labor practices in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The bill focuses on preventing the exploitation of children and adults in cobalt mining operations linked to China. The bill was placed on the Union Calendar but ultimately failed or expired without further legislative action. No official summary or full text is available for detailed provisions.
This bill sought to address forced labor in cobalt mining in the DRC connected to China but did not advance beyond being placed on the legislative calendar and expired without passage.
- The bill targets forced labor, including child labor, in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- It specifically addresses exploitation linked to Chinese involvement in cobalt mining.
- The bill was introduced in the House during the 118th Congress but failed or expired after being placed on the Union Calendar.
['Children and adults in the Democratic Republic of Congo potentially subjected to forced labor in cobalt mining.', 'International human rights organizations focused on labor rights and child protection.', 'U.S. policymakers and agencies involved in international labor standards and trade enforcement.']
['Lack of available full bill text limits understanding of enforcement mechanisms and funding.', 'Implementation challenges related to monitoring labor practices in a foreign country.', 'Potential diplomatic and trade implications with China and the DRC.', 'Oversight and authority details are unclear due to missing full text.']
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives during the 118th Congress and placed on the Union Calendar, indicating it was scheduled for consideration but did not progress further. The policy area is International Affairs, reflecting concerns about human rights and labor practices abroad, particularly in relation to Chinese economic activities in the DRC. The bill status is recorded as failed or expired as of December 2024.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Potential influence on global supply chains for cobalt by increasing scrutiny of labor practices.', 'Possible impact on U.S. import regulations or trade policies related to minerals sourced from the DRC.', 'Heightened international attention to labor rights in mining sectors beyond the DRC.']
The absence of an official bill summary and full text limits transparency and public understanding of the bill’s specific provisions, enforcement mechanisms, and funding. The bill’s failure to advance beyond the Union Calendar suggests limited legislative momentum. Oversight considerations include the challenges of monitoring labor practices in foreign countries and the potential diplomatic implications of targeting a major global actor like China.
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