Mighty Earth Welcomes Introduction of FOREST Act in U.S.

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) introduced the Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade (FOREST) Act, which would help ensure that agricultural products imported to the United States are not driving illegal deforestation around the world.

Mighty Earth Vice President of Programs Alex Armstrong released the following statement:

“The FOREST Act is a bipartisan bill that would help combat climate change, fight mass extinctions, and provide crucial protections for U.S. consumers. Nobody wants to be complicit in the destruction of the world’s forests, but right now the big companies importing goods into the U.S. are able to mask the true impacts of their products and supply chains. In this age of transparency and accountability, this lack of traceability is no longer acceptable.

“This law would help address illegal ecosystem destruction across the globe and reassure Americans that the products they buy are not responsible for killing endangered species like jaguars or orangutans.

“Mighty Earth applauds Senators Schatz and Braun and Representatives Blumenauer and Fitzpatrick for their leadership and hard work to introduce the FOREST Act.”

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More information about the FOREST Act

Media Contact: Carole Mitchell, carole@mightyearth.org