Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act

The Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Brazilian Amazon Act is a U.S. Senate bill that aims to both expand United States investment opportunities and bolster bilateral cooperation with Brazil to dismantle criminal networks that drive deforestation and environmental destruction in the Brazilian Amazon. Key provisions would (1) place a staffer of the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Brazil to identify sustainable investment opportunities and assess investment risks related to criminal activity, (2) provide capacity-building and technical assistance to Brazilian authorities and support investigations related to crimes tied to deforestation and corruption, (3) fund community-based, sustainable livelihoods and protection of Indigenous Peoples and protected areas, (4) require regular reporting on progress and drivers of deforestation, and (5) empower the U.S. Treasury to influence international financial institutions to prioritize sustainable development and oppose loans that would enable deforestation. The bill authorizes up to $10 million per year for 2025–2028 to support these activities and directs annual progress reports to Congress. In short, the bill seeks to align U.S. investment and diplomatic tools with on-the-ground efforts in Brazil to reduce illegal activity and land conversion in the Amazon, while promoting sustainable economic development and human rights protections for Indigenous communities and local populations.