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Rogers/2SenatorCarter

S.W._____

ABILL
ToreducetradewithforeigncountrieswhousechildlabortoproducegoodsimportedintotheUnitedStates.

BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainCongressassembled,

SECTION1.SHORTTITLE

ThisactmaybecitedastheChildLaborActof2015.

SECTION2.FINDINGS

Congressherebyfindsanddeclaresthat,
A)
Thereare75millionyoungpersons15to24yearsofagewhoareunemployedandmanymorewhomustsettle
forjobsthatfailtoofferafairincome,securityintheworkplace,socialprotectionorotherbasicdecentwork
attributes.
B)
With72millionchildrenstillnotinprimaryschool,achievinguniversaleducationwouldofferextraordinary
leverageinthebroaderfightagainstglobalpoverty.
C)
Insituationswhereeducationisnotaffordableorparentsseenovalueineducation,childrenaresenttowork,
ratherthantoschool.
D)
Aworldwithoutchildlabourispossiblewiththerightprioritiesandpolicies:qualityeducation,opportunitiesfor
youngpeople,decentworkforparents,abasicsocialprotectionfloorforall.
E)

Australiaannuallyimports$16millionworthoftobaccoproducedbychildlabor,includingtobaccoproducedin
theU.S.Tobaccocultivationisextremelylaborintensiveandchildrenareoftensubjectedtoserioushealthrisks
includingnicotinepoisoning.MostcigarettesmokersinAustraliaareunawareoftheoriginsofthetobaccothey
consume.
F)

ThehighestnumberofchildlaborersisinsubSaharanAfrica.
G)In2008,therewereapproximately215millionchildlabourers,aged517,intheworld.Amongthem,115million
childrenwereinhazardouswork(atermwhichisoftenusedasaproxyfortheworstformsofchildlabour).
H)NikehaschildrenworkingunderveryharshconditionstoproducesoccerballsinPakistanaroundhalfofthe
world'ssoccerballsaremadeinPakistanthroughwhichmorethan200children,asyoungastheageof4,are
involvedintheproductionlineofsoccerballs.
I)Millionsofchildslavessomeofwhomaresoldbytheirimpoverishedparentsworkinfields,brothels,
privatehomes,mines,andrestaurantsoverseasandevenrighthereintheUnitedStates.
J)Themostpopularphoneintheworld,theiPhone,ismadebyAppletheseiPhoneshavebeenbuiltby13yearolds,
working16hoursadayfor70centsanhour.
K)Agricultureremainsbyfarthemostimportantsectorwherechildlaborerscanbefound,witharound98million,
or59%.

SECTION3.STATUTORYLANGUAGE
A)HiredofficialsintheDepartmentofCommercewillinvestigateallimportedgoodsbyrequestingand
authenticatinginformationfromtheforeigngovernmentaboutchildlaborregardingtheproductthatisbeing
requestedtobeimported.Productsthataremadeusinganychildlaboratallwillhaveaportionofthecompanys
incometakentoentertheUnitedStatesandwillincreaseannuallyasthecountrykeepstheproductbeingmadewith
childlabor.Allmoneycollectedfromcompaniesincomewillbeputtowardseducatingchildreninunderprivileged
areasoftheUnitedStatesandallowingthemtogetabettereducation.
B)TheDepartmentofCommercewillbeenforcingthisbillduetoalltradefallingunderitsauthorityanywayandthe
fundingwillbefourpercentoftheDepartmentofCommercesannualbudget.Allmoneycollectedfromthetariffs
willbeputintotheDepartmentofEducationsbudgettohelpfundtheenhancementofunderprivilegedcommunities.
C)Penaltyforrefusingtoshowproofthatproductsarenotmadeduetochildlaborwillresultinasanctionforone
wholeyearwiththatcountrysproductandtheforeigngovernmentmayrequestpermissiontoimportproductagain
nextyearwhenthesanctionhaspassed.ThisbillwillbeenacteduponJanuary1,2017andwillhaveanexpiration
dateofDecember31,2025.