Bill · S. 985· Senate(119-S-985)
PROTECT USA Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 3/12/2025
- Last activity
- 3/12/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Sponsored by
- Bill Hagerty
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The PROTECT USA Act of 2025 seeks to prohibit certain business entities deemed integral to United States national interests from complying with foreign sustainability due diligence regulations. These regulations include requirements to assess, address, and report on the environmental or social impacts of operations or value chains, specifically mentioning the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The bill defines integral entities as those involved in sectors like extraction, manufacturing, or national defense. It establishes a prohibition on such compliance while allowing exceptions for ordinary business activities or through a presidential hardship relief process. Additionally, the act prohibits adverse actions against these entities for their compliance with this law and prevents foreign judgments related to these regulations from being recognized in U.S. courts.
Yes· 3 of 8
Would business owners be better off under this?+7
The bill provides significant legal and regulatory relief to large-scale industrial and manufacturing entities.
Is this likely to grow the economy?+5
By removing regulatory barriers for integral entities, the bill aims to promote domestic economic development and stability.
Would farmers be better off under this?+4
The bill explicitly identifies the extractive and agricultural sectors as integral to the national interest.
The opposite· 3 of 8
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?-5
By prohibiting due diligence on environmental impacts, the bill may hinder efforts to monitor and reduce carbon footprints.
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-5
The act limits the ability of U.S. companies to comply with environmental impact assessments required by foreign laws.
Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced?-4
The bill's focus on protecting the extractive sector may act against the transition away from fossil fuels.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Economic Stability and Employment: The bill finds that foreign restrictions can have serious adverse effects on employment and economic stability (Section 2, Finding 4). By prohibiting compliance with these foreign regulations, the act aims to prevent such negative effects on entities integral to national interests (Section s 2 and 4).
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Ensuring Access to Essential Materials: The bill notes that maintaining access to supplies from the extractive sector—such as agriculture, energy, mining, and timber—is critically important for economic development and human progress (Section 2, Finding 3). Prohibiting foreign regulatory burdens may help maintain this access (Section 4).
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Legal Protections Against Foreign Judgments: The act provides a safeguard by stating that no judgment by a foreign court regarding these sustainability regulations shall be recognized in United States courts (Section 5, Subsection b).
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Hardship Relief for Businesses: Entities facing particular hardship due to the prohibition can petition the President for an exemption (Section 4, Subsection c, Paragraph 1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Regulatory Compliance: The bill prohibits entities integral to the national interests of the United States from participating in or complying with foreign sustainability due diligence regulations, which include assessments and reporting of environmental or social impacts (Section 3, Subsection 3 and Section 4, Subsection a).
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Limited Scope for Exceptions: While there is a hardship relief process, it is subject to a presidential decision which may be granted or denied (Section 4, Subsection c, Paragraph 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+7Good For Farmers+4Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Union Workers+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections-5Reduces Carbon Emissions-5Reduces Fossil Fuel Production-4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+5Increases Job Creation+3Improves Consumer Protection-3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves International Trade+2Improves International Alliances-4Improves Diplomatic Engagement-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4Improves Government Transparency-3
- 6/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska