H.R.2181: Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 14, 2001

Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act - Directs the President to impose quotas, tariff surcharges, negotiated enforceable voluntary export restraint agreements, or other measures on imports of Canadian softwood lumber products to ensure that the volume of such products during any month does not exceed the average volume of such import that was imported monthly during the 24-month period preceding December 1995. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce to implement a program for administering and enforcing such import restrictions. Authorizes the President to waive such restrictions provided certain conditions have been met.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] · D–OR

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

34 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 20, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Jun 14, 2001
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 14, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR 6/13/2001 H3126-3127)
Jun 14, 2001
Introduced in House
Jun 14, 2001
Introduced in House
Mar 30, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1350)

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 14, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2181 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2181, 107th Congress: Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/2181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-06-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr2181/BILLS-107hr2181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:28:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2181 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2181 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2181, 107th Congress: Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/2181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-06-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr2181/BILLS-107hr2181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:28:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2181 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2181 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2181, 107th Congress: Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/2181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-06-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr2181/BILLS-107hr2181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:28:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2181 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2181 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2181, 107th Congress: Softwood Lumber Fair Competition Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/2181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-06-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr2181/BILLS-107hr2181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-19T17:28:39Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2181 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.