[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 31 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1307-H1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT OF 1998

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Nethercutt). Pursuant to House 
Resolution 388 and rule XXIII, the Chair declares the House in the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the 
consideration of the bill, H.R. 2870.

                              {time}  1113


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 2870) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate 
protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing 
countries with tropical forests, with Mr. LaHood in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.
  Under the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to bring H.R. 2870, the 
Tropical Forest Protection Act, to the House for its consideration. 
This bill was introduced last November by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Rob Portman), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. John Kasich), and the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Lee Hamilton). The bill enjoys wide 
bipartisan support and is now supported by the administration.
  Mr. Chairman, tropical forests are home to roughly half of all known 
species and plants and animals, and, under pressure from man, these 
forests are disappearing at a rate of almost 1 percent per year, 
roughly one football field lost every second or an area the size of 
Pennsylvania each year. Most of the forests are also located in 
developing nations, and most of those nations are poor, with crushing 
debt burdens.
  With the twin crisis of tropical forest loss and the Third World debt 
crisis, many of us in the Congress saw an opportunity. And I will note 
that two of our colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. John 
Porter) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Doug Bereuter) introduced 
the first debt-for-nature swap bill in 1988. In 1991, President Bush 
proposed the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, known as EAI. One 
part of that initiative was a program of debt relief in return for 
investments by the host country in environmental protection.
  Under the EAI, the Bush administration forgave half of the $1.6 
billion owed by seven Latin American countries in return for $154 
million in endowments for conservation projects. Today, the Latin 
American economy is growing with some of the newest and largest 
tropical forest parks in the world.
  H.R. 2870 writes chapter two of that EAI story. Many developing 
nations remain under crushing debt burdens, and some of them have the 
most valuable tropical forests that are still standing. We expand 
beyond Latin American to other critical habitats in Africa and Asia. I 
will note that Indonesia has one of the world's largest tropical 
forests still standing. My colleagues may have read reports that the 
smoke from the burning of these forests is so thick that it even 
interferes with commercial aircraft operations in Jakarta.
  This bill will allow our President to go beyond the Latin American 
focus of the EAI to offer protection to tropical forests in Africa, to 
Asia and the subcontinent. In short, this bill authorizes our President 
to offer up to $325 million in debt owed to the U.S. Government, a 
small fraction of the $15 billion they currently owe. The loans were 
made by the Agency for International Development and the Department of 
Agriculture.
  The bill specifically references the conditions for a government to 
get debt relief. These conditions include having a democratic 
government, a favorable climate for private-sector investment, 
cooperation on narcotics matters, and no state-sponsored terrorism.
  The bill also enjoys wide support from the environmental groups, such 
as the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, the Nature 
Conservancy, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Sierra Club.
  The administration has now endorsed the bill, expressing support for 
the measure's purpose, and the administration has offered detailed 
changes to the legislation which the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Hamilton) and I made in a joint substitute to the bill when it was 
considered within our committee. The substitute cuts $75 million in 
funding from the bill by deleting the authority to forgive Export-
Import Bank debt.
  We also included authority to do debt buy-backs in the bill. As 
carried out recently by the U.S. Government with the Government of 
Peru, debt buy-backs are not scored against our budget because the 
purchaser repays the full market value of the debt that is owed. These 
transactions offer exciting opportunities for middle-income countries 
to reduce the face value of their debt and at the same time be able to 
protect the environment.
  We have made other modifications requested by the Congressional 
Budget Office to tighten the budgetary impact of the bill and require 
appropriations clearly within the Credit Reform Act.
  This bill was favorably reported by a voice vote of the full 
Committee on International Relations. We will only have two amendments 
that I know of. My amendment will give an extra level of protection by 
requiring further congressional notifications to the Congress. I have 
also reviewed the amendment of the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Vento), which is acceptable to our side.
  I think that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Rob Portman) and his 
colleague from Ohio (Mr. John Kasich), as well as the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Lee Hamilton) have offered an excellent piece of 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to strongly support the bill.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my time under general 
debate be controlled by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me first of all compliment the chairman, 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), for the Tropical Forest 
Protection Act of 1998.
  This act has come to us at a very important time. As we know, the 
President will be leaving on Sunday to visit six African countries to 
talk about trade and investment, human rights, and the whole question 
of the environment, the ecology, education, health.
  The whole world will be watching. We have over 200 news media people 
that will be going from the United States, and people from around the 
world will be focusing. So this bill is extremely important at this 
time.
  As my colleagues know, the bill seeks to promote the efforts of low- 
and middle-income countries to preserve tropical forests, rain forests; 
and, secondly, the bill tackles the problem of large debt owed to the 
United States by some of these developing countries.
  Under H.R. 2870, globally important tropical forests would be 
protected at a very relatively low cost to the United

[[Page H1308]]

States. First, certain debts of qualifying nations would be 
substantially reduced. In exchange, the countries would direct interest 
payments due on new loans into funds dedicated to preserving the 
tropical rain forests.
  Secondly, the bill would allow eligible countries or third-party 
purchasers to buy back a country's debt. In exchange, the country would 
agree to implement the tropical forest conservation measures specified 
in this bill.
  There will be four criteria that we will certainly look at. We will 
look at a country that has a democratic political system as a very 
important first step. Secondly, a country must have a solid record of 
performance with respect to human rights and governance, 
counternarcotics and terrorism. Third, we will be pursuing countries 
that pursue sound economic policies. And, finally, countries must meet 
any other requirements related to their environmental policies and 
practices determined by the President.
  We think that this will certainly go to leveraging scarce U.S. 
foreign assistance dollars by producing immediate environmental 
benefits in exchange for reducing debt payments due to the United 
States. Secondly, by reducing debt, it will strengthen developing 
economies, helping them to diminish the fiscal pressures that put 
tropical forests at risk. Thirdly, it will help promote new 
environmental practices in developing countries. And, finally, it will 
advance U.S. national interests by preserving forests that are 
essential to the world's climate.

  Let me give two prime examples. Liberia, a 7\1/2\ year civil war. The 
rain forest was starting to be devastated. This will be able to bring 
that country back into the right practices. Secondly, the Democratic 
Republic of Congo, where a tremendous rain forest, probably one of the 
largest rain forests in the world. If we can prevent what happened in 
Brazil and what is happening in Latin America by this bill, by 
preserving the rain forest in the Congo, in Liberia, in Sierra Leone, 
it will go far to improving and preventing the degradation that is 
going on now in the whole biosphere that is going throughout the world.
  So we are in a global village. We are interconnected. What happens in 
one country impacts on the other. This bill is timely. This bill is 
right. This bill costs the U.S. taxpayers very little, but does a 
tremendous amount in return, and it is the right time because, 
hopefully, the President will be able to talk about this on his trip to 
Ghana. He will go to Uganda and will stop in Rwanda to look and talk 
about the genocide that happened there; then on to South Africa, up to 
Botswana, and finally in Senegal.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this very important 
bill.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Portman), the sponsor of this legislation, who has done an 
outstanding job in working with the committee and in crafting this 
legislation.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Nebraska for 
yielding me this time and for all his work over the years on this 
legislation and this idea. I also want to thank the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman, for moving this bill so expeditiously 
through his committee, for improving the bill through the process, 
along with the ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Lee 
Hamilton), and for getting it to the floor today.
  I also have to commend my fellow sponsors, chairman of the Committee 
on the Budget, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. John Kasich), and the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Lee Hamilton), both of whom showed a lot of 
leadership in getting us to this point.
  As has been noted by the previous two speakers, this is really the 
outgrowth of years of work by a lot of people that links two important 
facts of life: One is that, very important, tropical forests are 
disappearing at an extremely rapid rate; and, second, they happen to be 
located in less developed countries that have a hard time repaying 
their debts to the United States.
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman, and the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) will go further into the bill and 
what it does more precisely, but I want to take a minute to focus on 
why this bill makes so much sense to the American taxpayer.
  Tropical forests literally impact the air we breathe, the food we 
eat, and the medicines that cure disease. Acting as so-called carbon 
sinks, tropical forests absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide 
and other emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels. By 
encouraging both reforestation and by preventing deforestation, we can 
substantially offset carbon emissions right here in the United States.
  When we look at the alternatives and the cost of developing 
alternative technologies to reduce emissions, I think this is a 
relatively efficient way to absorb so-called greenhouse gases. It is 
hard to imagine that a rain forest in Brazil could help with air 
pollution in Ohio, but in fact that is what occurs.
  A major benefit all of us get from tropical forests also is the use 
of the vast number of species and plants found there for the 
development of drugs. For example, plants found in tropical forests 
help fight child leukemia and the Hodgkin's disease. And natural 
products found in rain forests were used to develop drugs like Taxol, 
that treats breast cancer; Calanolide, which is used to treat 
infectious diseases, and many others. In fact, half of the medicines 
used in the world today, every day, come from tropical forest plants, 
as do 25 percent of all prescription drugs.
  Agriculture also benefits from tropical forests. Genetic diversity, 
used in plant breeding, has been critical in producing grains for food 
and has accounted for about half of all the gains in agricultural 
yields in the United States between 1930 and 1980.
  Finally, of course, tropical forests help regulate rainfall, which 
has the effect of stabilizing weather patterns around the world. 
Unfortunately for all of us, we have already lost about half the 
world's tropical rain forests since 1950. And every year we are losing 
about 30 to 40 million acres of forests, an area equal to the size of 
New York or Iowa or Pennsylvania. And, of course, this destruction is 
fueled by poverty and economic pressures on developing countries where 
most of these tropical forests are located.
  As I mentioned at the outset, many of these countries have a hard 
time repaying their debt. In fact, a substantial majority of these 
eligible countries have sought so-called Paris Club or other debt 
relief arrangements. Instead of just having this debt outstanding that 
will never become repaid in full, or might be repaid not at all, the 
U.S. taxpayers should receive some benefit for the investment. By 
encouraging debt-for-nature swaps, the bill maximizes the chance of 
some benefit being received.
  The bill offers three different options: First, for the poorest 
countries, whose debt is unlikely to be paid in full, we build on the 
Enterprise for the Americas Initiative. The gentleman from New York 
talked about it a moment ago, but it was begun in the Bush 
administration. There, part of the principal is paid back to the United 
States, and interest payments on the new debt have to be put into 
protecting tropical forests.
  This is the one aspect of the bill that has some cost to it, because 
under the 1990 Federal Credit Reform Act, Congress has to appropriate 
funds equal to the so-called subsidy cost. That would be the difference 
between the net present value of the old loan arrangement and the new 
loan arrangement.
  Second, the bill permits no-cost debt buy-backs. This is at no cost 
to the U.S. taxpayer. It is a debt buy-back for countries that can 
afford it. The country purchases its debt at the full asset value of 
the loan and then contributes an additional amount equal to 40 percent 
of that loan into a local fund to protect tropical forests.
  Then, finally, the third option is the bill would permit interested 
parties and nongovernmental organizations, third parties, to purchase 
debt of eligible countries from the United States Government, at its 
full asset value, in exchange for the debtor country putting money 
aside well in excess of that purchase price in a fund for conservation.

                              {time}  1130

  Again, this is at no cost to the taxpayer and provides substantial 
benefits to the United States.
  The bill also benefits the U.S. taxpayer because, through these 
transactions, U.S. dollars are leveraged for

[[Page H1309]]

substantial amounts of conservation funding. This is because the cost 
of reducing debt, even as we have to score it here under the Credit 
Reform Act, is low compared to the amount of funding and local currency 
that will be set aside for conservation. In some cases, the ratio is as 
high as five to one or even ten to one.
  Because it is leverage that you can get, I think this is a much 
better way to protect these globally important resources than through 
any kind of direct aid.
  Debt restructuring also makes sense because, by clearing the debt off 
the books, it actually reduces the economic pressures that lead to a 
lot of the deforestation, so it actually gets at the underlying or root 
causes of much of the destruction of the rain forest.
  Finally, let me make it clear that this is an authorization, this is 
not an appropriation. The bill and the committee report both make clear 
that any appropriation will be fully offset during the appropriations 
process.
  Again, building on President Bush's Enterprise for the Americas 
Initiative, this bill moves beyond Latin America. It provides this 
benefit worldwide to any eligible country, and it more precisely 
targets less developed countries that have the kind of tropical forests 
that provide the most benefits. If enacted, its effects will be not 
only to encourage economic growth consistent with conservation but, as 
Chairman Gilman noted earlier, it will be to promote U.S. policy 
interests, foreign policy interests. Because, if they want to 
participate, countries are required to have a good human rights record, 
counternarcotics program, counterter- rorists policies, and democratic 
elections.
  As I conclude, I want to thank this committee again for expediting 
and improving this bill; and I want to acknowledge the good work of the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Porter), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and many others on this issue over the years.
  This bill simply builds on these efforts by providing new incentives 
to protect tropical forests worldwide in a targeted and fiscally 
responsible way. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support it.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for the time and 
his leadership on this issue.
  I certainly want to join my colleagues in commending the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for his leadership, the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) for their 
leadership on this, and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Bereuter) as well, 
and all others who made this bipartisan, excellent bill possible today, 
the Tropical Forest Conservation Act.
  As a member of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, I 
know full well what the debt of burden does to many of these countries. 
I also know that tropical forests contain about half the world's earth, 
plant, and animal species, many of which still have not been 
identified. They also are extremely effective sinks for carbon dioxide, 
significantly reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  Our colleague very eloquently said what has always been clear to us, 
that everything in nature is connected, whether it is the benefit we 
receive in the rain forest in terms of pharmaceuticals or whether it is 
preventing greenhouse emissions from increasing and the greenhouse 
gases affecting the constituents of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman) in Ohio.
  So it is clear in terms of debt and it is clear in terms of 
protecting the rain forests, the tropical forests, that we have a need. 
There is opportunity based on precedent. The Bush Administration's 
Enterprise for the Americas Initiative presented a precedent and this 
is an expansion, as that has been indicated, and happily before the 
President's trip to Africa. The opportunity to reduce the burden of 
debt in these countries is being done with precedent and in a very wise 
way.
  I am very, very pleased and want to make the point that the rule of 
nongovernmental organizations is very significantly mentioned in this 
legislation. Under the measure, each beneficiary country would be 
required to establish a Tropical Rain Forest Protection Fund to 
preserve, maintain, and restore its tropical forest. These funds would 
be distributed through competitive grants to local nongovernmental or 
other organizations with conservation expertise.
  Further to that, management of the funds would be overseen by 
international boards consisting of officials appointed by the U.S. 
Government as well as by the host government; and these boards would 
include representatives of environmental, nongovernmental organizations 
active in the beneficiary country, local community groups, and 
scientific or academic organizations. I think this transparency and 
this involvement of nongovernmental and community-based groups is very, 
very healthy.
  In conclusion, I want to say that this is a very smart approach, 
because the program established in the bill is intended to specifically 
target countries that have tropical forests with the greatest degree of 
biodiversity and that are under the most severe threat.
  My colleagues have talked about the other criteria, that the country 
has to have a democratically elected government, not support active 
international terrorism, must support international narcotics controls, 
and may not engage in violations of internationally recognized human 
rights. Under the measure, the President would determine whether or not 
countries meet the criteria.
  I am very, very pleased to congratulate my colleagues for this strong 
bipartisan effort to preserve the rain forest and reduce the debt of 
these countries.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, and I am pleased to be a cosponsor.
  The world's tropical forests, which are biodiverse, economically 
crucial and ecologically irreplaceable, are now disappearing faster 
than any other natural community. We heard the comments of the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) on that subject.
  Most of these forests are located in developing countries. Most of 
these countries are poor, many with crushing debt burdens. This body 
should view this legislation as a creative opportunity to address the 
twin problems of Third World debt and deforestation.
  Mr. Chairman, one of the benefits of seniority is seeing some ideas 
gain acceptance after a period of time. Mr. Chairman, this is to trace 
a little bit of legislative history. But this proposal is, as the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) indicated, based to some extent on 
the success of the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative from the Bush 
administration.
  We saw good results from that. It is a creative variation of the EAI 
theme. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, this 
Member would like to note that the forests and jungles of Vietnam, 
Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand are rapidly disappearing. Vietnam, for 
example, has only 19 percent forest coverage today, compared to 43 
percent 50 years ago.
  The legislation before this body today will go beyond the Latin 
American focus of EAI to offer protection in tropical forests in 
Africa, East Asia, and the south Asian subcontinent, among other parts 
of the world.
  Mr. Chairman, this Member was particularly interested in Bangladesh, 
which is one of the world's poorest nations. It is struggling with both 
overwhelming PL 480 debt and severe environmental problems. This Member 
would ask the body's indulgence to describe how today's legislation is 
likely to affect Bangladesh and what would be required of a country 
such as Bangladesh to participate in the proposed debt swap.
  Now, to its credit, Bangladesh continues to service their debt, with 
great difficulty I might add. This, however, puts the United States in 
the rather embarrassing position of receiving almost as much money back 
as it is giving humanitarian assistance because of the PL 480 debt 
interest.

[[Page H1310]]

  To be eligible for debt reduction under this legislation, a country 
must contain an appropriate tropical forest and meet specific and 
economical and political criteria. At the March 10, 1998, markup of 
this legislation by the Committee on International Relations, the 
administration testified that Bangladesh did indeed possess the 
requisite tropical forests of global importance. This was particularly 
true with regard to the forest's importance of habitat for various 
endangered species which we described, and the specific area in 
Bangladesh was noted.
  The political eligibility criteria of this legislation requires the 
debtor country to have a democratically elected government which is not 
pursuing egregious policies in the area of human rights, narcotics or 
terrorism. The State Department has confirmed that Bangladesh would 
meet these political criteria, and that is a very important part of 
this bill.
  The economic eligibility criteria required of a debtor country is to 
have in place or be making progress towards an IMF arrangement, World 
Bank structure, or sectoral adjustment loans if necessary, to have put 
in place major investment reforms and, if appropriate, to have agreed 
with its commercial bank lenders on a satisfactory lending program. It 
is this Member's understanding that the International Monetary Fund is 
negotiating a potential staff-monitored program with Bangladesh, for 
example.

  In addition, as evidence of major investment reforms, Bangladesh has 
concluded a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. On a 
preliminary basis, the Department of the Treasury has determined that 
if Bangladesh concludes its negotiation on an IMF staff-monitored 
program, it should meet with economic eligibility requirements for debt 
reduction under this legislation.
  Based on the above, it is my sincere hope that serious consideration 
will be given to Bangladesh within the provisions of this legislation. 
Debt buy-back such as envisioned in this legislation would permit 
Bangladesh to address its lingering debt problems while preserving its 
tropical forest. Mr. Chairman, I bring this specific country's example 
to our attention, but it is an example of how it will work elsewhere.
  In closing, Mr. Chairman, this Member thanks the distinguished 
gentleman from the State of Ohio (Mr. Portman) for introducing this 
important piece of legislation with creativity, with original 
cosponsorship, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) and the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich).
  I commend the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, 
for his leadership demonstrated over the years on environmental matters 
and for helping, with the cooperation of the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Hamilton), to bring this legislation to the floor.
  As other Members in this body have noted, this legislation enjoys 
bipartisan support and is not opposed by the administration. The bill 
was favorably reported by a voice vote of the full Committee on 
International Relations without any discernible objection.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge strong adoption of H.R. 2870; and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento).
  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, I commend the sponsors, the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman), the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and others on the 
committee that have worked on this. It is a good bill. It deserves 
their support.
  This bill builds upon the Conservation Organization's efforts that 
began the debt for nature swaps with the advent of many of these less 
developed nations in terms of trying to strive with meeting their needs 
by debt and find that the economic wherewithal to make the payments is 
not there. And the consequence, Mr. Chairman, is that, very often, they 
attempt to exploit in an improper way the natural resources of that 
country; and one of these natural resources, as has been pointed out, 
is these tropical and temperate rain forests.
  While this bill focuses on the tropical rain forests, they may solve 
the problem of meeting their debt repayment for the year by sacrificing 
and selling off the tropical rain forest, but the problem is that they 
destroy their economic base and much of the biodiversity for the 
future.
  Added to that, the activities of these nations as they are developing 
and struggling to make these debt payments by, in essence, selling 
their legacy, their patrimony of these natural forests as they look at 
it in South America and other parts of the world, there are natural 
phenomena that are also working against these areas.
  Today, as we stand here on the floor, 23 to 25,000 square miles of 
uncontrolled fire has devastated parts of Amazonia, about 16 million 
acres in the last few months. In addition to that, the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman) cited the persistent problem in Indonesia in 
which millions of acres of rain forest have been destroyed.
  So I think that we cannot do as much as we would like to do about 
controlling the weather. There are some ideas about that, if anyone has 
any, in terms of dealing with El Nino. But we can control what is 
happening in terms of these debt repayments.
  This is a move forward to, in fact, try to achieve an international 
understanding and realization of the importance of these tropical rain 
forests that, as have been pointed out, are in less developed countries 
of the world and attempting to preserve them and all of the positive 
benefits that they give from being our pharmacy, for dealing with 
medications, the hydrological cycles that they represent, the presence 
of carbon in these areas, and of course I think most important the 
maintenance of the biodiversity which is so unique to many of these 
forests, which really have not been inventoried, much less fully 
understood, in terms of what the benefit and interrelationship might be 
with mankind and the benefit for mankind.
  I urge support of the bill.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), a member of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I rise in strong support of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, and 
I want to commend my friend and colleague from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for 
his leadership and his hard work on this important legislation.

                              {time}  1145

  It is nice to see Mr. Portman's son Jed, who is 7 years old and in 
the second grade, on the floor of the House here this morning with his 
father, because his generation will benefit from the passage of this 
legislation in many ways. Congratulations, Jed.
  I also want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and 
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) of the Committee on 
International Relations and also the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter) for all their leadership in shepherding this bill through the 
committee. I am pleased to be one of the original 16 cosponsors with my 
colleagues on this particular committee in supporting this legislation.
  Tropical forests provide a wide range of benefits to the entire 
world. They help to reduce greenhouse gases. They house many of the 
species used in the developing of lifesaving pharmaceutical products. 
They affect rainfall, which of course affects crop production and 
coastal resources worldwide.
  As these forests continue to be exploited, last year an estimated 30 
million acres, for example, were lost, the need to save them becomes 
more and more urgent.
  Mr. Chairman, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act is a sound, free-
market approach to a very serious global environmental problem. It will 
encourage the preservation of tropical forests without creating a 
burden for the American taxpayer. It is good, sensible legislation. It 
is worthy of our support. I urge adoption of the legislation.
  I want to again compliment and commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman) for proposing this legislation.

[[Page H1311]]

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. HAMILTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this legislation. 
Let me first extend my congratulations to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman), the chief sponsor of the bill. I think he has done marvelous 
work in bringing this bill to the floor of the House. It is a 
bipartisan initiative in every respect. I also want to extend my thanks 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for his willingness to 
accommodate both the concerns of the administration and the concerns of 
other Members. Their constructive suggestions and amendments improved 
this bill. I also want to note that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne), who spoke previously has been a steadfast supporter of the 
bill, but was inadvertently omitted from the list of cosponsors.
  This bill has been very well explained by my colleagues on the floor. 
I am not going to repeat what they have said. I do want to acknowledge 
the outstanding work of the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter). He 
was one of the early supporters of this program and has seen it through 
all the way. He gave us an excellent description just a moment ago of 
the impact the bill would have on Bangladesh.
  We bring so many bills to this floor under confrontational and 
adversarial conditions. We all understand that is the way the process 
works. But it is a very great pleasure to participate in the 
development of legislation, such as the bill before us today, that has 
such solid, broad bipartisan support. It has been a pleasure for me to 
work on it.
  Let me simply point out to Members that the administration's position 
on the bill is that they support passage of H.R. 2870. At the same 
time, however, the administration has expressed concern about the 
potential financing of the program. The sponsors of the bill hope that 
these financing procedures can be worked out in the future. But it is 
important to note that the administration supports passage of the bill. 
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2870.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume, only to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton) for 
his kind remarks toward me.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Tropical 
Forest Conservation Act of 1998, and I would like to commend the 
gentlemen, Messrs. Portman and Kasich, from Ohio, for their efforts. 
The purpose of this legislation is simple--to facilitate greater 
protection of tropical forests while being cognizant of today's tight 
budgetary constraints.
  The benefits derived from these biologically diverse forests are 
numerous. Rain forests should not be considered as just a source of 
timber. They provide a livelihood for people, a habitat for plants and 
animals, and help stabilize the global climate. Unfortunately, more 
than half of the earth's tropical forests have disappeared. I believe 
it is in the best interest of America to cooperate with the rest of the 
world to protect this vital resource.
  Developing countries face enormous economic pressures which have 
increased the pressure on the world's rainforests. By relieving the 
economic burdens that fuel this destruction and exploitation of fragile 
resources, we can help redirect a nation's development efforts to more 
environmentally friendly projects. HR 2870 addresses this need through 
an innovative program--restructuring the U.S. debts of extremely poor 
countries in exchange for local protection of tropical forests.
  This program would not be open to any country wanting to restructure 
its debt. A country could participate only if it meets certain 
eligibility requirements, such as having a democratically elected 
government. Also, a country would be prohibited from supporting 
terrorism and would have to cooperate in the international war on 
drugs. These are not the only criteria a country must meet to receive 
the benefits of debt restructuring. An eligible country must use the 
funds only to ``preserve, maintain, and restore the tropical forests.''
  Also, the distribution of these funds would be monitored by an 
administering body composed of U.S. Government officials and 
representatives from various environmental, scientific, and academic 
organizations.
  This legislation builds on President Bush's Enterprise for the 
Americas Initiative, providing an effective solution to deforestation 
while assisting less-developed countries restructure uncontrollable 
debt.
  This bill shows what can be accomplished when everyone, irrespective 
of political and ideological views, puts their differences aside to 
solve a common problem. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2870.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this bill. In 
1988, I offered the first debt-for-nature bill. This legislation was 
then incorporated into the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative (EAI) 
by President Bush. This initiative forgave approximately $800 million 
in debt from seven Latin American countries that would have never been 
repaid. This exchange generated approximately $150 million in 
investment for the preservation of tropical forest ecosystems.
  A recent World Wildlife Fund report stated the tropical forests are 
being lost at a rate of 42 million acres per year. The EAI has helped 
to preserve many important tropical forests in the Western Hemisphere, 
most notably the Beni Biosphere Reserve in Bolivia. I am a cosponsor of 
this bill because it builds on my initiative. This financial mechanism 
has been successful in preserving tropical forests in our hemisphere 
and we must now look to other important rainforests, especially those 
in Indonesia. Eighty-eight percent of the original forest in the Asia-
Pacific region have been destroyed and current wildfires throughout the 
islands of Indonesia are exacerbating this situation. This bill expands 
the EAI to this region and will hopefully facilitate the protection of 
tropical forests throughout the world.
  As Chairman of Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced 
Environment (GLOBE USA) and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Human 
Rights Caucus, I support the use of debt-for-nature swaps not only 
because of the success they have had in protecting rainforests but also 
because they utilize local non-governmental organizations. By working 
with and through these community groups, natural resources are 
preserved and the rights of indigenous peoples are respected. I have 
lauded the success of these debt exchanges in the past and I hope that 
this program will continue to expand.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in the bill is considered as an original bill for 
the purpose of amendment and is considered read.
  The text of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is 
as follows:

                               H.R. 2870

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DEBT REDUCTION FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH 
                   TROPICAL FORESTS.

       The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

``PART V--DEBT REDUCTION FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH TROPICAL FORESTS

     ``SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This part may be cited as the `Tropical Forest 
     Conservation Act of 1998'.

     ``SEC. 802. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       ``(1) It is the established policy of the United States to 
     support and seek protection of tropical forests around the 
     world.
       ``(2) Tropical forests provide a wide range of benefits to 
     humankind by--
       ``(A) harboring a major share of the Earth's biological and 
     terrestrial resources, which are the basis for developing 
     pharmaceutical products and revitalizing agricultural crops;
       ``(B) playing a critical role as carbon sinks in reducing 
     greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thus moderating potential 
     global climate change; and
       ``(C) regulating hydrological cycles on which far-flung 
     agricultural and coastal resources depend.
       ``(3) International negotiations and assistance programs to 
     conserve forest resources have proliferated over the past 
     decade, but the rapid rate of tropical deforestation 
     continues unabated.
       ``(4) Developing countries with urgent needs for investment 
     and capital for development have allocated a significant 
     amount of their forests to logging concessions.
       ``(5) Poverty and economic pressures on the populations of 
     developing countries have, over time, resulted in clearing of 
     vast areas of forest for conversion to agriculture, which is 
     often unsustainable in the poor soils underlying tropical 
     forests.
       ``(6) Debt reduction can reduce economic pressures on 
     developing countries and result in increased protection for 
     tropical forests.
       ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this part are--
       ``(1) to recognize the values received by United States 
     citizens from protection of tropical forests;

[[Page H1312]]

       ``(2) to facilitate greater protection of tropical forests 
     (and to give priority to protecting tropical forests with the 
     highest levels of biodiversity and under the most severe 
     threat) by providing for the alleviation of debt in 
     countries where tropical forests are located, thus 
     allowing the use of additional resources to protect these 
     critical resources and reduce economic pressures that have 
     led to deforestation;
       ``(3) to ensure that resources freed from debt in such 
     countries are targeted to protection of tropical forests and 
     their associated values; and
       ``(4) to rechannel existing resources to facilitate the 
     protection of tropical forests.

     ``SEC. 803. DEFINITIONS.

       ``As used in this part:
       ``(1) Administering body.--The term `administering body' 
     means the entity provided for in section 809(c).
       ``(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     `appropriate congressional committees' means--
       ``(A) the Committee on International Relations and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       ``(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the Senate.
       ``(3) Beneficiary country.--The term `beneficiary country' 
     means an eligible country with respect to which the authority 
     of section 806(a)(1), section 807(a)(1), or paragraph (1) or 
     (2) of section 808(a) is exercised.
       ``(4) Board.--The term `Board' means the board referred to 
     in section 811.
       ``(5) Developing country with a tropical forest.--The term 
     `developing country with a tropical forest' means--
       ``(A)(i) a country that has a per capita income of $725 or 
     less in 1994 United States dollars (commonly referred to as 
     `low-income country'), as determined and adjusted on an 
     annual basis by the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development in its World Development Report; or
       ``(ii) a country that has a per capita income of more than 
     $725 but less than $8,956 in 1994 United States dollars 
     (commonly referred to as `middle-income country'), as 
     determined and adjusted on an annual basis by the 
     International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in its 
     World Development Report; and
       ``(B) a country that contains at least one tropical forest 
     that is globally outstanding in terms of its biological 
     diversity or represents one of the larger intact blocks of 
     tropical forests left, on a regional, continental, or global 
     scale.
       ``(6) Eligible country.--The term `eligible country' means 
     a country designated by the President in accordance with 
     section 805.
       ``(7) Tropical forest agreement.--The term `Tropical Forest 
     Agreement' or `Agreement' means a Tropical Forest Agreement 
     provided for in section 809.
       ``(8) Tropical forest facility.--The term `Tropical Forest 
     Facility' or `Facility' means the Tropical Forest Facility 
     established in the Department of the Treasury by section 804.
       ``(9) Tropical forest fund.--The term `Tropical Forest 
     Fund' or `Fund' means a Tropical Forest Fund provided for in 
     section 810.

     ``SEC. 804. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACILITY.

       ``There is established in the Department of the Treasury an 
     entity to be known as the `Tropical Forest Facility' for the 
     purpose of providing for the administration of debt reduction 
     in accordance with this part.

     ``SEC. 805. ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.

       ``(a) In General.--To be eligible for benefits from the 
     Facility under this part, a country shall be a developing 
     country with a tropical forest--
       ``(1) whose government meets the requirements applicable to 
     Latin American or Caribbean countries under paragraphs (1) 
     through (5) and (7) of section 703(a) of this Act;
       ``(2) that has put in place major investment reforms, as 
     evidenced by the conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty 
     with the United States, implementation of an investment 
     sector loan with the Inter-American Development Bank, World 
     Bank-supported investment reforms, or other measures, as 
     appropriate; and
       ``(3) whose government meets other requirements related to 
     its environmental policies and practices, as determined by 
     the President.
       ``(b) Eligibility Determinations.--
       ``(1) In general.--Consistent with subsection (a), the 
     President shall determine whether a country is eligible to 
     receive benefits under this part.
       ``(2) Congressional notification.--The President shall 
     notify the appropriate congressional committees of his 
     intention to designate a country as an eligible country at 
     least 15 days in advance of any formal determination.

     ``SEC. 806. REDUCTION OF DEBT OWED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A 
                   RESULT OF CONCESSIONAL LOANS UNDER THE FOREIGN 
                   ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.

       ``(a) Authority To Reduce Debt.--
       ``(1) Authority.--The President may reduce the amount owed 
     to the United States (or any agency of the United States) 
     that is outstanding as of January 1, 1997, as a result of 
     concessional loans made to an eligible country by the United 
     States under part I of this Act, chapter 4 of part II of this 
     Act, or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation.
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--For the cost (as 
     defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 
     1990) for the reduction of any debt pursuant to this section, 
     there are authorized to be appropriated to the President--
       ``(A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(B) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
       ``(C) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
       ``(3) Certain prohibitions inapplicable.--
       ``(A) In general.--A reduction of debt pursuant to this 
     section shall not be considered assistance for purposes of 
     any provision of law limiting assistance to a country.
       ``(B) Additional requirement.--The authority of this 
     section may be exercised notwithstanding section 620(r) of 
     this Act or section 321 of the International Development and 
     Food Assistance Act of 1975.
       ``(b) Implementation of Debt Reduction.--
       ``(1) In general.--Any debt reduction pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall be accomplished at the direction of the 
     Facility by the exchange of a new obligation for obligations 
     of the type referred to in subsection (a) outstanding as of 
     the date specified in subsection (a)(1).
       ``(2) Exchange of obligations.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Facility shall notify the agency 
     primarily responsible for administering part I of this Act of 
     an agreement entered into under paragraph (1) with an 
     eligible country to exchange a new obligation for outstanding 
     obligations.
       ``(B) Additional requirement.--At the direction of the 
     Facility, the old obligations that are the subject of the 
     agreement shall be canceled and a new debt obligation for the 
     country shall be established relating to the agreement, and 
     the agency primarily responsible for administering part I of 
     this Act shall make an adjustment in its accounts to reflect 
     the debt reduction.
       ``(c) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The following 
     additional terms and conditions shall apply to the reduction 
     of debt under subsection (a)(1) in the same manner as such 
     terms and conditions apply to the reduction of debt under 
     section 704(a)(1) of this Act:
       ``(1) The provisions relating to repayment of principal 
     under section 705 of this Act.
       ``(2) The provisions relating to interest on new 
     obligations under section 706 of this Act.

     ``SEC. 807. REDUCTION OF DEBT OWED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A 
                   RESULT OF CREDITS EXTENDED UNDER TITLE I OF THE 
                   AGRICULTURAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANCE 
                   ACT OF 1954.

       ``(a) Authority To Reduce Debt.--
       ``(1) Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the President may reduce the amount owed to the United 
     States (or any agency of the United States) that is 
     outstanding as of January 1, 1997, as a result of any credits 
     extended under title I of the Agricultural Trade Development 
     and Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to a 
     country eligible for benefits from the Facility.
       ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--
       ``(A) In general.--For the cost (as defined in section 
     502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) for the 
     reduction of any debt pursuant to this section, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the President--
       ``(i) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(ii) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
       ``(iii) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
       ``(B) Limitation.--The authority provided by this section 
     shall be available only to the extent that appropriations for 
     the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit 
     Reform Act of 1990) of the modification of any debt pursuant 
     to this section are made in advance.
       ``(b) Implementation of Debt Reduction.--
       ``(1) In general.--Any debt reduction pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall be accomplished at the direction of the 
     Facility by the exchange of a new obligation for obligations 
     of the type referred to in subsection (a) outstanding as of 
     the date specified in subsection (a)(1).
       ``(2) Exchange of obligations.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Facility shall notify the Commodity 
     Credit Corporation of an agreement entered into under 
     paragraph (1) with an eligible country to exchange a new 
     obligation for outstanding obligations.
       ``(B) Additional requirement.--At the direction of the 
     Facility, the old obligations that are the subject of the 
     agreement shall be canceled and a new debt obligation shall 
     be established for the country relating to the agreement, and 
     the Commodity Credit Corporation shall make an adjustment in 
     its accounts to reflect the debt reduction.
       ``(c) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The following 
     additional terms and conditions shall apply to the reduction 
     of debt under subsection (a)(1) in the same manner as such 
     terms and conditions apply to the reduction of debt under 
     section 604(a)(1) of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
     Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1738c):
       ``(1) The provisions relating to repayment of principal 
     under section 605 of such Act.
       ``(2) The provisions relating to interest on new 
     obligations under section 606 of such Act.

     ``SEC. 808. AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE IN DEBT-FOR-NATURE SWAPS AND 
                   DEBT BUYBACKS.

       ``(a) Loans and Credits Eligible for Sale, Reduction, or 
     Cancellation.--
       ``(1) Debt-for-nature swaps.--
       ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the President may, in accordance with this section, sell 
     to any eligible purchaser described in subparagraph (B) any 
     concessional loans described in section 806(a)(1) or any 
     credits described in section 807(a)(1), or on receipt of 
     payment from an eligible purchaser described in subparagraph 
     (B), reduce or cancel such loans (or credits) or portion 
     thereof, only for the purpose of facilitating a debt-for-
     nature swap to support eligible activities described in 
     section 809(d).
       ``(B) Eligible purchaser described.--A loan or credit may 
     be sold, reduced, or canceled under subparagraph (A) only to 
     a purchaser who presents plans satisfactory to the President 
     for using the loan or credit for the purpose of engaging in 
     debt-for-nature swaps to support eligible activities 
     described in section 809(d).
       ``(C) Consultation requirement.--Before the sale under 
     subparagraph (A) to any eligible purchaser described in 
     subparagraph (B), or any reduction or cancellation under such 
     subparagraph (A), of any loan or credit made to an eligible 
     country, the President shall consult

[[Page H1313]]

     with the country concerning the amount of loans or credits to 
     be sold, reduced, or canceled and their uses for debt-for-
     nature swaps to support eligible activities described in 
     section 809(d).
       ``(D) Authorization of appropriations.--For the cost (as 
     defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 
     1990) for the reduction of any debt pursuant to subparagraph 
     (A), amounts authorized to be appropriated under sections 
     806(a)(2) and 807(a)(2) shall be made available for such 
     reduction of debt pursuant to subparagraph (A).
       ``(2) Debt buybacks.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, the President may, in accordance with this section, 
     sell to any eligible country any concessional loans described 
     in section 806(a)(1) or any credits described in section 
     807(a)(1), or on receipt of payment from an eligible country, 
     reduce or cancel such loans (or credits) or portion thereof, 
     only for the purpose of facilitating a debt buyback by an 
     eligible country of its own qualified debt, only if the 
     eligible country uses an additional amount of the local 
     currency of the eligible country, equal to not less than the 
     lesser of 40 percent of the price paid for such debt by such 
     eligible country, or the difference between the price paid 
     for such debt and the face value of such debt, to support 
     eligible activities described in section 809(d).
       ``(3) Limitation.--The authority provided by paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) shall be available only to the extent that 
     appropriations for the cost (as defined in section 502(5) of 
     the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) of the modification of 
     any debt pursuant such paragraphs are made in advance.
       ``(4) Terms and conditions.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the President shall, in accordance with 
     this section, establish the terms and conditions under which 
     loans and credits may be sold, reduced, or canceled pursuant 
     to this section.
       ``(5) Administration.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Facility shall notify the 
     administrator of the agency primarily responsible for 
     administering part I of this Act or the Commodity Credit 
     Corporation, as the case may be, of eligible purchasers 
     described in paragraph (1)(B) that the President has 
     determined to be eligible under paragraph (1), and shall 
     direct such agency or Corporation, as the case may be, to 
     carry out the sale, reduction, or cancellation of a loan 
     pursuant to such paragraph.
       ``(B) Additional requirement.--Such agency or Corporation, 
     as the case may be, shall make an adjustment in its accounts 
     to reflect the sale, reduction, or cancellation.
       ``(b) Deposit of Proceeds.--The proceeds from the sale, 
     reduction, or cancellation of any loan sold, reduced, or 
     canceled pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the 
     United States Government account or accounts established for 
     the repayment of such loan.

     ``SEC. 809. TROPICAL FOREST AGREEMENT.

       ``(a) Authority.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of State is authorized, in 
     consultation with other appropriate officials of the Federal 
     Government, to enter into a Tropical Forest Agreement with 
     any eligible country concerning the operation and use of the 
     Fund for that country.
       ``(2) Consultation.--In the negotiation of such an 
     Agreement, the Secretary shall consult with the Board in 
     accordance with section 811.
       ``(b) Contents of Agreement.--The requirements contained in 
     section 708(b) of this Act (relating to contents of an 
     agreement) shall apply to a Agreement in the same manner as 
     such requirements apply to an Americas Framework Agreement.
       ``(c) Administering Body.--
       ``(1) In general.--Amounts disbursed from the Fund in each 
     beneficiary country shall be administered by a body 
     constituted under the laws of that country.
       ``(2) Composition.--
       ``(A) In general.--The administering body shall consist 
     of--
       ``(i) one or more individuals appointed by the United 
     States Government;
       ``(ii) one or more individuals appointed by the government 
     of the beneficiary country; and
       ``(iii) individuals who represent a broad range of--

       ``(I) environmental nongovernmental organizations of, or 
     active in, the beneficiary country;
       ``(II) local community development nongovernmental 
     organizations of the beneficiary country; and
       ``(III) scientific or academic organizations or 
     institutions of the beneficiary country.

       ``(B) Additional requirement.--A majority of the members of 
     the administering body shall be individuals described in 
     subparagraph (A)(iii).
       ``(3) Responsibilities.--The requirements contained in 
     section 708(c)(3) of this Act (relating to responsibilities 
     of the administering body) shall apply to an administering 
     body described in paragraph (1) in the same manner as such 
     requirements apply to an administering body described in 
     section 708(c)(1) of this Act.
       ``(d) Eligible Activities.--Amounts deposited in a Fund 
     shall be used to provide grants to preserve, maintain, and 
     restore the tropical forests in the beneficiary country, 
     including one or more of the following activities:
       ``(1) Establishment, restoration, protection, and 
     maintenance of parks, protected areas, and reserves.
       ``(2) Development and implementation of scientifically 
     sound systems of natural resource management, including land 
     and ecosystem management practices.
       ``(3) Training programs to strengthen conservation 
     institutions and increase scientific, technical, and 
     managerial capacities of individuals and organizations 
     involved in conservation efforts.
       ``(4) Restoration, protection, or sustainable use of 
     diverse animal and plant species.
       ``(5) Mitigation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
       ``(6) Development and support of the livelihoods of 
     individuals living in or near a tropical forest, including 
     the cultures of such individuals, in a manner consistent with 
     protecting such tropical forest.
       ``(e) Grant Recipients.--
       ``(1) In general.--Grants made from a Fund shall be made 
     to--
       ``(A) nongovernmental environmental, conservation, and 
     indigenous people organizations of, or active in, the 
     beneficiary country;
       ``(B) other appropriate local or regional entities of, or 
     active in, the beneficiary country; and
       ``(C) in exceptional circumstances, the government of the 
     beneficiary country.
       ``(2) Priority.--In providing grants under paragraph (1), 
     priority shall be given to projects that are run by 
     nongovernmental organizations and other private entities and 
     that involve local communities in their planning and 
     execution.
       ``(f) Review of Larger Grants.--Any grant of more than 
     $100,000 from a Fund shall be subject to veto by the 
     Government of the United States or the government of the 
     beneficiary country.
       ``(g) Eligibility Criteria.--In the event that a country 
     ceases to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in 
     section 805(a), as determined by the President pursuant to 
     section 805(b), then grants from the Fund for that country 
     may only be made to nongovernmental organizations until such 
     time as the President determines that such country meets the 
     eligibility requirements set forth in section 805(a).

     ``SEC. 810. TROPICAL FOREST FUND.

       ``(a) Establishment.--Each beneficiary country that enters 
     into a Tropical Forest Agreement under section 809 shall be 
     required to establish a Tropical Forest Fund to receive 
     payments of interest on new obligations undertaken by the 
     beneficiary country under this part.
       ``(b) Requirements Relating to Operation of Fund.--The 
     following terms and conditions shall apply to the Fund in the 
     same manner as such terms and conditions apply to an 
     Enterprise for the Americas Fund under section 707 of this 
     Act:
       ``(1) The provision relating to deposits under subsection 
     (b) of such section.
       ``(2) The provision relating to investments under 
     subsection (c) of such section.
       ``(3) The provision relating to disbursements under 
     subsection (d) of such section.

     ``SEC. 811. BOARD.

       ``(a) Enterprise for the Americas Board.--The Enterprise 
     for the Americas Board established under section 610(a) of 
     the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 
     (7 U.S.C. 1738i(a)) shall, in addition to carrying out the 
     responsibilities of the Board under section 610(c) of such 
     Act, carry out the duties described in subsection (c) of this 
     section for the purposes of this part.
       ``(b) Additional Membership.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Enterprise for the Americas Board 
     shall be composed of an additional four members appointed by 
     the President as follows:
       ``(A) Two representatives from the United States 
     Government.
       ``(B) Two representatives from private nongovernmental 
     environmental, scientific, and academic organizations with 
     experience and expertise in preservation, maintenance, and 
     restoration of tropical forests.
       ``(2) Chairperson.--Notwithstanding section 610(b)(2) of 
     the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 
     (7 U.S.C. 1738i(b)(2)), the Enterprise for the Americas Board 
     shall be headed by a chairperson who shall be appointed by 
     the President from among the representatives appointed under 
     section 610(b)(1)(A) of such Act or paragraph (1)(A) of this 
     subsection.
       ``(c) Duties.--The duties described in this subsection are 
     as follows:
       ``(1) Advise the Secretary of State on the negotiations of 
     Tropical Forest Agreements.
       ``(2) Ensure, in consultation with--
       ``(A) the government of the beneficiary country,
       ``(B) nongovernmental organizations of the beneficiary 
     country,
       ``(C) nongovernmental organizations of the region (if 
     appropriate),
       ``(D) environmental, scientific, and academic leaders of 
     the beneficiary country, and
       ``(E) environmental, scientific, and academic leaders of 
     the region (as appropriate),
     that a suitable administering body is identified for each 
     Fund.
       ``(3) Review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of 
     each administering body.

     ``SEC. 812. CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CONGRESS.

       ``The President shall consult with the appropriate 
     congressional committees on a periodic basis to review the 
     operation of the Facility under this part and the eligibility 
     of countries for benefits from the Facility under this part.

     ``SEC. 813. ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than December 31 of each 
     fiscal year, the President shall prepare and transmit to the 
     Congress an annual report concerning the operation of the 
     Facility for the prior fiscal year. Such report shall 
     include--
       ``(1) a description of the activities undertaken by the 
     Facility during the previous fiscal year;
       ``(2) a description of any Agreement entered into under 
     this part;
       ``(3) a report on any Funds that have been established 
     under this part and on the operations of such Funds; and
       ``(4) a description of any grants that have been provided 
     by administering bodies pursuant to Agreements under this 
     part.
       ``(b) Supplemental Views in Annual Report.--Not later than 
     December 15 of each fiscal year, each member of the Board 
     shall be entitled

[[Page H1314]]

     to receive a copy of the report required under subsection 
     (a). Each member of the Board may prepare and submit 
     supplemental views to the President on the implementation of 
     this part by December 31 for inclusion in the annual report 
     when it is transmitted to Congress pursuant to this 
     section.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. During consideration of the bill for amendment, the 
Chair may accord priority in recognition to a Member offering an 
amendment that he has printed in the designated place in the 
Congressional Record. Those amendments will be considered read.
  The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for 
a recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5 
minutes the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately 
follows another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first 
question shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
  Are there any amendments to the bill?


                 Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 1 offered by Mr. Gilman:
       Page 10, after line 15, insert the following:
       (c) Notification Requirement.--The President shall notify 
     the congressional committees specified in section 634A of 
     this Act at least 15 days in advance of each reduction of 
     debt pursuant to this section in accordance with the 
     procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under 
     such section 634A.
       Page 10, line 16, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''.
       Page 12, after line 25, insert the following:
       (c) Notification Requirement.--The President shall notify 
     the congressional committees specified in section 634A of 
     this Act at least 15 days in advance of each reduction of 
     debt pursuant to this section in accordance with the 
     procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under 
     such section 634A.
       Page 13, line 1, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''.
       Page 16, after line 21, insert the following:
       (b) Notification Requirement.--The President shall notify 
     the congressional committees specified in section 634A of 
     this Act at least 15 days in advance of each sale, reduction, 
     or cancellation of loans or credits pursuant to this section 
     in accordance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming 
     notifications under such section 634A.
       Page 16, line 22, strike ``(b)'' and insert ``(c)''.

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment merely gives the Congress an 
extra level of protection with regard to this bill. Under the current 
bill, the administration must notify the Congress when a country is 
eligible for debt relief. While that is comforting, the Congress would 
not know of the amount of debt to be forgiven, the financial commitment 
to the environment made by the host country, the specific habitat to be 
protected or the local groups designated by the administration and host 
country to carry out the project.
  Under this bill, we are giving authority to the President to carry 
out debt relief anywhere a country is eligible. We want to do projects 
in difficult nations like Indonesia and eventually the Congo where 
critical habitats are, but I have some concerns about the governments 
and local groups there. This amendment would give us one last look at 
the complete arrangement before moving forward.
  We would reference section 634(A) of the Foreign Assistant Act, using 
a well-worn procedure of consultation between the Congress and the 
executive branch. I understand that the Treasury Department had some 
concerns with the amendment. I am totally willing to work with them to 
refine the notification process as the bill moves through the Senate. 
Accordingly, I urge our Members to support the amendment.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. I 
commend the gentleman for bringing it forward. I think all of us agree 
that the Congress should be notified of any appropriations to eligible 
countries under the bill. I was pleased to hear the gentleman say a 
moment ago that he would work with the administration with regard to a 
notification process that conserves administrative resources and is not 
duplicative. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 388, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) 
will be postponed.
  Are there further amendments?


              Amendments No. 2 and 3 Offered by Mr. Vento

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, I offer amendments, and I ask unanimous 
consent that they be considered en bloc.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendments.
  The text of the amendments is as follows:

       Amendments No. 2 and 3 offered by Mr. Vento:
       Page 19, after line 20, insert the following:
       ``(5) Research and identification of medicinal uses of 
     tropical forest plant life to treat human diseases and 
     illnesses and other health-related concerns.
       Page 19, line 21, strike ``(5)'' and insert ``(6)''.
       Page 19, line 23, strike ``(6)'' and insert ``(7)''.
       Page 23, line 12, after ``scientific'' insert 
     ``indigenous,''.
       Page 23, line 14, after ``scientific,'' insert 
     ``indigenous,''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Chairman, again I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Portman), the principal sponsor of the bill. These amendments are 
noncontroversial amendments. I appreciate the support of the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Hamilton), chairman and ranking member of the committee.
  I would want to point out that this is a good bill, but one of the 
major ways that we gain information here is by consulting with the 
indigenous people of these areas from the rain forests that in fact 
have used many of the products, the plants, both the fauna and flora of 
these rain forests for medicinal and other purposes. That consultation 
process is recognized in Amendment No. 3 that I have here where I amend 
and put the word ``indigenous,'' as well as consulting with the 
scientists, with the government officials and others, the academic 
side, to in fact consult with the indigenous people. What we really 
have in consulting with the indigenous people from these cultures is 
really the history of humankind in terms of the success, the trial and 
errors that they have used in terms of applying these plant substances, 
these animal substances for medicinal uses. It only is logical, in fact 
that is the way that most scientists, most ethnobotanists and others in 
fact gain the clues as to where to search for and look and seek these, 
what we call wonder drugs today, Mr. Chairman.
  Secondly, this amendment would make in order on page 20 a new 
eligible activity for grant, which would be research and identification 
of medicinal use of tropical forest plants to treat human diseases and 
illness and other related concerns. In other words, Mr. Chairman, the 
concern here was that while I think it is consistent in the bill, the 
oft repeated goal of trying to preserve this pharmacological material 
from these forests, in fact, the grant process did not specify for this 
purpose. My amendment offered en bloc will do that.
  Mr. Chairman, my interest in this springs from work that I conducted 
in years past leading the Parks and Public Lands Committee in 
designating as a park the fallow tropical rain forest of American 
Samoa. I encountered and became a friend of Dr. Paul Cox, a professor 
from Brigham Young University in Utah, and who now is leading the 
Tropical Forestry Botanical Garden in Hawaii. He is a noted scholar and 
has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 10 top medical 
scientists in 1997. He related the experience that he had as a Mormon 
missionary first, and later as a professor of botany in terms of trying 
to gain the understanding and currently gain that from the indigenous 
people, from the American Samoan, from the Western Samoan people and 
has in fact been able to have several compounds and materials 
considered for medical use in the United States. Very often, he put it 
pretty bluntly that many of these countries in order to get a school or 
a building are prepared to sell off thousands of acres

[[Page H1315]]

of their land so they get a school or other building put up. The fact 
of the matter is the real value of those lands that we know and is 
within the biodiversity and other characteristics which they exhibit. 
What he has been able to do, and I know it is not the subject of this 
bill but I will be submitting legislation on it, was to in fact give 
the indigenous people, the American Samoan or the Western Samoan 
people, part of the profit that comes from the replication of these 
natural compounds and substances that were the intellectual property of 
these Samoan people. This is, I think, putting a real value on it and a 
positive incentive for others to share this information and then to 
benefit as well from such discovery.
  H.R. 2870 is a positive bill. Its goal is to end or significantly 
curtail the destruction of the world's tropical forests with nature's 
debt for swapping a commitment to preserve such rain forests as a new 
and working policy and law. In the past half-century we have logged or 
burned half of the planet's tropical forests. In the eighties, as a 
matter of fact, they were disappearing at the rate of 30 million acres 
per year--roughly the size of Pennsylvania. And as we have seen again 
and again, when you slash, burn or log the forest, many species, the 
biodiversity, of flora and fauna are lost, most often permanently!
  This legislation seeks to stem that tide. With passage of H.R. 2870, 
the United States will continue and strengthen its efforts to encourage 
developing nations to treat their forests responsibly. It expands the 
successful model created by the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative 
(EAI) in which the United States offers debt relief to nations in 
exchange for the protection of important forest habitats. With passage 
of this bill, nations around the world will be able to participate in a 
program that has worked very well in the Americas. That's good news for 
Mother Earth because there are tropical forests around the globe--in 
Africa, Polynesia, Asia, and elsehwere.
  I commend Mr. Kasich, Mr. Portman, Mr. Gilman, and Mr. Hamilton for 
working together on a bipartisan basis to bring this issue to the 
floor. It proves something that I have been saying for a long time: The 
environment is not and should not be a partisan issue.
  Today I seek to offer two amendments that address a unique aspect of 
our rain forests. The amendments focus on the role that tropical 
forests and the culture of the people that live in such areas play in 
the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals.
  An estimated one-half of the Earth's 250,000 plants survive in 
tropical forest ecosystems. Of these, less than one percent have been 
exhaustively studied for their possible role as medicinal substances. 
This is incredible considering that important medicines come from such 
natural plant resources including aspirin, codeine, quinine, which 
combats malaria, and taxol, which has proven effective in the first 
against ovarian and breast cancer, and many more. The basic chemistry 
comes from nature first and is replicated in our labs for commercial 
manufacture. These are the wonder drugs that save lives and improve our 
quality of life.
  A very good friend of ours, Professor Paul Cox, has worked 
extensively in the field of ethnobotany--the study of the relationship 
between plants and people. I will seek unanimous consent that a profile 
of Mr. Cox that appeared in Time Magazine appear in the Record 
following my statement. Dr. Cox is our modern scientist learning from 
indigenous peoples. He has spent time in Polynesia and discovered an 
impressive array of pharmaceuticals used by the indigenous people to 
develop medicines from plants and animals that are found in their 
natural rain forest environment. Just among the most recent discoveries 
were medicinal substances to cure or reduce skin inflammation, rashes, 
diarrhea and asthma--all for the asking and understanding of the 
paleotropical rainforest people of Samoa, a Polynesian island in the 
Western Pacific.

  In other parts of the world, indigenous peoples have used plants that 
fight anything from fungal infections of the skin to cancer. The 
problem is that there are neither enough scientists such as Dr. Cox nor 
enough money to fund their essential research. My amendment would 
address the grant expenditure provisions of this bill to include 
eligibility for the research and identification of medicinal uses of 
tropical forest flora and fauna to treat human diseases and illnesses.
  This is an urgent issue that merits our attention. Just as the 
tropical forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, the use of 
plants in traditional societies seems to be a pursuit of previous 
generations that are passing on with their know how. Two of the Samoan 
healers who worked with our friend Mr. Cox to develop a powerful 
antiviral compound passed away in 1994! Their knowledge went with them. 
One can only speculate about the number of healers Mr. Cox or other 
ethnobotanists have not yet reached. In passing this amendment, we may 
be able to capture much of this know how, a body of knowledge that is 
the experience of mankind and human history to exploit such natural 
resources.
  While this small change won't translate into more money to 
definitively access and inventory potential medicinal flora and fauna, 
it is a very positive step to embrace the activity as eligible for such 
support and perhaps curing some of our most stubborn diseases today and 
tomorrow.
  I am also offering in this enbloc amendment a policy to expand the 
consultation requirement for nations when they are shaping and writing 
Tropical Forest Agreements. The bill currently includes a requirement 
to consult with scientists and academics who are familiar with tropical 
forest issues. My amendment would be certain that indigenous 
representatives, the local people of such areas, are at the table, as 
well. As I note above, within these cultures there are, in many cases, 
a far more intimate knowledge of the utility of the earth's rain 
forests than we could attain. Let us use it daily and openly 
acknowledging and rewarding their special knowledge and culture. It is 
absolutely crucial that we include such input into the tropical forest 
preservation that this measure envisions.
  An issue related to these two amendments that I considered raising 
today is the protection of the intellectual property--the value of such 
knowledge and know-how that healers in traditional society possess. 
Indeed, if a pharmaceutical company were to find a cure for cancer or 
AIDS with the help of healers and traditional medicine, we should 
certainly ensure that they were properly compensated and share in the 
reward and profit for the use of their culture's intellectual property. 
As this is of course a more complicated issue and not as relevant to 
the issues in this bill, I will attempt to address this issue at a 
later date in a separate policy initiative. I simply wanted to note to 
the Chairman and the ranking member that this was something we should 
keep in mind as we proceed with the preservation and utilization of 
these biologically diverse rain forests.
  Natural weather events over which we have little control today are 
resulting in fire out of control in Amazonia--23 to 25,000 square 
miles, in fact some 16 million acres have been affected. Additionally 
in parts of the Indonesian region, fire has devastated vast regions of 
virgin rain forest, areas that will be lost for all of the important 
qualities--a carbon sink, the hydrological regime of these ecosystems, 
the sheer biodiversity, and the major source of pharmaceutical 
products--for tomorrow is being adversary impacted by such phenomenon 
is essential that we pass this measure and most importantly make it 
work. The international nature of our environment has never been more 
apparent, but alas the willingness of the United States to lead and to 
participate seems to be subject to a paralysis of fear and suspicion. 
Hopefully this measure signals a reversal of the denial that has 
characterized a number of harmful House-passed measures that undercut 
voluntary conservation treaties and agreements key to a rational 
pursuit of global environmental policy based on success and cooperation 
around the world.
  It was a pleasure working on this issue with the members of the 
Committee and the sponsors of this bill. I am especially pleased that 
we will be able to dispose of these important issues without 
controversy today. These are good amendments to a good bill and I ask 
for my colleagues support.

 Seeking Answers in Ancient Rain-Forest Remedies Is a Life's Work for 
                              Plant Hunter

       The teacher and student sit cross-legged, facing each other 
     on the floor of the open-sided hut in Western Samoa. Behind 
     them the rain forest rises to the pinnacle of a long-dormant 
     volcano. Beneath the thatched roof, a gaggle of children 
     intently watches the proceedings. The teacher is Salome 
     Isofea, 30, a young healer who is demonstrating her art. The 
     man opposite her, a Westerner named Paul Alan Cox, is no 
     ordinary student. He is a botany professor and dean at 
     Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, a world specialist 
     in medicinal plants and, far from least in this exotic 
     setting, the paramount chief of the nearby village of 
     Falealupo. To people here, he is known as Nafanua, in honor 
     of a legendary Samoan warrior goddess who once saved the 
     village from oppression and protected its forests.
       Salome is explaining a traditional cure for pterygium, an 
     eye affliction common to the tropics in which vision 
     gradually becomes obscured as a layer of tissue encroaches 
     over the cornea. The traditional cure used by healers is 
     leaves of Centella asiatrica, a groundhugging vine, which 
     Salome chews into a poultice, smears on a cloth and then 
     places as a compress on the afflicted eye for three 
     consecutive nights.
       But before this can be done, Salome explains, there is 
     another crucial part of the cure. Holding a coconut-shell 
     bowl containing ashes, she flicks them in the direction of 
     Cox, who is playing the patient. When he soberly asks why the 
     ashes are necessary, she replies that they enhance 
     ``spiritual transmission'' between healer and patient. ``We 
     Westerners have to suspend judgment at these times.''

[[Page H1316]]

 only young practicing healers, cox believes, can prevent the loss of 
                         centuries of knowledge

       Look at our own belief in doctors wearing white coats. In 
     Western culture that uniform is comparable to the ``spiritual 
     transmission she sees in the use of ash.''
       Moments like this are typical of Cox's experience as he 
     scours the world's flora in search of plants that will 
     benefit Western medicine. Cox has spent years in Samoa 
     interviewing or apprenticing himself to traditional healers. 
     He has also traveled throughout the South Pacific, as well as 
     in Southeast Asia, South America, East Africa and as far 
     north as Sweden's Lapland. In Samoa alone, healers have led 
     him and his colleagues to 74 medicinal plants that might 
     prove useful.
       Samoan healers concoct poultices and infusions from the 
     leaves, bark and roots of local plants, using them for 
     conditions that range from high fever to appendicitis. Among 
     them are root of 'Ago (curcuma longa) for rashes, leaves of 
     the kuava tree (Psidium guajava) for diarrhea, and the bark 
     of vavae (Ceiba pentandra) for asthma. Virtually all the 
     healers are women who learned their art from their mothers, 
     who in turn learned it from their mothers. Now knowledge of 
     the recipes and their administration, even the location of 
     the plants in the forests, is endangered as more and more 
     daughters forgo the long filial apprenticeships in favor of 
     using Western pills and ointments.
       For this reason, the discovery of young practicing healers 
     like Salome delights Cox, who believes that only people like 
     her can prevent the loss of centuries of knowledge. If he can 
     carry Salome's knowledge to the developed world in the form 
     of plants whose myriad chemical compounds might help combat 
     incurable diseases--notably cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer's--the 
     impetus to save the Samoan rain forest, and all forests, will 
     be that much stronger.
       Fewer than 1% of the world's 265,000 flowering plants, most 
     inhabiting equatorial regions, have been tested for their 
     effectiveness against disease. ``We haven't even scratched 
     the surface--not even in our own backyard,'' says Jim Miller, 
     director of the Missouri Botanical Garden's natural-products 
     program. Yet nearly a quarter of prescription drugs sold in 
     the U.S. are based on chemicals from just 40 plant species. 
     Examples are abundant. Codeine and morphine are derived from 
     poppies. Vincristine and vinblastine, isolated from the rosy 
     periwinkle, help treat cancers, including Hodgkin's disease 
     and some leukemias. Curare, taken from several lethal 
     Amazonian plants and often used to tip hunting arrows, is 
     used in drugs that bolster anesthesia. An extract of the 
     snakeroot plant, reserpine, traditionally employed in Asia to 
     counteract poisonous snake bite, is the basis of a number of 
     tranquilizers and hypertension drugs. Taxol, a compound in 
     the bark of the Pacific yew, is used to treat some cases of 
     advanced ovarian and breast cancer.
       The drive is intensifying to collect and screen more 
     natural products for their medicinal effects, says Gordon 
     Cragg, chief of the National Cancer Institute's natural-
     products branch: ``Nature produces chemicals that no chemist 
     would ever dream of at the laboratory bench.'' All this is 
     heartening for biologists and environmentalists concerned 
     about the dwindling of the planet's biodiversity, mostly 
     concentrated in a wide girdle around the equator. Human 
     activity, from farming to logging and road building, is 
     chewing at this girdle, driving countless species to 
     extinction even before they have been discovered. ``I see 
     ethnobotany--the study of the relationship between people and 
     plants--as the key to the preservation of this vast 
     collection of species as well as a pathway to halting many 
     diseases,'' says Cox.
       Cox, 44, a Mormon, first came to Samoa in 1973, when he was 
     assigned to the country for his two-year compulsory 
     missionary service after he graduated from Brigham Young as a 
     botany major. His father was a park ranger and his mother a 
     wildlife and fisheries biologist; his grandfather created the 
     Utah state park system; and his great-grandfather was a 
     founder of Arbor Day. Cox naturally expected to end up 
     involved in conservation, but his stint in Samoa surpassed 
     all his expectations.
       He was not only impressed by the far-reaching influence of 
     botany that he witnessed--beginning with the scene of a 
     Samoan fisherman using a plant to poison fish in a river--but 
     he also learned to speak and write Samoan better than many 
     Samoans. (A difficult language, Samoan in its most elegant 
     form requires extensive knowledge of local ritual and 
     legend.) Cox went on to earn a doctorate in biology at 
     Harvard, then joined Brigham Young's faculty as a botanist 
     studying plant physiology and pollination.
       In 1984 Cox returned to Samoa as an ethnobotanist, 
     propelled there by personal misfortune. That year, Cox's 
     mother had died a long and painful death from cancer. After 
     witnessing her suffering, Cox experienced a revelation of 
     sorts. Well aware of the rich tradition of folk healing he 
     had observed a decade earlier, he now hoped to find a cure 
     for cancer. ``I vowed I would do whatever I could to fight 
     the disease that killed my mother,'' he writes in Nafanua: 
     Saving the Samoan Rain Forest, a book being published this 
     fall that recounts his work and life in Samoa.
       This time he brought along his wife and four young 
     children. The family settled on the island of Savai'i in the 
     isolated village of Falealupo, the westernmost point of 
     Western Samoa, one of the world's poorest countries (average 
     annual per capita income: $100). Here, far from many of the 
     Western influences of neighboring American Samoa, Cox felt he 
     could learn about the plants and the healers who use them 
     before both vanished.
       Major technological advances in screening processes have 
     helped Cox and other ethnobotanists immensely. 
     Pharmacologists must analyze between 10,000 and 17,000 
     chemical compounds before finding one with the potential to 
     be tested for efficacy in humans. Until recently, animal 
     testing and clinical trials of a single drug required an 
     average 12 years of research and cost up to $300 million. But 
     initial screening can now be done in a matter of days without 
     using animals. Molecular biologists are able to isolate 
     enzymes that can trigger human diseases, then expose those 
     enzymes to a plant's chemical compounds. If a plant extract 
     blocks the action of a particular enzyme--say, one that 
     promotes a skin inflammation--they know the plant has drug 
     potential. By extracting specific chemicals from the leaves, 
     roots or bark with a series of solvents and testing each 
     sample individually, scientists can determine which of the 
     plant's thousands of compounds actually blocks the enzyme.
       As a result of these advances, about 100 U.S. companies are 
     searching out plants. Drug companies and scientific 
     institutions are collaborating on field research all over the 
     globe, racing to study as many natural substances as possible 
     before they, or the native people who use them, disappear. 
     Some work with the handful of ethnobotanists like Cox to 
     ferret out drug candidates based on their knowledge of 
     indigenous peoples. Others use a broad-brush approach, mass-
     collecting plants whose chemical compounds might contribute 
     to new drugs.
       One of the most extensive prospecting efforts is the 
     National Cancer Institute's, which is focusing on screening 
     plants for compounds active against the AIDS virus and nine 
     major types of cancer. Since 1986, the NCI has received 
     samplings of thousands of different species from 
     ethnobotanists as well as such institutions as the New York 
     Botanical Garden, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the 
     University of Illinois at Chicago.
       In contrast to random collecting, Cox feels ethnobotanical 
     field research provides a far more streamlined way of 
     locating plants that have medical potential. ``Indigenous 
     people have been testing plants on people for thousands of 
     years,'' says Cox. More important, healers may alert 
     ethnobotanists to nuances that random collecting could miss. 
     Take Homalanthus nutans, a rain-forest tree whose bark 
     Samoans have used for centuries as a cure for hepatitis. Cox 
     quickly found that he could not just casually go into the 
     forest and gather the bark because (1) there are two 
     varieties of the tree, and the bark of only one is effective, 
     and (2) only trees of a certain size produce the desired 
     extract.
       After Cox collected the proper bark samples, he sent them 
     to the NCI in the mid-1980s for testing. One isolate, called 
     prostratin, appeared to inhibit growth of the AIDS virus, at 
     least in the test tube, leading the NCI to patent it. If 
     prostratin should ever be developed and approved by the Food 
     and Drug Administration, both the Western Samoan government 
     and the citizens of Falealupo could be in for a windfall 
     under a royalty arrangement that Cox worked out between both 
     entities and the NCI.
       Cox has located three other medically promising plants. Two 
     of the plants, used by Samoans to control skin inflammations, 
     are being investigated by a pharmaceutical firm. The third 
     doubles the life span of infection-fighting T lymphocytes in 
     the test tube; its effect in the human body is not yet known. 
     Cox's family has already benefited from the anti-
     inflammatories. After his infant daughter Hillary came down 
     with a skin infection that did not respond to Western 
     ointments, a healer ground up some leaves; the resulting 
     greenish goo made the infection disappear. When Cox's son 
     Paul Matthew was stung by wasps, healers rubbed bark on the 
     wounds, and the swelling vanished.
       When Cox first arrived in his adopted village of 2,000, he 
     put himself under the tutelage of a healer named Pela, now 
     82, who agreed to be his mentor. Recently, Pela introduced 
     Cox to cures for eye diseases other than pterygium: a 
     poultice of beach pea leaves for sun blindness, fluid from 
     immature coconuts for general eye injury, and eye drops from 
     a fern (Phymatosorus scolopendrium) as a treatment for 
     cataracts. Cox heard two other healers from different 
     villages verify this use of the fern, and he was exuberant. 
     ``When three healers all use the same thing for cataracts, 
     it's like a dream come true,'' he exclaimed.
       Cox is more than a healer's apprentice. He knows that if 
     the rain forests of Samoa continue to disappear, hundreds of 
     potential drugs hidden there may never be found. So he spends 
     much of his time between Brigham Young semesters trying to 
     preserve the acreage that remains. More than 80% of the 
     lowland rain forest has already been logged. Cox's aim is to 
     offer cash-poor Western Samoans an alternative to selling out 
     to loggers.
       Samoans have traditionally used the forest for hunting, 
     collecting medicinal plants, harvesting wild fruits and 
     cutting trees for their dugout canoes. In this crucible of 
     nature and culture, Cox believes, lies hope for conservation 
     and the future of ethnobotany. ``We can't save the forest 
     without saving the culture,'' he says, ``and we can't save 
     the culture without saving the forest.''

[[Page H1317]]

       In 1988, Falealupo almost lost its 30,000-acre forest. The 
     government told the villagers to construct a new school. It 
     would cost $65,000, and the village would have to foot the 
     bill. Ironically--or tellingly--a logging company arrived in 
     the village shortly afterward and offered to pay $65,000 for 
     permission to cut down the forest. The villagers, their hand 
     forced, submitted.
       Cox intervened just in time. He offered to raise enough 
     money by mortgaging his home in Utah. But while in the U.S. 
     to make arrangements, he pleaded the case to his students and 
     two Mormon businessmen. Within six weeks they had raised the 
     money, and Cox, back in Samoa, formalized an agreement with 
     the villagers to protect their forest for 50 years.
       It was during this period that the villagers informed Cox 
     that they wanted to name him heir to the goddess Nafanua. 
     When he declined, fearing that the title would interfere with 
     his research, the villagers refused to sign the preservation 
     agreement. Cox relented. ``Being a deity is not my cup of 
     tea,'' he says, ``but Nafanua stands for conservation and 
     rain-forest ecology, so I said to them `O.K., I'll take the 
     cards I've been dealt.' '' Now chiefs and children alike 
     respectfully address him as Nafanua.
       As a result of this work, Cox and a chief who helped him 
     shared one of the six prestigious Goldman Environmental 
     Prizes for 1997. Each received $37,500. Since then Cox has 
     expanded his preservation efforts by establishing the 
     Seacology Foundation, based at Brigham Young. Some of the 
     foundation's funding comes through Cox's ethnobotanical 
     success with medicinally, or in this case cosmetically, 
     valuable plants. When Nu Skin International, a Utah-based 
     personal-care company, wanted to hire Cox as a consultant, he 
     charged a $40,000 fee that he plowed into the foundation. He 
     also asked Nu Skin and Nature's Way, another Utah cosmetics 
     firm, each to match his Goldman Prize award. Subsequently, Nu 
     Skin began using extracts of a plant with anti-inflammatory 
     properties in a foot cream. Seacology receives 25 cents for 
     every tube of the cream sold.
       The foundation has since provided money for the Western 
     Samoan village of Tafua to preserve its 20,000-acre rain 
     forest. It helped persuade Congress to authorize the National 
     Park of American Samoa--about 10,000 acres of forests and 420 
     acres of coral reefs in the neighboring archipelago. And it 
     has helped villages build schools, medical clinics and 
     cisterns to catch rainfall, the main source of drinking 
     water.
       In Falealupo, the foundation paid for the construction of a 
     series of connected platforms and a walkway 200 ft. high 
     between two huge trees at the edge of the forest. 
     Administered by villagers, the serial complex has brought in 
     about $1,000 a month from tourists and school groups since it 
     opened, profit that the villagers use to maintain the forest. 
     ``This is the first time these people have made money from 
     the forest without destroying it,'' says Cox. ``If they keep 
     making this kind of money and other villages hear about it, 
     the forests will be saved.''
       Cox dreams that one day soon the people of Western Samoa 
     will see the benefit of preserving not only the rain forests 
     surrounding their villages but also the vast cloud forests 
     that still cloak the sides of the volcanoes that form the 
     spine of Savaii. Here he hopes the villagers will agree to 
     ``make the biggest national park in the whole world,'' before 
     the chain saws get there too. He wants them to become as 
     excited about the project as he is, rather than have the 
     impetus come from outside. Behind this goal lies a philosophy 
     that runs through Cox's work: helping native people 
     understand the wealth of their heritage so that they will 
     want to preserve it rather than sell it. Since it's no less 
     than Nafanua who is urging them on, that seems a reasonable 
     goal.

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. VENTO. I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to commend him 
for his amendments. I want to notify the gentleman from Minnesota that 
we accept his amendments.
  Mr. VENTO. I appreciate the gentleman's support and his interest in 
this matter.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. VENTO. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. PORTMAN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just want to add 
to that that we think these are thoughtful amendments. One of the major 
underlying purposes of this legislation of course is to promote 
protection of plants that can cure diseases. I think his second 
amendment certainly does that. I think it clarifies the use of grants. 
It is helpful. I think the addition of the members to the EAI board is 
also helpful in that regard and also to be sure the indigenous people 
are represented. I think the amendments are helpful legislation. I join 
the chairman of the committee in supporting them.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendments. I 
think they are valuable additions to the bill. The gentleman from 
Minnesota has made a positive, constructive contribution. The first 
amendment pertains to expanding eligible activities to include research 
and identification of tropical forest plants for medical use. I am told 
that flowering plants and ferns have given rise to over 120 
commercially sold drugs and account for some 25 percent of all 
prescriptions issued in the United States. This fact indicates the 
importance of this amendment.
  The second amendment that was offered would include indigenous people 
in the consultation process to establish the local administering body. 
We should all recognize that the indigenous people play a very critical 
role in helping researchers identify plants and flora that have 
medicinal use.

                              {time}  1200

  Their guidance and experience provide very important direction to 
researchers. Mr. Speaker, these are two excellent amendments, and I 
commend the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento).
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendments offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the ayes 
appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 388, further proceedings 
on the amendments offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento) 
will be postponed.
  Are there other amendments?


          Sequential Votes Postponed in Committee of the Whole

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 388, proceedings will now 
resume on those amendments on which further proceedings were postponed 
in the following order: Amendment No. 1 offered by the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman), and Amendments No. 2 and 3 offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento).
  The Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the time for any electronic vote 
after the first vote in this series.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Gilman

  The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), 
on which further proceedings were postponed, and on which the ayes 
prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 416, 
noes 1, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 61]

                               AYES--416

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Cannon
     Capps
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Chenoweth
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cubin
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fossella
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham

[[Page H1318]]


     Granger
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Paxon
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pickett
     Pitts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Riley
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Ryun
     Sabo
     Salmon
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sanford
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schaffer, Bob
     Schumer
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (OR)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith, Adam
     Smith, Linda
     Snowbarger
     Snyder
     Solomon
     Souder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sununu
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tierney
     Torres
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     White
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--1

       
     Hilliard
       

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Foley
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gonzalez
     Lewis (GA)
     Martinez
     Parker
     Poshard
     Rangel
     Riggs
     Schiff

                              {time}  1220

  Mrs. CUBIN changed her vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                          personal explanation

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 61, I was attending a 
meeting with the Senate on N.I.H. funding. Had I been present, I would 
have voted ``aye.''


                    Amendments Offered by Mr. Vento

  The CHAIRMAN. The pending business is the demand for a recorded vote 
on the amendments offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento) 
on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes 
prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendments.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendments.


                             Recorded Vote

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 335, 
noes 79, not voting 17, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 62]

                               AYES--335

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Baesler
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonior
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Capps
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Chambliss
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Danner
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Hill
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Holden
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McIntyre
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Neal
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Pickett
     Pitts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schumer
     Scott
     Serrano
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith, Adam
     Smith, Linda
     Snyder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Thompson
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tierney
     Torres
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Walsh
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     White
     Whitfield
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--79

     Aderholt
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barr
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bonilla
     Brady
     Bunning
     Burton
     Callahan
     Cannon
     Chabot
     Chenoweth
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Crane
     Crapo
     Cubin
     DeLay
     Doolittle
     Emerson
     Everett
     Fossella
     Gibbons
     Graham
     Granger
     Hansen
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hoekstra
     Hostettler
     Hutchinson
     Inglis
     Jenkins
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     McKeon
     Mica
     Moran (KS)
     Myrick
     Nethercutt
     Neumann
     Parker
     Paul
     Paxon
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pombo
     Radanovich
     Riley
     Rogan
     Ryun
     Salmon
     Sanford
     Schaffer, Bob
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Smith (OR)
     Snowbarger
     Solomon
     Souder
     Stearns
     Stump
     Sununu
     Taylor (NC)
     Thomas
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Wamp
     Wicker
     Young (AK)

                             NOT VOTING--17

     Doyle
     Foley
     Frost
     Furse
     Gallegly
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gonzalez
     Houghton
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Martinez
     Poshard
     Rangel
     Riggs
     Royce
     Schiff

[[Page H1319]]



                              {time}  1231

  Messrs. CALLAHAN, HANSEN, and WICKER, and Ms. GRANGER changed their 
vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  So the amendments were agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                          personal explanation

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 62, I was attending a 
meeting with the Senate on N&H funding. Had I been present, I would 
have voted ``aye.''
  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any further amendments to the bill?
  The question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, as amended.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Quinn) having assumed the chair, Mr. LaHood, Chairman of the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that that 
Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2870) to amend 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate protection of tropical 
forests through debt reduction with developing countries with tropical 
forests, pursuant to House Resolution 388, he reported the bill back to 
the House with an amendment adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the committee 
amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted by the Committee of the 
Whole? If not, the question is on the amendment.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 356, 
noes 61, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 63]

                               AYES--356

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Andrews
     Archer
     Armey
     Bachus
     Baesler
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barrett (NE)
     Barrett (WI)
     Barton
     Bass
     Bateman
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Bliley
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brown (CA)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Bryant
     Bunning
     Burr
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Campbell
     Canady
     Capps
     Cardin
     Carson
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Christensen
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Condit
     Conyers
     Cook
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crapo
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (FL)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (VA)
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dickey
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Dixon
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Dreier
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Engel
     English
     Ensign
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Ewing
     Farr
     Fattah
     Fawell
     Fazio
     Filner
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Fowler
     Fox
     Frank (MA)
     Franks (NJ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Furse
     Ganske
     Gejdenson
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goodling
     Gordon
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Green
     Greenwood
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hamilton
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Hefner
     Hill
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Hooley
     Horn
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hutchinson
     Hyde
     Inglis
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (WI)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kasich
     Kelly
     Kennedy (MA)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kennelly
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kim
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kleczka
     Klink
     Klug
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Lantos
     Largent
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lazio
     Leach
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     Livingston
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manton
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Mascara
     Matsui
     McCarthy (MO)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDade
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHale
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntosh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Menendez
     Metcalf
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (CA)
     Miller (FL)
     Minge
     Mink
     Moakley
     Mollohan
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Murtha
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Owens
     Oxley
     Packard
     Pallone
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pease
     Pelosi
     Peterson (MN)
     Pickering
     Pickett
     Pitts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Quinn
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Redmond
     Regula
     Reyes
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogan
     Rogers
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Rush
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Saxton
     Scarborough
     Schumer
     Scott
     Serrano
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Sisisky
     Skaggs
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith, Adam
     Snyder
     Souder
     Spence
     Spratt
     Stabenow
     Stark
     Stenholm
     Stokes
     Strickland
     Stupak
     Sununu
     Talent
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Thomas
     Thompson
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tierney
     Torres
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Vento
     Visclosky
     Walsh
     Waters
     Watt (NC)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weldon (PA)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Weygand
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wise
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wynn
     Yates
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--61

     Aderholt
     Barr
     Bartlett
     Bonilla
     Brady
     Burton
     Cannon
     Chenoweth
     Coble
     Coburn
     Collins
     Combest
     Crane
     Cubin
     Danner
     DeLay
     Doolittle
     Duncan
     Emerson
     Everett
     Fossella
     Gekas
     Hansen
     Herger
     Hilleary
     Hostettler
     Jenkins
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones
     Lewis (KY)
     Lucas
     Neumann
     Ney
     Parker
     Paul
     Paxon
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pombo
     Radanovich
     Riley
     Ryun
     Salmon
     Sanford
     Schaefer, Dan
     Schaffer, Bob
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Smith (OR)
     Snowbarger
     Solomon
     Stearns
     Stump
     Taylor (NC)
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Wamp
     Watkins
     Watts (OK)
     Young (AK)

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Bonior
     Doyle
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Gephardt
     Gonzalez
     Lewis (GA)
     Martinez
     Poshard
     Rangel
     Riggs
     Schiff
     Smith, Linda
     White

                              {time}  1249

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________