[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10544-H10546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 1023) to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation 
Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1023

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Tropical 
     Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Amendment to short title of Act to encompass modified scope.
Sec. 3. Protection of tropical forests and coral reefs.
Sec. 4. Change to name of facility.
Sec. 5. Eligibility for benefits.
Sec. 6. Reduction of debt owed to the United States as a result of 
              credits extended under title I of Food for Peace Act.
Sec. 7. United States Government representation on oversight bodies for 
              grants from debt-for-nature swaps and debt buybacks.
Sec. 8. Conservation agreements.
Sec. 9. Conservation Fund.
Sec. 10. Changes to due dates of annual reports to Congress.
Sec. 11. New authorization of appropriations for the reduction of debt 
              and authorization for audit, evaluation, monitoring, and 
              administration expenses.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE OF ACT TO ENCOMPASS MODIFIED 
                   SCOPE.

       (a) In General.--Section 801 of the Tropical Forest 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (part V of Public Law 87-195; 22 
     U.S.C. 2151 note) is amended by striking ``Tropical Forest 
     Conservation Act of 1998'' and inserting ``Tropical Forest 
     and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any other provision of 
     law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the ``Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 
     1998'' shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Tropical 
     Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 3. PROTECTION OF TROPICAL FORESTS AND CORAL REEFS.

       (a) In General.--Section 802 of the Tropical Forest and 
     Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431), as 
     renamed by section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) in subsections (a)(1), (a)(6), (b)(1), (b)(3), and 
     (b)(4), by striking ``tropical forests'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``tropical forests and coral reef 
     ecosystems'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by striking ``far-flung'';
       (3) in subsection (a)(7), by striking ``tropical forests is 
     critical to the protection of tropical forests'' and 
     inserting ``tropical forests and coral reef ecosystems is 
     critical to the protection of such areas''; and
       (4) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``tropical forests'' the first place it 
     appears and inserting ``tropical forests and coral 
     ecosystems'';
       (B) by striking ``tropical forests'' the second place it 
     appears and inserting ``areas''; and
       (C) by striking ``tropical forests'' the third place it 
     appears and inserting ``tropical forests and coral reef 
     ecosystems''.
       (b) Amendments Related to Definitions.--Section 803 of such 
     Act (22 U.S.C. 2431a) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) in the heading, by striking ``tropical forest'' and 
     inserting ``tropical forest or coral reef'';
       (B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``tropical forest'' and inserting ``tropical forest or coral 
     reef''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) by striking ``tropical forest'' and inserting 
     ``tropical forest or coral reef''; and
       (ii) by striking ``tropical forests'' and inserting 
     ``tropical forests or coral reefs''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(10) Coral.--The term `coral' means species of the phylum 
     Cnidaria, including--
       ``(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia (black 
     corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Alcyonacea (soft 
     corals), Gorgonacea (horny corals), Stolonifera (organpipe 
     corals and

[[Page H10545]]

     others), and Coenothecalia (blue coral), of the class 
     Anthoza; and
       ``(B) all species of the order Hydrocorallina (fire corals 
     and hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
       ``(11) Coral reef.--The term `coral reef' means any reef or 
     shoal composed primarily of coral.
       ``(12) Coral reef ecosystem.--The term `coral reef 
     ecosystem' means any coral reef and any coastal marine 
     ecosystem surrounding, or directly related to, a coral reef 
     and important to maintaining the ecological integrity of that 
     coral reef, such as seagrasses, mangroves, sandy seabed 
     communities, and immediately adjacent coastal areas.''.

     SEC. 4. CHANGE TO NAME OF FACILITY.

       (a) In General.--Section 804 of the Tropical Forest and 
     Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431b), as 
     renamed by section 2(a), is amended by striking ``Tropical 
     Forest Facility'' and inserting ``Conservation Facility''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments to Definitions.--Section 803(8) 
     of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2431a(8)) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Tropical forest 
     facility'' and inserting ``Conservation facility''; and
       (2) by striking ``Tropical Forest Facility'' both places it 
     appears and inserting ``Conservation Facility''.
       (c) References.--Any reference in any other provision of 
     law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the ``Tropical Forest Facility'' shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Conservation Facility''.

     SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.

       Section 805(a) of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431c(a)), as renamed by 
     section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) by striking ``tropical forest'' and inserting 
     ``tropical forest or coral reef'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (7); and
       (3) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following 
     new paragraphs:
       ``(1) whose government is democratically elected;
       ``(2) whose government has not repeatedly provided support 
     for acts of international terrorism;
       ``(3) whose government is not failing to cooperate on 
     international narcotics control matters;
       ``(4) whose government (including its military or other 
     security forces) does not engage in a consistent pattern of 
     gross violations of internationally recognized human rights;
       ``(5) that has in effect, has received approval for, or is 
     making significant progress toward--
       ``(A) an International Monetary Fund standby arrangement, 
     extended Fund arrangement, or an arrangement under the 
     structural adjustment facility or enhanced structural 
     adjustment facility, or a Fund monitored program, or is 
     implementing sound macroeconomic policies, unless the 
     President determines that such an arrangement or program 
     could reasonably be expected to have significant adverse 
     social or environmental effect; and
       ``(B) as appropriate, structural or sectoral adjustment 
     loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development or the International Development Association, 
     unless the President determines that the resulting adjustment 
     requirements could reasonably be expected to have significant 
     adverse social or environmental effects;
       ``(6) if appropriate, has agreed with its commercial bank 
     lenders on a satisfactory financing program, including, as 
     appropriate, debt or debt service reduction; and''.

     SEC. 6. REDUCTION OF DEBT OWED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A 
                   RESULT OF CREDITS EXTENDED UNDER TITLE I OF 
                   FOOD FOR PEACE ACT.

       Section 807(a)(1) of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431e(a)(1)), as renamed 
     by section 2(a), is amended by striking ``outstanding as of 
     January 1, 1998,'' and inserting ``outstanding as of the date 
     of the enactment of the Tropical Forest Conservation 
     Reauthorization Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 7. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION ON OVERSIGHT 
                   BODIES FOR GRANTS FROM DEBT-FOR-NATURE SWAPS 
                   AND DEBT BUYBACKS.

       Section 808(a)(5) of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431f(a)(5)), as renamed 
     by section 2(a), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) United states government representation on the 
     administering body.--One or more individuals appointed by the 
     United States Government shall serve in an official capacity 
     on the administering body that oversees the implementation of 
     grants arising from a debt-for-nature swap or debt buyback 
     regardless of whether the United States is a party to any 
     agreement between the eligible purchaser and the government 
     of the beneficiary country.''.

     SEC. 8. CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Renaming of Agreements.--Section 809 of the Tropical 
     Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 
     2431g), as renamed by section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``tropical forest 
     agreement'' and inserting ``conservation agreement''; and
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``Authority'' and all that follows through 
     ``(1) In general.--The Secretary'' and inserting 
     ``Authority.--The Secretary''; and
       (B) by striking ``Tropical Forest Agreement'' and inserting 
     ``Conservation Agreement''.
       (b) Elimination of Requirement To Consult With the 
     Enterprise for the Americas Board.--Such subsection is 
     further amended by striking paragraph (2).
       (c) Role of Beneficiary Countries.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)(1)(C), by striking ``in exceptional 
     circumstances, the government of the beneficiary country'' 
     and inserting ``in limited circumstances, the government of 
     the beneficiary country when needed to improve governance and 
     enhance management of tropical forests or coral reef 
     ecosystems, without replacing existing levels of financial 
     efforts by the government of the beneficiary country and with 
     priority given to projects that complement grants made under 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B)''; and
       (2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
       ``(f) Review of Larger Grants.--Any grant of more than 
     $250,000 from a Fund must be approved by the Government of 
     the United States and the government of the beneficiary 
     country.''.
       (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Such section is 
     further amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(i), by inserting ``to serve in 
     an official capacity'' after ``Government''; and
       (2) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``tropical forests'' and inserting ``tropical forests and 
     coral reef ecosystems'';
       (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``tropical forest''; and
       (C) in paragraph (6), by striking ``living in or near a 
     tropical forest in a manner consistent with protecting such 
     tropical forest'' and inserting ``dependent on a tropical 
     forest or coral reef ecosystem and related resources in a 
     manner consistent with conserving such resources''.
       (e) Conforming Amendments to Definitions.--Section 803(7) 
     of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2431a(7)) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by striking ``Tropical forest 
     agreement'' and inserting ``Conservation agreement''; and
       (2) by striking ``Tropical Forest Agreement'' both places 
     it appears and inserting ``Conservation Agreement''.

     SEC. 9. CONSERVATION FUND.

       (a) In General.--Section 810 of the Tropical Forest and 
     Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431h), as 
     renamed by section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``tropical forest 
     fund'' and inserting ``conservation fund''; and
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``Tropical Forest Agreement'' and inserting 
     ``Conservation Agreement''; and
       (B) by striking ``Tropical Forest Fund'' and inserting 
     ``Conservation Fund''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments to Definitions.--Such Act is 
     further amended--
       (1) in section 803(9) (22 U.S.C. 2431a(9))--
       (A) in the heading, by striking ``Tropical forest fund'' 
     and inserting ``Conservation fund''; and
       (B) by striking ``Tropical Forest Fund'' both places it 
     appears and inserting ``Conservation Fund'';
       (2) in section 806(c)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2431d(c)(2)), by 
     striking ``Tropical Forest Fund'' and inserting 
     ``Conservation Fund''; and
       (3) in section 807(c)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2431e(c)(2)), by 
     striking ``Tropical Forest Fund'' and inserting 
     ``Conservation Fund''.

     SEC. 10. CHANGES TO DUE DATES OF ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       Section 813 of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431k), as renamed by 
     section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``(a) In General.--Not later than December 
     31'' and inserting ``Not later than April 15''; and
       (B) by striking ``fiscal year'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``calendar year''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (b).

     SEC. 11. NEW AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE 
                   REDUCTION OF DEBT AND AUTHORIZATION FOR AUDIT, 
                   EVALUATION, MONITORING, AND ADMINISTRATION 
                   EXPENSES.

       Section 806 of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431d), as renamed by 
     section 2(a), is amended--
       (1) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraphs:
       ``(7) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019.
       ``(8) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.''; and
       (2) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
       ``(e) Use of Funds To Conduct Program Audits, Evaluations, 
     Monitoring, and Administration.--Of the amounts made 
     available to carry out this part for a fiscal year, $300,000 
     is authorized to be made available to carry out audits, 
     evaluations, monitoring, and administration of programs under 
     this part, including personnel costs associated with such 
     audits, evaluations, monitoring and administration.''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

[[Page H10546]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1032, the Tropical Forest Conservation 
Reauthorization Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate 
version of H.R. 6982, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Chabot). It is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that 
reauthorizes and reforms ongoing international conservation efforts to 
increase transparency and ensure that assistance does not go to 
problematic governments.
  Mr. Speaker, it deserves our unanimous support, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure.
  This is an important bill that improves our ability to address the 
acute environmental threats facing tropical forests and coral reefs 
around the world.
  The original Tropical Forest Conservation Act passed the Senate in 
1998, and this reauthorization is the companion to H.R. 6982. It is a 
bipartisan, bicameral bill, and I urge all Members to join me in 
supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1023.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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