[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5922-H5923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TROPICAL FOREST AND CORAL REEF CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2020

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7954) to reauthorize the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 1998.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7954

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Tropical Forest and Coral 
     Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 806(d) of the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef 
     Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431d(d)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(9) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
       ``(10) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
       ``(11) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.
       ``(12) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
       ``(13) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Espaillat) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include any extraneous material on H.R. 7954.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this measure brought forward by 
my friend from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), to provide continued funding for the 
Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act, what we call the TFCA, 
for fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
  The purpose of the TFCA is to offer developing countries the option 
to direct a portion of their debt payments to local forest and coral 
reef conservation activities instead of making those payments to the 
U.S. Government.
  Since the TFCA was enacted in 1998, it made real differences in 
efforts to

[[Page H5923]]

preserve and protect these fragile ecosystems. The State Department has 
reached 20 separate bilateral agreements with 14 countries, resulting 
in over $339 million in long-term commitment to conserve tropical 
forests.
  This bipartisan legislation takes significant strides to build 
stronger relationships with countries around the world, while ensuring 
that irreplaceable tropical forests and coral reefs are protected and 
preserved for future generations.
  I am pleased to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7954, the Tropical Forest and 
Coral Reef Reauthorization Act of 2020, led by Representative   Steve 
Chabot from Ohio and Brad Sherman from California.
  Congress first enacted this important legislation in 1998. The 
legislation allows eligible developing countries to restructure certain 
debt owed to the U.S. Government and, in turn, generates additional 
revenue to support tropical forest or coral reef conservation projects. 
These agreements also reinvest in locally led civil society and 
conservation organizations that take ownership of this critical 
restoration work.
  According to The Nature Conservancy, agreements under this program 
have saved more than 67 million acres of tropical forest in countries 
such as Botswana, Brazil, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
  Since first enacted, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act has 
generated almost $340 million in local currency for tropical forest 
conservation projects. These are substantial investments in the health 
of our world's most critical forests and an investment in future 
generations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 
minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the sponsor of the 
bill.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
thank the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Espaillat) for their leadership on this legislation 
here today and previous to this.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7954, the Tropical Forest and 
Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020. It is bipartisan 
legislation that I introduced with my Democratic colleague and friend 
from California, Brad Sherman, as a companion to legislation that 
Senator Portman introduced previously in the Senate.
  I want to thank Senator Portman. He has been a longtime leader on 
this topic, and it makes a lot of sense. It is really common sense. It 
helps so many people all across the globe.
  Tropical forests and coral reefs are some of the most biologically 
diverse and environmentally important ecosystems anywhere. Today, 
however, whether it is deforestation or pollution or overfishing or 
some other cause, these vital natural resources are threatened across 
the globe.
  Now, many tropical forests and coral reefs are located in the 
developing world where economic realities can often get in the way of 
the conservation. It is in the best interest of the whole world to 
protect and responsibly manage these resources. That is why I 
introduced H.R. 7954.
  This legislation builds on our work on the Tropical Forest 
Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018 and the Tropical Forest 
Conservation Act back in 1998, so this is 22 years ago.
  Back in 1998, we set up a debt forgiveness program under which the 
U.S. forgives a debt owed to us by a developing nation in exchange for 
that country making investments in conservation work to sustain its 
critical ecosystems.
  Agreements under this program also strengthen local economies by 
supporting sustainable development of these resources as well as civil 
society groups in partner nations that conduct conservation works.
  And this program has proven results. Since 1998, as was mentioned, 
the U.S. has used it to conserve 67 million acres--think of that, 67 
million acres--of tropical forests. Further, by assisting developing 
countries to properly manage and sustainably develop these resources, 
the program follows the old adage of teaching a man to fish.
  With these benefits in mind, I am proud to say that our legislation 
has received the support of Conservation International, the World 
Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and The Nature 
Conservancy, among others.

                              {time}  1600

  Finally, our legislation sets a sharp contrast with what the Chinese 
development model is. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, for 
example, China has offered elites in developing countries flashy or 
get-rich-quick schemes and projects, often with little or no regard for 
the local environment. Citizens in these countries are taken advantage 
of.
  H.R. 7954 keeps one more tool in the State Department's toolbox to 
help convince developing countries to choose a sustainable, Western 
model of development that stacks up very favorably with China's model 
by respecting the country's ecosystem and respecting its people.
  Passing this bill, H.R. 7954, extends a highly successful 
conservation program and helps counter China's pig in a poke 
development model; therefore, I would urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation. Again, I thank Mr. Wilson and Mr. Espaillat.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of 
closing.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative   Steve Chabot, who is a proven 
champion for conservation and for ecosystems beneficial to countries 
around the world for offering this measure. With the expanded authority 
to use debt-for-nature agreements to target tropical coral reef 
restoration, there is much more work to be done.
  This bill will ensure that the policy objectives and programs 
outlined in the Republican-led, bipartisan legislation enacted in 
December 2018 will be fully operationalized. This is a commonsense 
approach that reduces eligible countries' debt burdens while 
reinvesting those resources in local tropical forests and coral reef 
conservation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank Mr. Chabot for his 
leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I also would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. 
Eliot Engel, the chair of this committee, for his many years of 
distinguished service in Congress ably representing his district, the 
State of New York, and our country here in the Halls of Congress while 
presiding and leading the Foreign Affairs Committee. Today is a 
testament of all the great work that he has done across the aisle with 
many Members who have, of course, contributed tremendously to the 
dialogue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7954.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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