H R 2870 in Congressional Session 105

Official Summary

 

Bill Number : H R 2870

 

Title : To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing countries with tropical forests.

 

SUMMARY AS OF:
7/14/1998--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 3 other summaries) Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to establish a Tropical Forest Facility in the Department of the Treasury to provide for the administration of debt reduction in accordance with this Act.

(Sec. 1)

Makes eligible for Facility benefits developing countries with tropical forests that: (1) meet certain requirements applicable to Latin American and Caribbean countries for eligibility for Enterprise for the Americas Facility benefits; and (2) have 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 appropriate measures. Authorizes the President to: (1) reduce debt owed to the United States (outstanding as of January 1, 1998) by eligible countries as a result of concessional loans made under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation, or credits (subject to advance appropriations) extended under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954; and (2) sell to any eligible purchaser any concessional loans or credits or, on receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser, reduce or cancel such loans or credits (or portion thereof), only for the purpose of facilitating a debt-for-nature swap or debt buy back (by an eligible country of its own qualified debt) to support activities to preserve or restore tropical forests. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of State to enter into a Tropical Forest Agreement with any eligible country concerning the operation and use of the Tropical Forest Fund which any eligible country must establish in order to receive payments of interest on new obligations issued under this Act. Requires the use of Funds to provide grants to conserve, maintain, and restore tropical forests in beneficiary countries. Provides that grants shall be made to: (1) nongovernmental environmental, forestry, conservation, and indigenous peoples organizations in beneficiary countries; (2) other appropriate local or regional entities; or (3) governments of such countries, in exceptional circumstances. Makes grants of more than $100,000 subject to veto by the U.S. Government or the government of the beneficiary country. Directs the Enterprise for the Americas Board established under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (in addition to its other required duties) to: (1) advise the Secretary of State on the negotiations of Tropical Forest Agreements; (2) ensure that a suitable administering body is identified for each Fund; and (3) review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of each administering body. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the Facility.

Votes

Title : To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing countries with tropical forests.
Votes in the US Senate
This Bill was not Voted in the US Senate
Votes in the US House
Roll NumberVote DateQuestionDescriptionVote Result
631998-03-19On Passage Tropical Forest Conservation ActP
621998-03-19On Agreeing to the Amendment Vento of Minnesota amendments (en bloc)A

Sponsors

 
Congressional Sponsors of H R 2870
 
Bill Number : H R 2870
Title : To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing countries with tropical forests.
Sponsor: Rep Portman, Rob [OH-2] (introduced 11/7/1997)      
ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

    Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Ballenger, Cass [NC-10] - 3/4/1998

    Rep Bereuter, Doug [NE-1] - 3/11/1998

    Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-49] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Brown, Sherrod [OH-13] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 1/28/1998

    Rep Campbell, Tom [CA-15] - 3/4/1998

    Rep Chabot, Steve [OH-1] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Dooley, Calvin M. [CA-20] - 2/5/1998

    Rep English, Phil [PA-21] - 3/11/1998

    Rep Ewing, Thomas W. [IL-15] - 11/9/1997

    Rep Faleomavaega, Eni F.H. [AS] - 2/3/1998

    Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 3/5/1998

    Rep Furse, Elizabeth [OR-1] - 11/8/1997

    Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-23] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 3/3/1998

    Rep Hamilton, Lee H. [IN-9] - 11/7/1997

    Rep Hastert, J. Dennis [IL-14] - 11/13/1997

    Rep Hobson, David L. [OH-7] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 3/12/1998

    Rep Kasich, John R. [OH-12] - 11/7/1997

    Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Klug, Scott L. [WI-2] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Kolbe, Jim [AZ-5] - 2/3/1998

    Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 3/4/1998

    Rep Latham, Tom [IA-5] - 1/28/1998

    Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-19] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Leach, James A. [IA-1] - 2/24/1998

    Rep Lipinski, William O. [IL-3] - 2/3/1998

    Rep Luther, Bill [MN-6] - 2/12/1998

    Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 11/13/1997

    Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 3/11/1998

    Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-24] - 2/26/1998

    Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-2] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Porter, John Edward [IL-10] - 3/12/1998

    Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Sawyer, Thomas C. [OH-14] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 2/24/1998

    Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-24] - 2/11/1998

    Rep Skaggs, David E. [CO-2] - 3/5/1998

    Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 3/4/1998

    Rep Stokes, Louis [OH-11] - 1/27/1998

    Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 2/3/1998

    Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 3/3/1998

Other Info

Bill Number : H R 2870
Title : To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing countries with tropical forests.
 
 
ALL ACTIONS:
(Floor Actions/Congressional Record Page References) 1
 
1/7/1997:Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2217) 1
 
1/7/1997:Referred to the House Committee on International Relations. 1
 
1/21/1997:Referred to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade.
 
1/23/1998:Executive Comment Requested from State.
 
3/4/1998:Committee Hearings Held.
 
3/10/1998:Executive Comment Received from State.
 
3/11/1998:Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
 
3/11/1998:Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
 
3/12/1998 2:43pm:Mr. Campbell asked unanimous consent that the Committee on International Relations have until midnight on March 13 to file a report on H.R. 2870. Agreed to without objection.
 
3/13/1998 7:01pm:Reported (Amended) by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 105-443. Filed late, pursuant to previous special order.
 
3/13/1998 7:02pm:Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 251.
 
3/17/1998 3:37pm:Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 388 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2870 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on International Relations now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
 
3/19/1998 11:00am:Rule H. Res. 388 passed House.
 
3/19/1998 11:13am:Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 388. (consideration: CR H1307-1319)
 
3/19/1998 11:13am:Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2870 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on International Relations now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Bill is open to amendments.
 
3/19/1998 11:13am:House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 388 and Rule XXIII.
 
3/19/1998 11:13am:The Speaker designated the Honorable Ray LaHood to act as Chairman of the Committee.
 
3/19/1998 11:13am:GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
 
3/19/1998 11:51am:POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Gilman amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and announced that by voice vote, the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gilman demanded a recorded vote and pursuant to the rule, proceedings on the amendment were postponed until later.
 
3/19/1998 11:59am:At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the Vento en bloc amendments and announced that, by voice vote, the amendments were agreed to. Mr. Gilman demanded a recorded vote and further proceedings were postponed.
 
3/19/1998 11:59am:The Chair announced the unfinished business to be the further consideration of those amendments on which recorded votes had been requested and postponed in the following order: the Gilman amendment, and the Vento amendments en bloc.
 
3/19/1998 12:33pm:The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2870.
 
3/19/1998 12:34pm:The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
 
3/19/1998 12:34pm:The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
 
3/19/1998 12:51pm:On passage Passed by recorded vote: 356 - 61 (Roll No. 63).
 
3/19/1998 12:51pm:Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
 
3/19/1998:Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
 
7/14/1998:Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8157-8159)
 
7/14/1998:Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
 
7/14/1998:Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1758 amended.
 
7/14/1998:Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1758 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
 
7/15/1998:Message on Senate action sent to the House.
 
7/15/1998 11:52am:Mr. Gilman asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
 
7/15/1998 12:00pm:On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H5507-5511)
 
7/15/1998 12:00pm:Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
 
7/15/1998:Cleared for White House.
 
7/17/1998:Presented to President.
 
7/29/1998:Signed by President.
 
7/29/1998:Became Public Law No: 105-214.