Title: Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018
This bill renames the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 as the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998 and otherwise revises the Act.
Coral reef ecosystems are included within the Act's scope and made eligible for benefits under the Act.
The Tropical Forest Facility is renamed the Conservation Facility, and the Tropical Forest Fund is renamed the Conservation Fund.
One or more individuals appointed by the U.S. government may serve on oversight bodies for grants 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.
A grant of more than $250,000 must be approved by the U.S. government and the government of the beneficiary country.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6982 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6982

  To reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through 
               fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2018

 Mr. Chabot (for himself, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Engel, Mr. 
  Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Grijalva, and Ms. McCollum) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through 
               fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.

    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 others), and Coenothecalia (blue 
                coral), of the class Anthozoa; 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.
            ``(9) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
            ``(10) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.''; 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.''.
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