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Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998

Public Law 105-214 · H.R. 2870 · 105th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Jul 29, 1998 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH-2)

Cosponsors (44): Rep. John Kasich,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

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.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 23 actions.

  1. Jul 29, 1998Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-214.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Jul 17, 1998PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Jul 15, 1998Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Gilman asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. Jul 14, 1998FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 1758 with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  8. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  10. Mar 19, 1998FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  11. FloorFloor · On passage Passed by recorded vote: 356 - 61 (Roll No. 63).House roll call 63
  12. FloorFloor · 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.
  13. FloorFloor · 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.
  14. FloorFloor · 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.
  15. FloorFloor · 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 post…
  16. FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 388 passed House.
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  18. Mar 14, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  19. Mar 11, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  20. Mar 4, 1998CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Foreign Affairs Committee
  21. Nov 21, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
  22. Nov 7, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
  23. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.