(Original Signature of Member) 108TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H.R. 4654 To reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2007, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. PORTMAN (for himself, Mr. LANTOS [see attached list of cosponsors]) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on A BILL To reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2007, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 H.L.C. 1 SECTION 1. REDUCTION OF DEBT UNDER THE FOREIGN AS 2 3 4 5 SISTANCE ACT OF 1961 AND TITLE I OF THE AGRICULTURAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1954. Section 806(d) of the Tropical Forest Conservation 6 Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431d(d)) is amended by adding 7 at the end the following new paragraphs: 11 SEC. 2. USE OF FUNDS TO CONDUCT PROGRAM AUDITS 12 13 AND EVALUATIONS. Section 806 of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act 14 of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431d) is amended by adding at the 15 end the following new subsection: 16 "(e) USE OF FUNDS TO CONDUCT PROGRAM AUDITS 17 AND EVALUATIONS.—Of the amounts made available to 18 carry out this part for a fiscal year, $200,000 is author19 ized to be made available to carry out audits and evalua20 tions of programs under this part, including personnel 21 costs associated with such audits and evaluations.". 22 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ALLOW FOR PAYMENTS OF INTER 23 24 2 223 EST AND PRINCIPAL IN LOCAL CURRENCIES. (a) AUTHORITY UNDER THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE 25 ACT OF 1961.-Section 806(c) of the Tropical Forest 3 H.L.C. 1 Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431d(e)) is 2 amended— 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "The following" and inserting "(1) The fol lowing"; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and (3) by adding at the end the following: "(2) In addition to the application of the provisions 10 relating to repayment of principal under section 705 of 11 this Act to the reduction of debt under subsection (a)(1) 12 (in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection), 13 repayment of principal on a new obligation established 14 under subsection (b) may be made in the local currency 15 of the beneficiary country and deposited in the Tropical 16 Forest Fund of the country in the same manner as the 17 provisions relating to payment of interest on new obliga18 tions under section 706 of this Act.". 19 (b) AUTHORITY UNDER TITLE I OF THE AGRICUL20 TURAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTANCE ACT OF 21 1954.-Section 807(c) of the Tropical Forest Conserva22 tion Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 2431e(c)) is amended— 23 24 25 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "The following" and inserting "(1) The following"; 1 2 3 4 4 H.L.C. (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; and (3) by adding at the end the following: "(2) In addition to the application of the provisions 5 relating to repayment of principal under section 605 of 6 the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act 7 of 1954 to the reduction of debt under subsection (a)(1) 8 (in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection), 9 repayment of principal on a new obligation established 10 under subsection (b) may be made in the local currency 11 of the beneficiary country and deposited in the Tropical 12 Forest Fund of the country in the same manner as the 13 provisions relating to payment of interest on new obliga14 tions under section 606 of such Act.". 15 (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.-Section 810(a) of 16 the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 17 2431h(a)) is amended by inserting "and principal" after 18 "interest". TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION ORIGINAL COSPONSORS INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ROB PORTMAN Lantos (listed on attached bill) Ballenger Royce Ros-Lehtinen Leach Gallegly Wexler Faleomavaega Sherman Chabot Houghton Weller Brown (OH) Pickering Oxley Cardin Slaughter Camp Tanner Hobson Shaw Ford Ehlers LaTourette Gutierrez English Pryce Tiberi Tauscher |