Tropical Forest Conservation Act Reauthorization

TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION -- (House of Representatives - September 07, 2004)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4654) to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2007, and for other purposes.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this legislation.

This legislation continues a vitally important environmental initiative started in the Clinton administration. With the extension of this program, millions of acres of endangered tropical forests around the world will be saved, and the biological diversity of our world will be further preserved.

I would first like to recognize the efforts of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), who worked closely with our former colleague and former chair of the Committee on International Relations, the Honorable Lee Hamilton, in crafting this innovative measure in 1998.

Mr. Speaker, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act has become one of the most effective foreign policy tools designed to encourage developing nations to protect and preserve tropical forests. Already the U.S. has entered into bilateral agreements with seven countries: Bangladesh, Belize, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Colombia.

This innovative program has been a tremendous success. It has given the people of developing countries the opportunity to protect and invest in their local ecosystems, thus preserving our global environment while at the same time paying down interest on debt owed to the United States.

The current bilateral agreements under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act will generate $70 million for tropical forest preservation. The most recent agreement has produced a pledge by Colombia to invest $10 million over 12 years to protect the nearly 11 million acres of this tropical forest.

Among the areas that will be preserved in Colombia as a result is the Tuparo National Park. This unique forest contains a rich diversity of species, including jaguars, river dolphins, and the endangered giant armadillo. This also includes a threatened crocodile, which is found only in this part of South America. This area is also being protected because it serves as a base for migrating birds from North America.

The bill before us would expand the Tropical Forest Conservation Act by allowing developing countries not only to service their debt by making payments to forest conservation funds, but also to pay down the principal on these debts. Right now, there are several debtor countries that are potentially eligible for the program but cannot participate because of the way in which the language was originally written. This new authority in this reauthorization would remedy this situation and increase the number of countries eligible to participate in the program.

Mr. Speaker, the Tropical Forest Conservation Act is a shining example of good policy mixed with strong environmental protections. It is my hope that in the future we will be able to promote and support additional measures that balance economic stability and environmental sustainability both for these countries.

Again, I strongly support the passage of this legislation to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT