S. 1023: Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2017-05-03 · International Affairs · Latest: Became Public Law No: 115-440.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-05-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 488 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S1023 (2018-12-21), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 115-440. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018

Plain summary

Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill reauthorizes the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through FY 2020 and expands the Act to include coral reefs as well as tropical forests. The bill also changes the name of the Act to the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1998. The bill authorizes to be appropriated funds for the Act's debt-for-nature swaps and debt buyback programs through FY 2020. Such programs convert reduce or convert debt obligations from eligible countries to the United States into funding for nature conservation and protection efforts in that country. The Tropical Forest Facility, an entity that administers the programs, shall be renamed the Conservation Facility. The bill modifies the administration of agreements signed between the United States and each country that participate in the debt reduction programs. The administering body for each country that disperses grants under the Act shall have at least one U.S.-appointed individual serving in an official capacity. It also modifies the additional approval requirements for larger grants and defines such grants as those of more than $250,000. Currently, grants of more than $100,000 are subject to additional approval requirements.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] · 9 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 1023, Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2018 (2018-08-29)

Cosponsors on this site

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Edward J. Markey (D-MA)

Recorded votes

House roll call 488 (2018): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, S1023 (2018-12-21): Passed

Words on this page, explained (4)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s1023.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s1023 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115