I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7045 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands that 
could be included in a National Forest in Hawai’i, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 28, 2020 
Mr. CASE (for himself and Ms. GABBARD) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study 
on lands that could be included in a National Forest 
in Hawai’i, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. HAWAI’I NATIONAL FOREST STUDY. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to identify 
lands within the study area that would— 
(1) support the conservation of biodiversity not 
found elsewhere in the National Forest System; 
(2) support or expand the research mission of 
the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry; 
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(3) promote shared stewardship with local com-
munities, including indigenous populations, the State 
of Hawai’i, and non-profit groups; and 
(4) support or expand the international pro-
grams of the Forest Service related to conservation 
of forest ecosystems, sustainable forestry, protection 
of threatened, endangered, and migratory species, 
controlling the spread of invasive species, inter-
national reforestation, and other forest restoration 
efforts. 
(b) STUDY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall conduct a study to identify available land with-
in the study area that could be included in a Na-
tional Forest in Hawai’i. 
(2) COORDINATION REQUIREMENT.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct the study under paragraph (1) 
in coordination the Hawai’i Department of Land 
and Natural Resources. 
(3) CONSULTATION
REQUIREMENT.—In car-
rying out the study under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary— 
(A) shall consult with— 
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(i) the Hawai’i Department of Land 
and Natural Resources; and 
(ii) the Hawai’i Department of Agri-
culture; and 
(B) may consult with such other govern-
mental or nonprofit entities as the Secretary 
determines appropriate. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives that identifies— 
(A) available land within the study area 
that could be included in a National Forest in 
Hawai’i; 
(B) the ownership of the land within the 
study area; 
(C) any undeveloped land in the study area 
that may be at risk of development; and 
(D) any actions that could be carried out 
to preserve the open and undeveloped character 
of the land within the study area. 
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(c) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section authorizes the 
Secretary to take any action that would affect the use of 
any land not owned by the United States. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AVAILABLE
LAND.—The term ‘‘available 
land’’ means any land within the study areas that 
is— 
(A) Federally owned; 
(B) managed by a Federal land manage-
ment agency in partnership with a non-Federal 
entity; or 
(C) land not described in subparagraph 
(A) or (B) that fulfills the purpose of this sec-
tion, as determined by the Secretary. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 
Chief of the Forest Service. 
(3) STUDY
AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means the islands of Hawai’i, Maui, Moloka’i, 
La¯na’i, O’ahu and Kaua’i in the State of Hawai’i. 
(4) UNDEVELOPED LAND.—The term ‘‘undevel-
oped land’’ means land— 
(A) that is located within the study area; 
(B) that is free or primarily free of struc-
tures; and 
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(C) the development of which is likely to 
affect adversely the scenic, research, wildlife, or 
recreational value of the study area. 
Æ 
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