Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-375
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
Introduced: 2025-01-13
Policy area: Animals
Subjects: Animal and plant health

Forests, forestry, trees

Government studies and investigations

Hawaii

Horticulture and plants

Mammals

Research administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-24
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-13
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill establishes requirements to research and control Rapid Ohia Death, which is the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as <em>Ceratocystis fimbriata </em>that affects the tree of the species <em>Metrosideros polymorpha</em>.</p><p>Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Hawaii to control and address Rapid Ohia Death.</p><p>In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.</p><p>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with USDA, Hawaii, and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (e.g., certain mammals such as deer) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on federal, state, and private land, with the consent of private landowners.</p><p>Finally, the Forest Service must provide (1) financial assistance to prevent the spread of the fungus and to restore the native forests of Hawaii, and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to research the fungus.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 375 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 13, 2025 Ms. Tokuda (for herself and Mr. Case ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Rapid Ohia death The term Rapid Ohia Death means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. (2) State The term State means the State of Hawaii. 3. Collaboration The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death. 4. Sustained efforts (a) Transmission The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Chief of the Forest Service, acting through the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, shall continue to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission. (b) Ungulate management The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall continue to partner with the Secretary of Agriculture, the State, and with local stakeholders to manage ungulates in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on Federal, State, and private land, with the consent of private landowners. (c) Restoration and research The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall continue to provide— (1) financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior— (A) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and (B) to restore the native forests of the State; and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death.

tv_txt: IIB 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 375 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24, 2025 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry AN ACT To require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Rapid Ohia death The term Rapid Ohia Death means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. (2) State The term State means the State of Hawaii. 3. Collaboration The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death. 4. Sustained efforts (a) Transmission The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Chief of the Forest Service, acting through the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, shall continue to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission. (b) Ungulate management The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall continue to partner with the Secretary of Agriculture, the State, and with local stakeholders to manage ungulates in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on Federal, State, and private land, with the consent of private landowners. (c) Restoration and research The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall continue to provide— (1) financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior— (A) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and (B) to restore the native forests of the State; and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death.

Passed the House of Representatives January 23, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 375 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Rapid Ohia death The term Rapid Ohia Death means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. (2) State The term State means the State of Hawaii. 3. Collaboration The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death. 4. Sustained efforts (a) Transmission The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and the Chief of the Forest Service, acting through the Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, shall continue to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission. (b) Ungulate management The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall continue to partner with the Secretary of Agriculture, the State, and with local stakeholders to manage ungulates in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on Federal, State, and private land, with the consent of private landowners. (c) Restoration and research The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall continue to provide— (1) financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior— (A) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and (B) to restore the native forests of the State; and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death.

Passed the House of Representatives January 23, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.