Official Summaries

Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

This bill establishes requirements to research and control Rapid Ohia Death, which is the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha.

Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Hawaii to control and address Rapid Ohia Death.

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.

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.

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.

Current Full Text

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 375 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response 
Act of 2025''.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 3. COLLABORATION.

    The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with 
the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death.

SEC. 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.

            Attest:

                                             KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

                                                                 Clerk.