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This bill would keep federal efforts going to fight Rapid Ohia Death, a tree disease in Hawaii that has killed more than 1 million native trees. It requires the Department of the Interior to work with the Department of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii on research, prevention, and forest restoration. The bill also keeps support in place for studies on how the disease spreads, efforts to manage animals that may help spread the disease, and work to grow and restore trees that can better resist the fungus.
- Interior would continue research on how Rapid Ohia Death spreads and what carries it from tree to tree.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service would keep working with Hawaii and local groups to manage ungulates, such as wild animals, in areas where the disease is a concern on federal, state, and private land.
- Agriculture would continue to provide money and staff support for prevention efforts, forest restoration, and research at the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.
- The bill authorizes $5 million each year from fiscal year 2026 through 2036 to carry out these efforts.
Official Summaries
Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
This bill establishes requirements to research and control the fungus Ceratocystis, known as Rapid Ohia Death, which has killed more than a million native trees in Hawaii.
Specifically, the Department of the Interior must partner with the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii to control and address the fungus.
In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey must continue to research Rapid Ohia Death vectors and transmission.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue to partner with 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.
Finally, the Forest Service must continue to 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]
[S. 85 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 85
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 14, 2025
Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
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. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the fungus Ceratocystis, known as ``Rapid Ohia Death'',
has killed more than 1,000,000 native trees in the State; and
(2) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief
of the Forest Service and the Administrator of the Agricultural
Research Service, has provided funding and staff--
(A) to identify and detect Rapid Ohia Death;
(B) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death;
(C) to identify Ohia trees that are resistant to
Rapid Ohia Death; and
(D) to propagate trees that are resistant to Rapid
Ohia Death in order to restore the native forests of
the State.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Rapid ohia death.--The term ``Rapid Ohia Death'' means
the fungus described in section 2(1) that has killed more than
1,000,000 native trees in the State.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Hawaii.
SEC. 4. COLLABORATION.
The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with
the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death.
SEC. 5. SUSTAINED EFFORTS.
(a) Transmission.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through
the Director of the United States Geological Survey, 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 State and with local stakeholders to
manage ungulates in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on Federal, State,
and private land.
(c) Restoration and Research.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting
through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall continue to provide--
(1) financial assistance, including to 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.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036, there is authorized to
be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out this Act, including for
activities carried out by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Agriculture, or both.
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