- Record: Senate Floor
- Section type: Recognition
- Chamber: Senate
- Date: May 20, 2026
- Congress: 119th Congress
- Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.
SENATE RESOLUTION 742—COMMEMORATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED
STATES FOREST SERVICE INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC ISLANDS FORESTRY
Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry:
S. Res. 742
Whereas the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (referred
to in this preamble as the “IPIF”) operates under a
geographically based research portfolio and the Pacific
Southwest Research Station Charter;
Whereas the IPIF has been serving the Pacific region, which
is equal to the size of the continental United States, since
1956, following the orders of the Secretary of Agriculture;
Whereas the IPIF was congressionally authorized and
established as an Institute in the Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (commonly known as the
“1990 Farm Bill”) (Public Law 101-624; 104 Stat. 3359);
Whereas the mission of the IPIF has been to serve the
research, development, demonstration, and technical
assistance needs of Hawaii and United States-affiliated
Pacific islands in addressing the frontiers of tropical
ecology, natural resources, and management;
Whereas the IPIF provides the scientific information needed
to advise officials regarding the restoration, conservation,
and sustainability of tropical forests, grasslands, and
wetlands of the Pacific;
Whereas wildfire threats escalate in island environments,
and the IPIF's ongoing wildfire mapping, risk analysis, and
science-driven fire-mitigation strategies, developed in
collaboration with the Forest Service's Fire and Aviation
Management, has transformed fire response capacity across the
Pacific while reducing long-term risk and costs;
Whereas the IPIF conducts cutting edge tropical research in
investigating invasive species and their impacts, developing
conservation tools, including biocontrol agents, to support
endemic wildlife and plants, and managing environmental
stressors in the Pacific's ecosystems;
Whereas recent IPIF studies include findings on the
pathogenicity and colonization of Rapid Ohia Death on Ohia
trees and the changing population patterns of invasive
strawberry guava trees in the Hawaiian rainforest;
Whereas the IPIF's Biocontrol Program has been a national
leader in researching and administering safe, targeted, long-
term weed and insect pest suppression to reduce the costs of
large-scale land restoration;
Whereas the IPIF serves as a bridge between science and
community, presenting indigenous perspectives through
conservation partnerships and cultural stewardship to reach
its conservation goals, increases the number of rural jobs,
and empowers local decision making;
Whereas the IPIF's location on Hawaii Island makes it the
premier Forest Service institute and hub for scientific
research in the Pacific region and is vital to ensuring that
the institute is able to carry out the research goals set
forth by Congress in a fiscally responsible manner;
Whereas the IPIF is home to a dedicated workforce committed
to their mission of serving the people and ecosystems of the
Pacific;
Whereas the IPIF has been home to various research programs
related to a diverse range of categories with national
universities and government organizations;
Whereas healthy forests and watersheds are vital in
providing important ecosystem services, including nutrient
cycling, carbon storage, erosion prevention, increased
biodiversity, wildlife movement corridors, water storage,
flood control, and more; and
Whereas scientific research on our forests and watersheds
is important for maintaining the landscape and biodiversity
of the United States, and fighting against climate change:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the United States
Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry
(referred to in this resolution as the “IPIF”);
(2) recognizes the vital contributions that the research
conducted and data produced by the IPIF have provided to the
United States in understanding the ecosystems of the Pacific
region;
(3) acknowledges the importance of having the IPIF located
on Hawaii Island; and
(4) reaffirms the Senate's strong support for the critical
ongoing operations of the IPIF and its staff.