H.R. 375

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

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 24, 2025 · Committee: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Table of contents

• H.R. 375
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Collaboration
  • SEC. 4. Sustained efforts

SEC. 1. Short title

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

SEC. 2. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. Rapid Ohia Death
  • The term 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—
    • financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior—
      • to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and
      • to restore the native forests of the State; and
    • staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death.