Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens tropical forestry science, outreach, and resilience in Puerto Rico and U.S. Pacific Islands by guaranteeing staff and resources, at the cost of higher federal spending and potential reallocation of USDA funds away from other programs or regions.
Researchers, forest managers, and local communities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Pacific Islands will receive guaranteed staffing and resources (minimum staffing levels and funding), expanding tropical forestry research, outreach, and knowledge exchange.
Residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Pacific Islands (especially rural and tribal communities) are likely to see improved forest management, disaster resilience, and conservation outcomes because of strengthened institute capacity.
All U.S. taxpayers may face higher federal costs to hire and maintain the guaranteed staff and operations for both institutes, increasing federal spending.
USDA resources may be reallocated to meet the staffing minimums, which could reduce funds available for other USDA programs or regions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced February 11, 2026 by Jill Tokuda · Last progress February 11, 2026
Revises the federal statute governing two regional forestry research institutes and requires the Secretary to provide minimum staffing and adequate resources for each institute. It reorganizes the existing provisions into an "In general" subsection for the Secretary and an "Activities" subsection listing the institutes' functions, and it mandates at least 50 staff for the Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico and at least 30 staff for the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, with enough resources to carry out science, research, demonstration, and knowledge-exchange work. The change directs the Secretary to ensure these staffing and resource levels so the institutes can credibly and substantially advance their missions. No specific funding mechanism or appropriation is specified in the text provided.