Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 375
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-24: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T00:28:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 aims to mandate ongoing federal collaboration with the state of Hawaii to combat Rapid Ohia Death, a fungal disease threatening native ohia trees (Metrosideros polymorpha). It focuses on sustaining research, management, and restoration efforts to prevent the spread of this disease and protect Hawaii's ecosystems.
Key Provisions
- Collaboration Requirement: The Secretary of the Interior must partner with the Secretary of Agriculture and the state of Hawaii to address the disease.
- Research on Transmission: The Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (under the Department of the Interior) and the Chief of the Forest Service (under the Department of Agriculture) must continue studying how the disease spreads, including through vectors (organisms or mechanisms that transmit the fungus).
- Ungulate Management: The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (under the Department of the Interior) must continue partnering with the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii, and local stakeholders to control ungulates (hoofed animals like feral pigs or deer that may spread the disease) in affected areas on federal, state, and private lands, but only with private landowners' consent.
- Restoration and Additional Research Support: The Chief of the Forest Service must continue providing:
- Financial assistance (including through agreements with the Department of the Interior) to prevent disease spread and restore native Hawaiian forests.
- Staffing and infrastructure funding to the Forest Service's Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry for disease-related research.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This act does not introduce major new laws but mandates the continuation of existing federal efforts, effectively codifying and requiring sustained funding and activities that were previously underway. It builds on prior initiatives by making these partnerships and programs a statutory obligation, potentially ensuring long-term commitment beyond annual appropriations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination between the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, as well as their sub-agencies (e.g., U.S. Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service), by requiring ongoing resource allocation for research and management. This could strain budgets if not funded adequately but promotes efficiency through shared efforts.
- Citizens and Environment: Benefits Hawaiian residents and ecosystems by protecting ohia trees, which are culturally and ecologically vital (providing habitat, water retention, and cultural significance to Native Hawaiians). Reduced disease spread could prevent biodiversity loss and support tourism or local economies tied to healthy forests.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it indirectly supports U.S. commitments to global biodiversity conservation, as ohia forests contribute to carbon sequestration and climate resilience.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, including the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service.
- State of Hawaii: State agencies involved in forestry, wildlife, and land management, which gain federal support for local challenges.
- Local and Private Entities: Hawaiian communities, Native Hawaiian organizations, landowners (whose consent is required for private land actions), and stakeholders like conservation groups or researchers benefiting from funded restoration and ungulate control.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal-state partnerships under existing environmental laws (e.g., those governing national forests and wildlife), with built-in protections for private property rights via consent requirements. No new regulatory burdens on citizens, but it could influence future Endangered Species Act considerations if ohia-dependent species are threatened.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands and interstate commerce (as disease spread could affect trade or tourism), without raising federalism concerns due to voluntary state involvement.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan environmental conservation in Hawaii, a state with unique ecological vulnerabilities, potentially setting a model for addressing invasive species or diseases in other regions. It underscores the role of federal funding in localized crises, which could spark debates on resource allocation during budget cycles.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-24: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-01-23: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-01-23: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 - 62 (Roll no. 24). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H248) (Roll call 24)
- 2025-01-23: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 359 - 62 (Roll no. 24). (text: 1/21/2025 CR H248) (Roll call 24)
- 2025-01-23: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H346)
- 2025-01-21: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- 2025-01-21: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 375.
- 2025-01-21: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H248-250)
- 2025-01-21: Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-01-13: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (4 pages)
- Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-13 — PDF (3 pages)
- Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-24 — PDF (3 pages)