Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 85
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Animals
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-15T21:22:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 aims to address the fungal disease known as Rapid Ohia Death (caused by the fungus Ceratocystis), which has killed over 1 million native ohia trees in Hawaii. It requires federal agencies to collaborate with the state and continue ongoing efforts to detect, prevent, research, and restore affected forests, while authorizing funding to support these activities.
Key Provisions
- Collaboration Requirement: The Secretary of the Interior must partner with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to tackle Rapid Ohia Death.
- Sustained Research and Management:
- The U.S. Geological Survey (under the Interior Department) will continue studying how the fungus spreads (vectors and transmission).
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (under the Interior Department) will partner with the state and local groups to manage ungulates (hoofed animals like deer or pigs that can spread the fungus) in affected areas across federal, state, and private lands.
- The Forest Service (under the Agriculture Department) will provide ongoing financial aid (including to the Interior Department) for preventing the disease's spread and restoring native forests; it will also supply staff and infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry for research.
- Funding Authorization: Up to $5 million per year is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to support these efforts by the Interior and Agriculture Departments.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill builds on prior federal support from the Agriculture Department (e.g., funding for detection, prevention, and tree resistance research) by formalizing interagency collaboration, mandating sustained efforts, and providing long-term funding authorization. It does not overhaul existing laws but extends and coordinates ongoing initiatives, potentially making them more structured and reliable through annual appropriations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination between the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, as well as their sub-agencies (e.g., USGS, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service), by requiring joint work and providing dedicated funding, which could improve efficiency in environmental management.
- Citizens and Environment: Benefits Hawaii residents by protecting native ecosystems, biodiversity, and cultural resources tied to ohia trees (sacred in Hawaiian culture); it may reduce economic losses from forest degradation affecting tourism, water resources, and wildlife habitats.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it supports U.S. commitments to global biodiversity conservation, potentially aiding international efforts on invasive species or fungal diseases.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Departments of Interior and Agriculture, including USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service.
- State and Local Entities: State of Hawaii government and local stakeholders (e.g., landowners, communities) involved in forest management.
- Research and Conservation Groups: Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and partners focused on tree propagation and restoration.
- Private Landowners: Those with affected properties, who benefit from ungulate management and restoration support on private lands.
- Broader Public: Hawaiian residents, environmental advocates, and indigenous groups reliant on native forests.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal-state partnerships under existing environmental laws (e.g., related to invasive species control), with no apparent conflicts; the funding authorization aligns with congressional spending powers but relies on annual appropriations, which could be subject to budget negotiations.
- Constitutional: Supports the federal government's role in managing public lands and interstate environmental threats, without raising federalism issues as it emphasizes voluntary collaboration with the state.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan environmental priorities in Hawaii (a U.S. state with unique ecological needs), potentially fostering support for conservation funding; it highlights the urgency of addressing climate-related threats like invasive diseases, influencing future policy on native species protection.
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
- 2025-01-14: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 2025-01-14: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-14 — PDF (4 pages)