Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 in plain language
1: Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 .
2: Definitions
This section would define two terms used in the Act. Rapid Ohia Death would mean the disease caused by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata, which affects trees of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. State would mean the State of Hawaii.
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2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Rapid Ohia death The term Rapid Ohia Death means the disease caused by the fungal pathogen known as Ceratocystis fimbriata that affects the tree of the species Metrosideros polymorpha. (2) State The term State means the State of Hawaii.
3: Collaboration
This section would require the Secretary of the Interior to partner and work together with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address Rapid Ohia Death.
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3. Collaboration The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death.
4: Sustained efforts
This section would require three ongoing efforts to continue. First, 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, would have to continue researching how Rapid Ohia Death spreads and what carries it between trees. Second, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, would have to continue partnering with the Secretary of Agriculture, the State of Hawaii, and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (hoofed animals) in Rapid Ohia Death control areas on federal, state, and private land, and this management on private land could happen only with the consent of the private landowner. Third, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, would have to continue providing financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior, to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death and to restore the State's native forests, and would also have to continue providing staff and the infrastructure funding needed by the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to research Rapid Ohia Death.
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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— (1) financial assistance, including through agreements with the Secretary of the Interior— (A) to prevent the spread of Rapid Ohia Death; and (B) to restore the native forests of the State; and (2) staff and necessary infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to conduct research on Rapid Ohia Death. Passed the House of Representatives January 23, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.