[Pages H248-H250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

CONTINUED RAPID OHIA DEATH RESPONSE ACT OF 2025

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 375) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 375

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

SEC. 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.

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--
(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.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Huffman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.

General Leave

Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members be given 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous material on H.R. 375, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, Representative Tokuda's legislation, the Continued Rapid
Ohia Death Response Act of 2025, is important legislation that directs
the Secretary of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the
Secretary of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address rapid ohia
death.
Rapid ohia death is a fungal disease that has ravaged Hawaii's ohia
tree population. The ohia tree is important ecologically and culturally
to Hawaii. Ohias play an important role in regulating water flow in
addition to preventing soil erosion.
If the loss of ohia trees continues, there could be significant
economic impacts, including lost tourism revenue and increased water
treatment and erosion control costs. Unfortunately, there is currently
no cure that can help the afflicted trees.
H.R. 375 helps address rapid ohia death by focusing Federal and State
agencies' efforts on detection, prevention, and restoration to combat
this disease.
I thank Representative Tokuda for her work on this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, January 15, 2025.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter confirms our mutual
understanding regarding H.R. 375, the ``Continued Rapid Ohia
Death Response Act.'' Thank you for collaborating with the
Committee on Agriculture on the matters within our
jurisdiction.
The Committee on Agriculture will forego any further
consideration of this bill. However, by foregoing
consideration at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over any subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation. The Committee on Agriculture also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees should it become necessary and ask that you support
such a request.
We would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 375 and request a
copy of our letters on this matter be published in the
Congressional Record during Floor consideration.
Sincerely,
Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

[[Page H249]]

Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC, January 15, 2025.
Hon. Glenn ``GT'' Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write regarding our mutual
understanding of H.R. 375, the ``Continued Rapid Ohia Death
Response Act.''
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture and
appreciate your willingness to forgo further consideration of
the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee on Agriculture
will not formally consider H.R. 375 and agree that the
inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained
therein.
I am pleased to support your request to name members of the
Committee on Agriculture to any conference committee to
consider such provisions. I will ensure that our exchange of
letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. I appreciate your cooperation
regarding this legislation.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman.

{time} 1515

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Continued Rapid Ohia Death
Response Act, introduced by my colleague from Hawaii, Representative
Jill Tokuda. We worked on this bill last Congress. Unfortunately, it
didn't make it all the way across the finish line, but I thank Chair
Westerman and my colleagues across the aisle for agreeing to schedule a
vote early in this new Congress to keep the momentum going.
This legislation is vital. It addresses an urgent need to combat
rapid ohia death, which has already led to the loss of over 1 million
native ohia trees in Hawaii just since 2014 when this harmful fungus
was discovered.
The significance of these trees can't be overstated. They are
Hawaii's most abundant native tree. They play a critical role in
preserving the State's unique biodiversity and protecting its native
ecosystems. It is essential that we take immediate action to prevent
further devastation and ensure the survival of this iconic species.
This bill emphasizes the need for research and aid to enhance our
understanding of this deadly fungus and explore innovative solutions to
combat its impact. It also fosters collaboration between Federal
agencies, the State of Hawaii, and local stakeholders.
This comprehensive approach will help mitigate the threat of this
disease and protect Hawaii's native forests and ecosystems,
safeguarding these treasured and ecologically vital trees for future
generations and preserving the unique ecosystems and rich biodiversity
that make our Nation so exceptional.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Tokuda for her leadership and
tenacity on this critical issue, and I urge my colleagues to vote
``yes'' on the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda).
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 375,
the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025.
The ohia lehua tree forms the backbone of Hawaii's forest and
watersheds making up 80 percent of our native forests. It is the very
first tree that you will see spring up from a recent lava flow. It
grows from sea level to 8,000 feet above, and it protects our
communities by literally holding up our mountains from eroding, keeping
them together.
Ohia lehua also provides critical habitat for Hawaii's federally
endangered forest birds and many culturally important species.
These trees are a keystone species in Hawaii's forest, and it is
catastrophic to see its decline. It has the potential to trigger major
imbalances in our ecosystem that would impact watersheds, cultural
traditions, natural resources, and the safety and quality of life of
our people.
Because of the vital role they play in maintaining Hawaii's forest
canopies and watersheds, rapid ohia death, or ROD, poses an existential
threat to the ecological balance of our islands and the everyday life
of our people.
Initially reported in 2010, ROD has already spread to tens of
thousands of acres and killed over a million trees on Hawaii island
alone. If you visited the Big Island of Hawaii where our volcano erupts
from time to time, literally, we have lost a million trees just on that
island. Large swaths of dead ohia trees leave environments more prone
to habitat-modifying noxious weeds and trees like miconia and
strawberry guava, all of which are known to harm watershed health and
alter ecosystem functions.
Efforts to contain ROD have also failed to prevent its spread to the
islands of Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. With no known cure for ROD, it has
the potential to kill off ohia trees statewide and devastate our island
ecosystems.
In addition to its impacts on delicate native ecosystems, ROD has the
potential to create deadly consequences for our local residents and
visitors alike. The death of tens of thousands of acres of native
forests, turning them into brittle tinder, creates acres of deadly fire
fuel for wildfires that pose a growing threat to our communities. One
of the things that people love about Hawaii is the greenery and the
vegetation in and around our communities. Tragically, we know all too
well the risks that come when our greenery and vegetation are no longer
green and the consequences that can happen as a result of fire.
Despite the dire implications of ROD on Hawaii's natural resources
and communities, Federal support for combating ROD has been extremely
limited. For example, the Lyon Arboretum, a local research facility on
Oahu, relied on funding through a GoFundMe campaign to further the
vital seed banking for ohia lehua.
My bill, the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act, seeks to
address ROD and the urgent threat that it presents. The bill requires
the Department of the Interior to partner and collaborate with the
Department of Agriculture and the State of Hawaii to address ROD. It
also supports ongoing detection, prevention, and restoration efforts to
combat rapid ohia death. By empowering the U.S. Forest Service and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to fully assist the State of Hawaii in its
ROD efforts, we can begin to not only more effectively prevent the
spread of ROD but move to restoring native forests throughout our
State.
Mr. Speaker, I very much thank and send our sincerest ``mahalos,''
``thanks'' to Chairman Westerman, Ranking Member Huffman, and their
staff, especially the Federal lands team, for the support, assistance,
and continued prioritization of this very important bill.
We cannot afford to wait. We cannot afford to stand alone and
continue to lose our native forests in Hawaii. They protect and sustain
our people and provide critical habitat for native species. This bill
can also help to turn the tide in the fight against Rapid Ohia Death
and, in doing so, protect and preserve ohia lehua and Hawaii's unique
ecosystems for our future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I thank again all who have supported our bill, and I
urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes.''
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda)
for her work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, before a lot was understood about the science of
forestry, Teddy Roosevelt, maybe our original conservationist in
America, understood that trees were the lungs of the Earth. They
breathe in carbon dioxide; they breathe out oxygen, but he also
understood that trees are kind of like the kidneys of the Earth. They
are extremely important to protect watersheds. They are extremely
important to maintain our ecosystems. It is what we are looking at
today with the ohia tree and the importance that it has to Hawaii's
ecosystem, to the people there, and to the economy.
When we talk about an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,
figuring out what is happening to these trees and stopping that will
save tens of millions if not billions of dollars in the future if
damage is done to the watershed there in Hawaii.
It is another example of how having a healthy resilient forest
benefits everyone. We are not necessarily talking

[[Page H250]]

about wildfire. We are not talking about a tree that has timber value,
but it has tremendous value in the ecosystem and the economy there in
Hawaii.
This legislation, again, will help focus Federal and State resources
on conserving one of Hawaii's most important species.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 375.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

____________________