Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

This Act may be cited as the “Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025”.

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.

The Secretary of the Interior shall partner and collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the State to address Rapid Ohia Death.

(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.