118 HR 1726 : Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-09-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IIB118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 1726IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 25, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryAN ACTTo 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023.

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

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

(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 September 24, 2024.Kevin F. McCumber,Clerk.