[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. Schatz):
  S. 554. A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a 
study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be 
included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of 
Hawaii, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill that 
requires the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the 
establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a 
unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii.
  The U.S. Forest Service currently oversees more than 150 National 
forests that receive Federal funding for watershed protection, wildlife 
conservation, enhancement of recreational access, wildfire prevention, 
among other things. Despite having unique forest ecosystems found 
nowhere else in the Nation, Hawaii is currently among the few States 
that do not have a National Forest. If warranted, a National Forest 
designation in Hawaii could provide additional Federal research and 
management resources.
  This bill directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary, 
acting through the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, to conduct a study 
in coordination with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural 
Resources, and in consultation with the Hawaii Department of 
Agriculture as well as other State and local stakeholders, on the 
islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui.
  This study would, among other things, assess unique vegetation types, 
opportunities to improve and protect forest resources, secure favorable 
water flows, and opportunities for visitor use.
  The Secretary of Agriculture is given three years to conduct the 
study and report the results to Congress. Information from that report 
will then inform which lands in Hawaii, if any, would be suitable for 
inclusion in a National Forest. This bill is supported by the Hawaii 
Department of Land and Natural Resources.
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