[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2217-H2219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HAWAII NATIONAL FOREST STUDY

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 297) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 297

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

     SECTION 1. HAWAII NATIONAL FOREST STUDY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest 
     Service.
       (2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the islands 
     of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai in the State 
     of Hawaii.
       (b) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study--
       (A) to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
     establishing a unit of the National Forest System in the 
     study area; and

[[Page H2218]]

       (B) to identify available land within the study area that 
     could be included in the unit described in subparagraph (A).
       (2) Coordination and consultation.--In conducting the study 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) coordinate with the Hawaii Department of Land and 
     Natural Resources; and
       (B) consult with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and 
     other interested governmental entities, private and nonprofit 
     organizations, and any interested individuals.
       (3) Contents.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall--
       (A) consider unique vegetation types that occur in the 
     study area and that should be targeted for inclusion in the 
     unit of the National Forest System described in paragraph 
     (1)(A);
       (B) evaluate the ability of the Secretary--
       (i) to improve and protect forest areas within the study 
     area; and
       (ii) to secure favorable water flows within the study area;
       (C) determine whether the unit of the National Forest 
     System described in paragraph (1)(A) would expand, enhance, 
     or duplicate--
       (i) resource protection; and
       (ii) visitor-use opportunities;
       (D) consider parcels of an appropriate size or location to 
     be capable of economical administration as part of the 
     National Forest System separately or jointly with the other 
     land identified under paragraph (1)(B);
       (E) evaluate the willingness of landowners to sell or 
     transfer land in the study area to the Secretary;
       (F) evaluate the suitability of land in the study area for 
     potential selection and designation as a research natural 
     area or an experimental forest;
       (G) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
     development, operation, and maintenance that would be needed 
     to establish the unit of the National Forest System described 
     in paragraph (1)(A); and
       (H) consider other alternatives for the conservation, 
     protection, and use of areas within the study area by the 
     Federal Government, State or local government entities, or 
     private and nonprofit organizations.
       (c) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes the 
     Secretary to take any action that would affect the use of any 
     land owned by the United States or not owned by the United 
     States.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives a report that describes--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 297, sponsored by my 
Committee on Natural Resources' colleague, Representative Ed Case of 
Hawaii.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation would require the Secretary of 
Agriculture, in coordination with the Hawaii Department of Land and 
Natural Resources, to conduct a study to identify lands in the State of 
Hawaii that merit inclusion in the National Forest System.
  Hawaii is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, 
home to 10 of the 13 world climate zones, with ecosystems ranging from 
the deserts to tropics, where plants and animals that found their way 
to Hawaii evolved like nowhere else. The study would consider how a 
Hawaii national forest could contribute to the conservation of this 
biodiversity not found elsewhere in the National Forest System.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 297 provides the first step in establishing a 
national forest in Hawaii and a basis for bringing together local 
stakeholders to move forward the conversation on how to responsibly 
establish a national forest in Hawaii that benefits both Hawaii's 
island communities as well as the National Forest Service.
  Madam Speaker, as we continue to work towards the Biden 
administration's effort to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters 
by 2030, and identify solutions to our climate and biodiversity crises, 
I hope we can all see the value in taking this step towards protecting 
Hawaii's unique forest resources and its native species.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 297, offered by our Natural 
Resources Committee colleague, Congressman Case from Hawaii. This bill 
is the first step toward the creation of Hawaii's first national 
forest.
  This bill requires a study to identify potential parcels of land that 
could later be incorporated into a national forest that would help 
fulfill the National Forest System's mission.
  Hawaii is one of the few States without a national forest and the 
only State that has tropical rainforests. Hawaii's rainforests are 
among the wettest places on Earth. This bill would help inventory how 
best to conserve and expand Hawaii's unique forests and lay the 
groundwork for the establishment of a national forest.
  While I question my friends from Hawaii on why they would be 
interested in potentially giving the Federal Government jurisdiction 
over any land in Hawaii, especially considering the unfortunate state 
of our national forests on the mainland, I do urge adoption of the 
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his positive 
comments.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. 
Case).
  Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 297, 
the bill that I have co-introduced with my colleague from Hawaii, 
Representative Kaiali'i Kahele.
  As Mr. Soto and the ranking member have noted, this legislation would 
require the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the State of 
Hawaii, to conduct a study to identify lands in the State of Hawaii 
that merit inclusion in the National Forest System. This would be the 
first step in potentially establishing a national forest in one of the 
few parts of our country with no such system.
  As my friend and colleague, Mr. Soto, has noted, Hawaii is the most 
isolated island chain and one of the most ecologically diverse places 
in our world. Within our borders, we have 10 of the 13 world climate 
zones, ecosystems that range from the deserts to the tropics, where 
plants and animals that found their way to Hawaii evolved like nowhere 
else.
  A 2014 survey identified 9,975 endemic species in Hawaii, many of 
which are reliant on Hawaii's fragile ecosystem, including our forests, 
to survive. However, since the onset of human arrival just centuries 
ago, Hawaii has lost almost half of its unique native forest cover and 
countless fauna and flora species.
  Despite these threats to our unique biodiversity, Hawaii remains one 
of eight States that does not have a national forest or grassland. The 
study authorized by the bill would take steps to correct this 
oversight. It would consider how a Hawaii national forest could 
contribute to the conservation of this biodiversity not found elsewhere 
in our National Forest System while supporting the research mission of 
the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.
  It would help inventory where Hawaii's native koa, ohi'a, and 
sandalwood forests can be conserved and expanded for cultural and 
commercial practices. It would help identify where cultural sites could 
be better conserved and access expanded to the public and 
practitioners. And it would help provide the basis to bring together 
local stakeholders to advance the conservation of how to responsibly 
establish a national forest in Hawaii in a manner that will benefit 
both our island communities and the National Forest Service.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues in the Hawaii congressional 
delegation for their support. I thank the Committee on Natural 
Resources and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands 
chairs, ranking members, members, and staff for their support and 
assistance in bringing this bill to the floor.

[[Page H2219]]

  I take my ranking member's comments to heart. I certainly hope that 
this study will not only evaluate and investigate how we can create a 
national forest in Hawaii but how we can make that a model for how 
national forests can and should be administered throughout our country. 
I endorse his concerns as to the administration of our national forests 
and, certainly, would look forward to working with him in our 
subcommittee and committee.
  As we continue to identify solutions to our climate and biodiversity 
crises, I hope we can all see the value in taking this step toward 
protecting our unique forest resources and their native species, along 
with providing important opportunities.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Westerman 
from Arkansas, for his positive comments and bipartisan spirit, and I 
thank Mr. Case.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 297.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________