S. 85 — Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings that (1) the Ceratocystis fungus (Rapid Ohia Death) has killed more than 1,000,000 native trees in the State; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service and Agricultural Research Service, has provided funding and staff to identify and detect Rapid Ohia Death, prevent its spread, identify resistant ohia trees, and propagate such trees to restore the State's native forests.

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) "Rapid Ohia Death" as the fungus described in section 2(1) that has killed more than 1,000,000 native trees in the State, and (2) "State" as the State of Hawaii.

This section directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to continue ongoing efforts to combat Rapid Ohia Death (ROD), a fungal disease threatening Hawaii's native ohia lehua forests, a keystone species supporting unique ecosystems. Specifically, it (1) requires the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey to continue research on ROD vectors and transmission; (2) requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to continue partnering with the state and local stakeholders to manage ungulates (i.e., hoofed mammals such as feral pigs and goats) in ROD control areas on federal, state, and private lands; and (3) requires the Chief of the Forest Service to continue providing financial assistance—including to the Secretary of the Interior—to prevent ROD spread and restore Hawaii's native forests, as well as staff and infrastructure funding to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry for ROD research.

This section authorizes appropriations of $5 million for each of FY2026 through FY2036 to carry out the Act, including activities carried out by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, or both.