Full House Passes Rep. Tokuda’s Bill to Fight Rapid Ohia Death

Full House Passes Rep. Tokuda’s Bill to Fight Rapid Ohia Death | U.S. House Representative Jill Tokuda Skip to content Close Home About Biography Our District Votes And Legislation Committees & Caucuses Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus Bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus Services Help With A Federal Agency Tours And Tickets Internships Flags Art Competition Commendations and Greetings Military Service Academy Nominations Funding Requests Grant Applications Events Know Your Rights Disaster Assistance Programs for Flooding Victims Community Resources and Flood Response Guidance Media Op-Eds Press Releases In The News Videos Contact Email Me Scheduling Request Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Website Problem Close SEARCH Congresswoman Jill Tokuda About Biography Our District Votes And Legislation Committees & Caucuses Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus Bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus Services Help With A Federal Agency Tours And Tickets Internships Flags Art Competition Commendations and Greetings Military Service Academy Nominations Funding Requests Grant Applications Events Know Your Rights Disaster Assistance Programs for Flooding Victims Community Resources and Flood Response Guidance Media Op-Eds Press Releases In The News Videos Contact Email Me Scheduling Request Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Website Problem Modal Search Button Mobile Site Search Submit Search MENU Facebook Logo Twitter Logo BlueSky Logo Youtube Logo Instagram Logo Home Media Press Releases January 26, 2025 Full House Passes Rep. Tokuda’s Bill to Fight Rapid Ohia Death Washington, DC – On Thursday, the full House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 359-62, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda’s (HI-02) bill to fight the spread of Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) and help restore native forests in Hawaiʻi. The bill, which was also passed last September, now heads to the Senate for consideration, where U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation. The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025 enables federal agencies – including the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) – to more closely coordinate with the State of Hawaiʻi to prevent the spread of ROD. “These trees are a keystone species in Hawaiʻi’s forests and it is catastrophic to see its decline. It has the potential to trigger major imbalances in our ecosystems that would impact watersheds, cultural traditions, natural resources, and the safety and quality of life of our people. Because of the vital role they play in maintaining Hawaiʻi’s forest canopies and watershed, Rapid Ohia Death, or ROD, poses an existential threat to the ecological balance of our islands and the everyday life of our people,” said Rep. Tokuda on the House Floor. Rep. Tokuda’s speech can be viewed here . Text of the bill can be found here . ### Print Email Share Tweet Previous Article Next Article About Services Media Contact Privacy Policy Facebook Logo Twitter Logo BlueSky Logo Youtube Logo Instagram Logo