A resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 742 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 742

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service 
                 Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 20, 2026

    Ms. Hirono (for herself and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the United States Forest Service 
                 Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

Whereas the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (referred to in this preamble 
        as the ``IPIF'') operates under a geographically based research 
        portfolio and the Pacific Southwest Research Station Charter;
Whereas the IPIF has been serving the Pacific region, which is equal to the size 
        of the continental United States, since 1956, following the orders of 
        the Secretary of Agriculture;
Whereas the IPIF was congressionally authorized and established as an Institute 
        in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (commonly 
        known as the ``1990 Farm Bill'') (Public Law 101-624; 104 Stat. 3359);
Whereas the mission of the IPIF has been to serve the research, development, 
        demonstration, and technical assistance needs of Hawaii and United 
        States-affiliated Pacific islands in addressing the frontiers of 
        tropical ecology, natural resources, and management;
Whereas the IPIF provides the scientific information needed to advise officials 
        regarding the restoration, conservation, and sustainability of tropical 
        forests, grasslands, and wetlands of the Pacific;
Whereas wildfire threats escalate in island environments, and the IPIF's ongoing 
        wildfire mapping, risk analysis, and science-driven fire-mitigation 
        strategies, developed in collaboration with the Forest Service's Fire 
        and Aviation Management, has transformed fire response capacity across 
        the Pacific while reducing long-term risk and costs;
Whereas the IPIF conducts cutting edge tropical research in investigating 
        invasive species and their impacts, developing conservation tools, 
        including biocontrol agents, to support endemic wildlife and plants, and 
        managing environmental stressors in the Pacific's ecosystems;
Whereas recent IPIF studies include findings on the pathogenicity and 
        colonization of Rapid Ohia Death on Ohia trees and the changing 
        population patterns of invasive strawberry guava trees in the Hawaiian 
        rainforest;
Whereas the IPIF's Biocontrol Program has been a national leader in researching 
        and administering safe, targeted, long-term weed and insect pest 
        suppression to reduce the costs of large-scale land restoration;
Whereas the IPIF serves as a bridge between science and community, presenting 
        indigenous perspectives through conservation partnerships and cultural 
        stewardship to reach its conservation goals, increases the number of 
        rural jobs, and empowers local decision making;
Whereas the IPIF's location on Hawaii Island makes it the premier Forest Service 
        institute and hub for scientific research in the Pacific region and is 
        vital to ensuring that the institute is able to carry out the research 
        goals set forth by Congress in a fiscally responsible manner;
Whereas the IPIF is home to a dedicated workforce committed to their mission of 
        serving the people and ecosystems of the Pacific;
Whereas the IPIF has been home to various research programs related to a diverse 
        range of categories with national universities and government 
        organizations;
Whereas healthy forests and watersheds are vital in providing important 
        ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, carbon storage, erosion 
        prevention, increased biodiversity, wildlife movement corridors, water 
        storage, flood control, and more; and
Whereas scientific research on our forests and watersheds is important for 
        maintaining the landscape and biodiversity of the United States, and 
        fighting against climate change: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the United States 
        Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (referred 
        to in this resolution as the ``IPIF'');
            (2) recognizes the vital contributions that the research 
        conducted and data produced by the IPIF have provided to the 
        United States in understanding the ecosystems of the Pacific 
        region;
            (3) acknowledges the importance of having the IPIF located 
        on Hawaii Island; and
            (4) reaffirms the Senate's strong support for the critical 
        ongoing operations of the IPIF and its staff.
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