S.Res. 742

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 742 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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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

July 14, 2026

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

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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