WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) led the rest of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation including Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representative Ed Case (D-HI), in introducing the Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act. This legislation would expand research and grant funding opportunities to help combat pests and diseases affecting tropical plants including coffee plants, macadamia trees, and other iconic Hawaii staples.
“In Hawaii, and many other states across the country, we rely on growing and exporting tropical plants to boost our economies,” said Senator Hirono. “Conducting research to protect and maintain crops—such as coffee, macadamia nuts, mangos, and vanilla—is crucial in order to understand and mitigate any threats posed to these plants. I’m glad to join my colleagues in the Hawaii Congressional delegation in introducing this legislation to bolster our tropical agriculture and support our local farmers and producers.”
“Tropical crops like kalo, ulu, coffee, bananas, and macadamia nuts are more than economic lifelines for Hawaii’s farmers and small businesses. They are the foods we share, the traditions we carry, and a vital part of who we are as communities,” said Representative Tokuda. “That’s why Senator Hirono and I introduced the Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act, to protect these crops from pests, climate change, and disease, and to safeguard our communities’ future."
The bill would increase support for tropical plant research by prioritizing relevant applications for USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants and creating dedicated funding. This would unlock targeted federal support for research and development, integrated pest management, and other initiatives to protect and improve the health of tropical floriculture and nursery crops—all critical to Hawaii’s agriculture and economy.
The full text of the legislation is available here.
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