A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to ensure adequate staffing and resources for the Institute of Tropical Forestry and the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · February 11, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
S. 3851 updates federal law to strengthen two specialized forestry research institutes by guaranteeing they have sufficient staff and funding. The bill requires the Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico to maintain at least 50 staff members and the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry to maintain at least 30 staff members, along with adequate resources for their research and educational missions. These institutes conduct scientific research and share knowledge about tropical and Pacific island forest management and conservation. The bill, introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono in February 2026, directly affects the Department of Agriculture's ability to staff and resource these facilities, though it does not specify new funding amounts or implementation timelines. By establishing minimum staffing levels in law, the legislation aims to prevent budget cuts that could undermine these institutions' research capabilities in important but geographically remote regions.
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