H.R. 5562 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Sep 23, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryBoosts research to protect tropical crops
This bill makes tropical plant health a priority area for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research and grant programs. It focuses on crops like coffee, cacao, bananas, mangos, vanilla, and ornamental plants that are grown in warm climates. The USDA would fund grants for developing treatments to fight plant pests and diseases, setting up pest management programs in affected areas, and studying the biology and health of these tropical plants.
How it affects you
This mainly affects farmers and growers who raise tropical crops, particularly in Hawaii and other warm U.S. regions, by giving them access to government-funded research and tools to protect their plants. Consumers might benefit indirectly through better availability and quality of tropical products like coffee and cocoa, though the summary doesn't spell out direct consumer effects.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Sep 23, 2025)
Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act
This bill establishes a Tropical Plant Health Initiative as a Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-priority research and extension area and reauthorizes other USDA research and extension initiatives. Under the bill, tropical plants include coffee plants, macadamia trees, cacao trees, plantains and bananas, mangos, floriculture and nursery crops, and vanilla plants.
Specifically, the bill allows research and extension grants for
• developing and disseminating science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and noxious weeds that impact tropical plants;
• establishing an integrated pest management program in areas where tropical plants are affected by plant pests or noxious weeds; and
• conducting related data collection, research, and investigations regarding the production, health, immune systems, biology, ecology, and genomics of the tropical plants.
Further, the bill reauthorizes USDA grants to support competitive specialized research and extension activities, including high-priority areas, through FY2030.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5562
A BILL
Tropical Plant Health Initiative Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (D-HI-2) · Introduced Sep 23, 2025 · Agriculture and Food · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 2, 2025: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.”