Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 925, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist farmers on Kauai by authorizing the Department of Agriculture to make farm loans totaling $5,000,000 from the agriculture and aquaculture loan revolving funds.

Your Committee finds that the recent closure of Amfac Sugar Company on Kauai has had a devastating impact on the island's economy. The closure has worsened Kauai's already high unemployment rate and has left at least 7,758 acres of former sugarcane land fallow and unproductive.

This bill will provide financial incentives to encourage farming enterprises to continue farming the land to stimulate the local economy and to also provide new opportunities for displaced sugar plantation workers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 925, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.