STAND. COM. REP. NO.1499
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.C.R. No. 42
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 42 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO LEAD THE NATION AND IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR ALL AMERICANS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the President and Congress of the United States of America to lead the nation and immediately address the problem of the high cost of prescription drugs for all Americans.
The Executive Office on Aging (EOA) and Hawaii Pharmacists Association submitted testimony in support of this measure.
Your Committee understands that the high cost of prescription medication is a problem for many Americans nationwide, and that a large majority of the elderly population are greatly affected by the cost due to their increased need for prescription medications. Your Committee finds that Medicare generally does not cover prescription drugs.
However, your Committee also finds that obesity and poor health education in the early years of life has a tremendous impact on health as a person grows older. Education and health maintenance conducted at an early age may diminish many of the diseases and medical difficulties of the aged.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Amending the title to read: "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM";
(2) Deleting its contents and inserting provisions requesting the Department of Health and Department of Education to examine the problem of childhood obesity and recommend strategies to combat the problem; and
(3) Requesting a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2002.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 42, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 42, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |