STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1731-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 160

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 160 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT H.R. NO. 3468 TO CONTROL THE INTRODUCTION AND SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES AND DISEASES IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the President and Congress of the United States to support H.R. No. 3468, cited as the "Hawaii Invasive Species Prevention Act," to control the introduction and spread of invasive species and diseases in Hawaii. H.R. No. 3468 would, among other things:

(1) Prevent any federal agency from authorizing, funding, or carrying out any action that would likely cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species and diseases in Hawaii;

(2) Require federal agencies to consider invasive species and disease issues when planning any activity that may cause the accidental introduction of invasive species and diseases in Hawaii;

(3) Establish a system of quarantine protocols;

(4) Allow federal officials to assist and cooperate with local and state efforts to eradicate or control invasive species; and

(5) Authorize an appropriation to carry out the purposes of the legislation.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, C&H Farms, and the Maui County Farm Bureau testified in support of this concurrent resolution. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 160 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture,

____________________________ FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair		____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Chair