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 S.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the United States Congress to support the enactment of the proposed federal Hawaii Invasive Species Prevention Act, H.R. 3468, that would establish certain federal findings and grant authority for Hawaii to institute a stricter incoming quarantine and inspection regime.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, Conservation Council for Hawai'i, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, and Meadow Gold Dairies testified in support of this concurrent resolution. The Department of Agriculture supported the overall intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that federal preemption prevents Hawaii from using incoming quarantine and inspection that are stricter than federal law. Passage of the Hawaii Invasive Species Prevention Act on the federal level would allow Hawaii to establish a regime comparable to the one currently mandated for passengers and cargo leaving Hawaii en route to the mainland.

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 S.C.R. No. 36 and recommend its adoption.