Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Intergovernmental Affairs and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 19 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the United States Congress to approve the proposed Hawaii Invasive Species Act.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Conservation Council for Hawai`i, the Maui County Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, The Nature Conservancy, Meadow Gold Dairies, C & H Farms, the Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Despite the efforts of numerous federal, state, and private agencies, invasive species enter Hawaii at an alarming rate and pose the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy, natural environment, and the health and lifestyle of the State's residents.

Your Committees find that the State needs to take more aggressive action to combat this threat. Legislation currently pending before the United States Congress would grant authority for Hawaii to institute an incoming quarantine and inspection regime comparable to the outgoing regime that exists for the movement of people and cargo from Hawaii to the mainland.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Intergovernmental Affairs and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 19 and recommend its adoption.