STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3532

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 234

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 234 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE AND SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE VIABILITY OF HAWAII'S GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that Hawaii's congressional delegation introduce and support federal legislation to improve the viability of Hawaii's geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; Maui County Farm Bureau; Kahua Ranch; Mikilua Poultry Farm, Inc.; and one individual.  The Department of Agriculture submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii and Alaska are the only two states that are not contiguous to the United States mainland and, thus are placed at an economic disadvantage to the contiguous states.  The major disadvantages faced by Hawaii's farmers and ranchers are the costs of transportation and of importing material such as feed and stock.  Your Committees further find that it is necessary to seek subsidies through federal legislation to improve the viability of the State's farmers and ranchers to avoid the continuation of business closures as recently seen in Hawaii's dairy industry.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 234 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair