HR181 HD1.DOC

WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands are a unique ecosystem and environment, home to countless numbers of native plants and animals found nowhere else in the world; and

WHEREAS, this unique ecosystem and environment helps to draw visitors to the Islands, supporting Hawaii's economic and financial infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the uniqueness of Hawaii's ecosystems also leads to high environmental susceptibility to alien pests and invasive species; and

WHEREAS, these alien pests and invasive species have already taken a toll on Hawaii's agricultural industry, natural environment, economy, and public health, and affected the quality of life of residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, once established, introduced alien pests and invasive species are extremely difficult to eradicate, costing the State millions in damage and control costs; and

WHEREAS, the arrival of alien pests and invasive species have contributed to Hawaii's becoming the endangered species capital of the United States, with the most species listed; and

WHEREAS, air transportation has been shown to be the route by which many alien pests and invasive species are introduced into Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, the federal government asserts that the State does not have the current authority to inspect incoming commodities arriving from international destinations; and

WHEREAS, without further action, alien pests and invasive species will continue to pose an extreme danger to Hawaii's agriculture, environment, economy, public health, and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, increased pest infestations will considerably limit the expansion of Hawaii's agricultural industry and put existing crops at risk, thereby increasing the State's reliance on imported food and slowing Hawaii's efforts at self-sustainability; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii-grown commodities, in contrast to imports from foreign countries, undergo rigorous inspection requirements pursuant to United States Department of Agriculture quarantine laws, as well as various stringent state laws, such as California agriculture industry laws and practices prior to export; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has disallowed the use of airport revenue to fund the State's agricultural inspection services and facilities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that this body urges the President of the United States and the United States Congress to review the impact of federal laws on the inspection of incoming international commodities into Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government is requested to:

(1) Clarify that the State Department of Agriculture has the authority to inspect and limit infested imported products from entering the state from other nations; or

(2) Change the law to provide such authority; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii's Congressional delegation work with the Federal Aviation Administration to allow the use of airport revenues to fund agricultural inspection services and facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the members of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation.

Report Title:

Agricultural Inspections; Invasive Species; Airports

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	181
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII