STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 480-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2197
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2197 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee finds that glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide, meaning that the herbicide kills many varieties of green vegetation and is widely used in agricultural, residential, aquatic, and other settings. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide globally and within the United States due to the widespread cultivation of "Roundup Ready" crops, which are crops that have been genetically engineered to withstand the application of a glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup.
Your Committee further finds that there is growing, yet mixed, evidence on the potential harmful effects of glyphosate. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization and the world's leading authority on cancer, unanimously concluded that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen. However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency continues to find "no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label and that glyphosate is not a carcinogen".
Your Committee also finds that numerous lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup. In California, three successful lawsuits against Bayer found that a connection existed between the plaintiffs' extended use of Roundup and their development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inviting a county representative to be selected by the office of the mayor of each county, rather than the county councils, to join the Task Force;
(2) Designating the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate, rather than the chairpersons of the Committee on Agriculture of each house, respectively, as the selecting authorities for legislator invitees on the Task Force;
(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this matter, to consider the concerns of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action and Hawaii Center for Food Safety regarding the membership of the Task Force. The organizations propose that a representative from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics would significantly contribute to the effectiveness of the Task Force. They also propose the membership of an environmental organization steeped in peer reviewed studies on glyphosate impacts. The Hawaii Center for Food Safety and Pesticide Action Network have a presence in Hawaii and have a staff scientist with expertise in glyphosate. Earthjustice has unique legal expertise in the Task Force's area of concern. The Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action can liaison with its national partnership network to act as a force-multiplier for the Task Force. If these organizations are deemed too polarizing, then the Sierra Club may be a more acceptable addition to the Task Force.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2197, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2197, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair |
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