STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1543-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 180

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 180 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP AND VARIOUS COMMITTEES TO CREATE AND RECOMMEND FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY SUBSIDIES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF WATERBORNE CARGO CONSISTENT WITH THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WATER CARRIERS WORKING GROUP'S FINAL REPORT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to convene a working group and various federal, state, and county committees to create and recommend federal, state, and county subsidies for the transport of waterborne cargo consistent with the findings and recommendations of the Water Carriers Working Group's final report.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Young Brothers, LLC; and Hawaii Harbor Users Group.

Your Committee finds that a Water Carriers Working Group was convened in 2020 to recommend mid-term and long-term solutions to balance the need for continuous interisland water carrier service throughout the State with the need for water carriers to maintain financial sustainability. The Water Carriers Working Group's final report recommended, among other things, that the Department of Transportation convene a working group and various federal, state, and county committees to create and recommend various government subsidies for the transport of waterborne cargo. This measure ensures that those recommendations are further pursued to address Hawaii's high dependency on the import of goods.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the composition of the working group by:

(A) Adding representation from the Public Utilities Commission, Hawaii Farm Bureau, a labor organization that represents longshoremen, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; and

(B) Removing the Chairpersons of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees on Transportation; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 180, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair