STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2050-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 106

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 106 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO OPTIMIZE THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND EQUITY AND TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO COORDINATE THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Request the Governor to establish an infrastructure task force, made up of relevant agencies and departments, to coordinate the use of federal funds for climate resilience and equity and to implement guidelines for state projects to ensure that they promote climate resilience and equity; and

(2) Request the Governor and infrastructure task force to facilitate the application process for federal funding to advance the state's climate resilience and equity goals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that climate change is already affecting the State with the increased frequency of extreme weather events. Additionally, the damage and costs of climate change will continue to grow without appropriate public action. Therefore, it is essential that the State take additional steps to reduce its contributions to climate change, particularly for Hawaii's most vulnerable populations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 106 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

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NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair