STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3069
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2134
H.D. 2
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2134, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of
funds to establish an unspecified number of Grant Specialist positions within
the Department of Agriculture to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for,
obtaining, and fulfilling the requirements of grants offered by federal, state,
county, or private entities.
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of
Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau;
Ulupono Initiative; Local Food Coalition; Hawaiʻi Farmers
Union United; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemen's
Council, Inc.; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Hawaii Aquaculture
and Aquaponics Association; Hawaii Food+ Policy; and seven individuals.
Your
Committee finds that there are many federal funding opportunities for
agricultural purposes that remain untapped or overlooked due to the lack of
adequate grant writing and expertise in the Department of Agriculture. This measure enhances the Department's capacity
to pursue and maximize the availability of federal funds to bolster the State's
efforts towards food security and sustainability, while easing the burden of
complex application procedures and compliance challenges on farmers, ranchers,
and other agricultural operators who pursue federal and other funding.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2134, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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