STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3065
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2590
H.D. 1
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. 2590, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of
funds for food bank purchases from local farmers, to be expended by the
Department of Agriculture via requests for proposals.
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of
Agriculture; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; one member of the Kauai County
Council; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Food Bank, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm
Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers
Union United; Healthy Eating + Active Living Coalition; Young Brothers, LLC;
Hawaii chapter of 350.org; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!;
Pele Lani Farm LLC; The Food Basket Inc.; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii
Medical Service Association; Go Blue Communities; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Hawaii
Food Industry Association; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; and thirty-one
individuals.
Your Committee finds
that the cost of food in the State has increased by more than five percent in
the last twelve months. Your Committee
further finds that food banks need additional support to expand its food storage
capacity to combat the rise of food insecurity in the State. This measure will not only support the
efforts of Hawaii's food banks, but also provide local food producers with a
wider market to support their operations.
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. 2590, H.D. 1, 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,
|
|
|
________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
|
|
|
|