STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1575

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 34

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 34 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PETITION THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PARITY BETWEEN HAWAII AND OTHER STATES AND TERRITORIES PERTAINING TO THE EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request Hawaii's congressional delegation to petition the United States Department of Agriculture to address the lack of parity between Hawaii and other states and territories pertaining to the export of agricultural goods.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.

Your Committees find that although it is necessary to prevent the introduction of plant pests, the quarantine requirements and restrictions on agricultural commodities grown in the State and transported to the continental United States have seriously impeded the growth of Hawaii's agricultural industry and, therefore, the economy of the State. According to testimony received by your Committees, Hawaii's cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops are essential niche exports, but due to a backlog of petitions submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture that are not prioritized like those petitions from foreign countries, Hawaii's exports are delayed, creating significant disadvantages. This measure aims to ensure parity with all other states in the nation regarding the export of agricultural goods.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 34, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair