STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1714

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 119

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 119, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MOSQUITO CONTROL PROGRAM THAT USES WOLBACHIA BACTERIA TO REDUCE MOSQUITO POPULATION LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE STATE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and University of Hawaii to develop and implement a mosquito control program that uses Wolbachia bacteria to reduce mosquito population levels throughout the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, and American Bird Conservancy.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that mosquito-borne diseases, including the Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue fever, and avian malaria, are spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and that the control of mosquito populations throughout Hawaii is therefore necessary to protect the health and well-being of the State's residents and animals.  Your Committee further finds that Wolbachia is a naturally occurring bacteria present in a high percentage of all insects and has been used successfully around the world in suppressing populations of pest mosquitoes.

 

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

 

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 119, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 119, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair