STAND. COM. REP. NO.1212

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.R. No. 130

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 130 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII AGREE TO A MORATORIUM ON FLUORIDATION LEGISLATION UNTIL SUCH A TIME AS THE ISSUE OF FLUORIDATION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY CONGRESS, SHOULD BE DEBATED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND/OR LITIGATED IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, AND THOSE FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request that the House of Representatives and the Senate of the State of Hawaii agree to a moratorium on fluoridation legislation until such a time as the issue of fluoridation, which is currently under investigation by Congress, should be debated by the Congress of the United States and/or litigated in the United States Supreme Court, and those findings are published.

The Coalition for Safe Drinking Water, We, the Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Citizens for Health, West Side Watershed Council of Kauai, Down to Earth Natural Foods, and numerous other citizens submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

The Board of Water Supply submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee understands that Hawaii has one of the worst, if not the worst, rates of dental disease in the United States, especially among children. Moreover, your Committee realizes that many of these diseases are due to the limited access to much-needed dental disease prevention, early intervention, and dental treatment services. Furthermore, it is recognized that an improvement in oral health also improves the physical and psychological well-being of the community at large.

Although proponents assert that fluoridation has proven to be safe, effective, and efficient across the nation, and Hawaii ranks last among all fifty states for the proportion of state residents with access to fluoridated drinking water, your Committee realizes that we live in a unique environment and that many concerns still exist over this public health measure.

Morever, your Committee understands that scientific investigations regarding the efficacy and safety of fluoridation of public water supplies is currently being conducted by the Congress of the United States.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requires the transmittal of a certified copy of this resolution along with a letter urging that the study be completed as soon as possible;

(2) Amending the title to read: "HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO EXPEDITE ITS INVESTIGATION OF WATER FLUORIDATION AND AGREEING TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN INTRODUCING ANY FLUORIDATION LEGISLATION UNTIL THE U.S. CONGRESS CONCLUDES ITS INVESTIGATION AND PUBLISHES ITS REPORT ON FLUORIDATION OR THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES ON ITS SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS, OR UNTIL WATER FLUORIDATION IS APPROVED BY THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION";

 

(3) Stating that the House of Representatives and Senate agree to exercise restraint in the introduction of fluoridation legislation until Congress concludes its investigation into fluoridation and the United States Food and Drug Administration determines that fluoridation is safe and effective; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 130, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 130, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair