STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2033

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 276

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Economic Development & Business Concerns and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 276 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE ENACTMENT BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE OF A BILL PROPOSING TO IMPOSE A FEE ON THE PROCESSING OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE FEE ON THE PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY OF THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to oppose the enactment of Senate Bill 974, currently pending before the California State Legislature, which would increase the cost of living in Hawaii by imposing a fee of $30 per 20-foot equivalent unit on every cargo container traveling between California and Hawaii.

 

     The Department of Transportation, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Horizon Lines, LLC, supported this concurrent resolution.  Alexander & Baldwin and Matson Navigation Company, Inc., supported the intent of this measure.  ILWU Local 142 opposed this measure.


 

     Hawaii's geographic isolation makes our state uniquely dependent on shipping.  Over 90 percent of the goods that we consume are shipped to Hawaii, and we have few other transportation alternatives.  California Senate Bill 974 would increase Hawaii consumer costs by approximately $68,000,000 per year.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development & Business Concerns and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 276 and recommend its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development & Business Concerns and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair