STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1409-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.C.R. No. 12

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 12 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING TO BE USED FOR PROGRAMS AND MEASURES INTENDED TO CONTAIN AND ERADICATE COQUI FROGS IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request Hawaii's Congressional delegation to seek federal funding to contain and eradicate coqui frogs in Hawaii

The Department of Agriculture, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Association of Realtors, and C&H Farms submitted testimony in support of this measure. Animal Rights Hawaii opposed this measure.

Your Committees recognize that alien invasive species, such as the coqui frog, pose a dangerous threat to our State's fragile and complex ecosystem. Although the State is concentrating more resources toward the containment and eradication of the coqui frog, federal assistance is needed because of the pervasiveness and high levels of concentration of the coqui frog in the State.

Your Committees note that previous federal funding received for the control and eradication of the brown tree snake has significantly reduced the threat of that specie to Hawaii. Similar federal support and funding to eradicate the coqui frog would ensure the viability and safety of the State's ecosystem and economy.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 12 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture,

 

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FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair

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HERMINA MORITA, Chair