Bill Text: HI HCR43 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Develop A Strategic Plan To Strengthen Food Security For Low-income Communities And Communities Recovering From Natural Disasters In Hawaii.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-25 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ganaden, Kapela, Woodson excused (3). [HCR43 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HCR43-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	43
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO STRENGTHEN FOOD SECURITY FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES RECOVERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IN HAWAII.

 

 

     WHEREAS, food security is a fundamental human right and a critical component of public health and well-being; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's Aloha+ Challenge established a goal of increasing access to labor and land resources to support production, processing, distribution, and consumption of local food by 2030, with an overall target of twenty to thirty percent of food consumed in Hawaii being grown locally; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State's Sustainable Hawaii Initiative set forth a target of doubling local food production by 2020; and

 

     WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities recovering from natural disasters in Hawaii face significant challenges in accessing nutritious and affordable food, leading to food insecurity and related health disparities; and

 

     WHEREAS, promoting local food production and enhancing food security in underserved areas can contribute to better health and well-being, economic security, and environmental sustainability; and

 

     WHEREAS, developing a strategic plan to increase food security and food production in low-income communities and communities recovering from natural disasters requires a comprehensive approach that addresses issues related to food access, affordability, land use, agricultural production, education and vocational training programs, and community engagement; and

 

     WHEREAS, strategic planning efforts should involve collaboration among government agencies, community organizations, agricultural stakeholders, and other relevant entities to effectively leverage resources and expertise; and

 

     WHEREAS, implementing targeted strategies tailored to the unique needs and priorities of different communities can maximize the impact of food security initiatives and ensure equitable access to nutritious food for all residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, investing in programs and initiatives that support local food production, such as community gardens, urban farms, farmers' markets, and agricultural education programs, can strengthen food systems and reduce dependence on imported food; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to develop a strategic plan to strengthen food security for low-income communities and communities recovering from natural disasters in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the strategic plan is requested to:

 

     (1)  Assess the current status of food security and food production in low-income communities and communities recovering from natural disasters;

 

     (2)  Identify barriers and challenges to accessing locally produced and nutritious food in underserved areas;

 

     (3)  Develop strategies to expand access to affordable and locally sourced food options;

 

     (4)  Consider opportunities for increasing support of local farmers through economic incentives, technical assistance, capacity building programs, and other public investments;

 

     (5)  Evaluate the utility of community-based initiatives in addressing food insecurity for low-income areas, including community gardens, urban farms, agricultural education endeavors, and farmers' markets;

 

     (6)  Analyze ways of expanding access to agricultural education and vocational training programs related to local food production in low-income communities and communities recovering from natural disasters;

 

     (7)  Assess the effectiveness of food security interventions, measurements, and adjustment strategies with regard to stakeholder feedback and preferred outcomes;

 

     (8)  Determine the resources and funding that may be necessary to implement a strategic plan to enhance food security for low-income communities; and

 

     (9)  Address the issue of food insecurity in disaster recovery areas, particularly in the Lahaina community following the August 2023 wildfires; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit its strategic plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Director of Human Services; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Agriculture; Strategic Plan; Food Security; Low-income Communities