Bill Text: HI SCR143 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Invasive Species; Federal Policy

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-04-08 - Referred to EEP/AGR/WAL, referral sheet 50 [SCR143 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SCR143-Amended.html

---

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	143
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT FEDERAL POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE INTRODUCTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES, AND TO MANAGE AND PREVENT THE UNCONTROLLED PROLIFERATION OF INVASIVE SPECIES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the federal government has no single policy prohibiting or limiting the import and keeping of invasive species in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, federal regulations on invasive species are found in public laws and Acts that place responsibility for administration and enforcement under different agencies and departments, such as the United States Department of the Interior, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies; and

 

     WHEREAS, the proliferation of invasive species like feral pigs, goats, deer, and wild cattle; Asian carp; coqui frogs; snails; exotic plants; aquatic and marine species; and other noxious pests extends beyond the jurisdiction of individual states; and

 

     WHEREAS, the proliferation of these invasive species inflicts irreparable damage to native habitats, native ecosystems, and native species; and

 

     WHEREAS, states, organizations, agencies, and individuals are allowed to import invasive species under state laws that are different from state to state, with differing levels of permitting, monitoring, protection, management, and enforcement; and

 

     WHEREAS, the management and control of import and proliferation of invasive species would benefit from application of federal guidelines, standards, regulations, and oversight; and

 

     WHEREAS, invasive species damage native ecosystems, threaten habitats, cause damage to crops, disrupt farming and other agricultural activities that contribute to the country's security and economy, and result in serious threats to endemic species important for ecological and environmental health; and

 

     WHEREAS, healthy, native, natural environments extend beyond states' jurisdictions and benefit the entire country; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is no federal clearinghouse or agency solely responsible for the collection of information, enforcement, and planning for the reduction and management of invasive species; and

 

     WHEREAS, the control and management of the proliferation of invasive species would benefit from national standards for invasive species, to include introduction criteria, invasive species management and monitoring standards, limitations on introductions and imports, and licensing and permitting of invasive species introductions; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the federal government is urged to adopt federal policy to prohibit the introduction  of invasive species, and to manage and prevent the uncontrolled proliferation of invasive species; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States; President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; Chairperson of the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Chairperson of the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans And Insular Affairs; National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Administrator; Hawaii's congressional delegation; Governor; and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Report Title: 

Invasive Species; Federal Policy