48
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION


CALLING FOR THE REPORTING OF ALL ONGOING AND PLANNED WORK WITH
   GENETIC ENGINEERING IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.


 1   
 2       WHEREAS, genetic engineering is a new science without any
 3   long term evaluation of the effects on the health of human
 4   bodies, other living creatures, and the environment;  and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, Japan, the European Union, and the majority of
 7   other Nations in the World are limiting, if not barring, the
 8   imports of genetically engineered foods into their respective
 9   countries and questioning the safety of genetic engineering
10   technology upon our health and environment;  and
11   
12       WHEREAS, the drift of pollen from genetically engineered
13   crops has been scientifically documented to extend two or more
14   miles away from such plantings, and therefore poses potential
15   risks to the organic farm industry and other farms not using
16   genetically engineered crops, including industrial and home
17   plantings;  and
18   
19       WHEREAS, in addition to the potential effects on Hawaii's
20   agriculture industry, genetic engineering could also have
21   unforeseen effects on Hawaii's precious native ecosystems and
22   the biodiversity of our sensitive island environment;  and
23   
24       WHEREAS, the health and purity of our islands' ecosystems
25   should be assured top priority before the State of Hawaii
26   ventures down the road of untested biotechnology which is
27   currently being rejected by the World Market;  now, therefore,
28   
29       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
30   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
31   of 2000, the Senate concurring, that the University of Hawaii
32   College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the
33   University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service, the
34   Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Business
35   Economic Development and Tourism report all work, ongoing or
36   planned, with genetic engineering and/or associated technology
37   to the State Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
38   convening of the 2001 Regular Session;  and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the receipt of these
 3   reports providing information on the extent of genetic
 4   engineering use and research in Hawaii, members of the State
 5   Legislature shall decide whether or not further study,
 6   evaluation, or regulation of this technology is needed at that
 7   time;  and
 8   
 9       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
10   Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the President of the
11   Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
12   President of the University of Hawaii, the Dean of the College
13   of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Chair of the
14   Department of Agriculture, the Director of the Department of
15   Business Economic Development and Tourism, the Director of the
16   Department of Health, and the Chair of the Department of Land
17   and Natural Resources.
18 
19 
20 
21                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________