STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1663

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 171

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 171 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ISSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE STATE DOUBLE UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM TO ALL APPROVED SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RETAIL OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture to issue additional funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to provide matching funds for the expansion of the State Double Up Food Bucks Program to all approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program retail outlets throughout the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, 350Hawaii.org, The Food Basket, Ulupono Initiative, and one individual.

Your Committees find that fresh fruit and vegetables are an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the prevention of obesity and chronic disease, and that every community should have access to fresh and health dietary options. Your Committees further find that participants of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the State struggle to regularly afford healthy food. Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019 (Act 153), created the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program to provide a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP beneficiaries who purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets, grocery stores, food hubs, and community-supported agriculture projects. Therefore, this measure urges the United States Department of Agriculture to issue additional funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program to provide matching funds for the expansion of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, also known as Double Up Food Bucks Program, to all approved SNAP retail outlets in the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 171 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair