THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	137
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the university of hawaii at manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources to convene a working group to evaluate updating its extension sites.

WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) oversees the management of eighteen agricultural research stations distributed across the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, together, these stations represent an invaluable network of research facilities that allow CTAHR to conduct not only research, but also education and cooperative extension activities to meet the diverse needs of communities and growers within their own unique environments; and

WHEREAS, the effectiveness and true potential of this research network have been seriously curtailed through a lack of investment in modernizing facilities and a long history of deferred maintenance of aging infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, CTAHR has been actively engaged with stakeholders at the state and national levels to build a greater awareness of its research infrastructure needs across the CTAHR network of research stations; and

WHEREAS, at the state level, CTAHR is working with the University of Hawaii System and the Legislature to garner funds for strategic investments in updating aging infrastructure and modernizing research facilities; and

WHEREAS, at the national level, CTAHR is working closely with its land grant university partners to advocate for strategic federal investments in agricultural research facilities across America; and

WHEREAS, this body recognizes that without strategic investments in CTAHR's agricultural research infrastructure, the institution will be left with inadequate resources that will gradually diminish its ability to respond to the research and education needs of the islands' communities; and

WHEREAS, despite CTAHR's ongoing advocacy efforts, this body finds that CTAHR's research station infrastructure needs will only become more dire if not addressed with urgency; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is requested to convene a working group to evaluate updating its extension sites; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the University of Hawaii, Chairperson of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, and Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

CTAHR; Working Group; Extension Sites