STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1921

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 103

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 103, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY OPERATING IN HAWAII TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES IN THEIR POLICIES TO REDUCE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE USE OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge all branches of the United States Military operating in the State to implement changes in their policies to reduce, to the extent possible, the use of products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard and one individual.

Your Committee finds that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, toxic substances that can contaminate drinking water, bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife, and have multiple adverse health effects on humans such as decreased fertility, elevated blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects or delays in children, an increased risk of certain cancers, and disruption of the body's immune system and natural hormones. PFAS are often called "forever chemicals" since they do not naturally break down in the environment and can continue to pollute the environment for thousands of years. Your Committee further finds that some of the highest concentrations of PFAS in the country have been found at and around military bases, in large part because of the military's longtime reliance on the firefighting foam known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a product containing PFAS. Your Committee believes that PFAS contamination can pose a public health concern and endanger the groundwater and drinking water supply of Hawaii residents. This measure will protect the health and well-being of people in the State by helping to reduce the amount of PFAS in the local environment, particularly near military bases.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 103, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair