STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1839

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 57

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.R. No. 57 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO PRIORITIZE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN HAWAII'S REPRODUCTIVE CARE WORKFORCE, PARTICULARLY FOR RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS OF THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine to prioritize efforts to strengthen Hawaii's reproductive care workforce, particularly for rural and remote areas of the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Imua Alliance, Democratic Party of Hawaii Labor Caucus, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that as of 2022, only a few abortion providers host reproductive care clinics in the State, which are generally found only in Honolulu, on Maui, and in the Hilo area of Hawaii island. Your Committee recognizes that preserving access to safe and legal reproductive care is a vital public health objective. In the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court of the United States erased nearly fifty years of legal precedent supporting the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, leading to a wave of abortion restrictions enacted by state legislatures across the country. This decision disproportionately harms people of color, for whom access to health care and economic opportunities has historically been impeded.

Your Committee further finds that the State must act to uphold Hawaii's legacy as a leader in advancing reproductive care and enact policies to strengthen reproductive rights in the State. Your Committee believes that a pathway to strengthening reproductive care in Hawaii is by strengthening the reproductive care workforce and seeks the John A. Burns School of Medicine's assistance in prioritizing these efforts.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 57 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair