STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3913

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 200

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 200 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO REASSESS PRIOR DETERMINATIONS AND CLOSURE DECISIONS UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION, AND LIABILITY ACT IN LIGHT OF EVOLVING SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND RECENT FEDERAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE DESIGNATIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Defense to reassess prior determinations and closure decisions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act in light of evolving scientific understanding of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and recent federal hazardous substance designations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

Your Committees find that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are often collectively referred to as PFAS, are a group of nearly fifteen thousand synthetic chemicals that are highly persistent once they are released into the environment. Because of their persistent characteristics, PFAS have historically been used to protect products from water, grease, and heat. However, these characteristics also prevent PFAS from breaking down in the environment and human body, leading to accumulation and increased risk of cancer, liver disease, compromised immunity, and other illnesses. By urging the United States Department of Defense to conduct further evaluation of PFAS use on military installations, this measure will help protect the State's natural resources and residents from the damaging effects of harmful substances.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 200, and recommend its adoption.

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

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair