Urging The State To Pursue An Exemption To The Commerce Clause Of The United States Constitution For Agricultural Produce Grown Or Raised In The State Of Hawaii.
If enacted, HR199 would address the economic disparities faced by small farmers in Hawaii. The resolution emphasizes that local farmers contend with some of the highest farming costs in the nation, exacerbated by factors such as reliance on costly marine transportation and high rates for land and water. It documents the plight of the predominantly small farms in Hawaii, which consist of less than five hundred acres as per the United States Department of Agriculture's definition. The resolution suggests that an exemption could help level the playing field for local farmers against larger corporations based in the continental U.S., which often enjoy lower operational costs.
House Resolution 199, introduced in the Hawaii State House of Representatives, seeks to urge the state to pursue an exemption from the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution relating to agricultural produce grown or raised in Hawaii. The bill highlights the vulnerability of Hawaii's food security, which currently relies on imports for over eighty-five percent of its food supply. The resolution connects this issue to the challenges posed by climate change, high costs of living, and regulations stemming from the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which mandates the use of U.S.-flagged vessels for shipping goods, often resulting in inflated transportation costs for local agricultural products.
Despite the non-binding nature of the resolution, the proposal for an exemption from the Commerce Clause leads to significant discussions about balancing local agricultural interests with federal regulations. Opponents may argue that such changes could disrupt interstate commerce and challenge existing legal frameworks. Furthermore, while the goal is to support local farmers and ensure food security in Hawaii, concerns about the potential for disproportionate benefits to be given to select agricultural entities may arise. The resolution calls for collective action from the state's leadership to address these complex interactions between local farming and federal commerce regulations.