Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.
Impact
If passed, SCR131 would have profound implications for public health and environmental governance in Hawaii. The absence of a locally available certified laboratory has historically led to delays in testing and transparency about toxins due to the reliance on external laboratories. By establishing a state laboratory, Hawaii can enhance its capacity to scrutinize environmental pollutants more effectively, leading to better-informed public health decisions and policies. The construction costs are estimated to be around $100 million with significant annual operational expenses, which may pose a challenge for state funding.
Summary
SCR131 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging Hawaii's congressional delegation to take all necessary actions to secure funding from the United States Congress for the construction and operational commencement of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratory. This laboratory is intended to analyze environmental toxins and publish the findings to the public, addressing a significant gap in the state's ability to monitor environmental health risks. The resolution highlights the long-standing inadequacies in Hawaii's environmental testing capabilities, particularly concerning the presence of harmful substances, including PFAS, which are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding SCR131 is predominantly supportive within the legislative context, emphasizing the importance of public health and the need for better environmental monitoring systems. While the resolution has received backing from several members due to its potential to protect citizens and improve environmental accountability, it also raises concerns about funding, especially given the state’s current budget constraints following disaster recovery efforts from the August 2023 Maui wildfire. The emphasis on transparency and prompt reporting of toxic analysis results resonates well with public health advocates.
Contention
Despite the broad support for SCR131 as a necessary step towards improving environmental health safety, there are notable concerns regarding the feasibility of funding such a large-scale project. Some legislative members question the state's current financial capability to undertake and maintain the proposed laboratory, given ongoing recovery expenses from recent natural disasters. Additionally, there could be contention surrounding the logistics of the laboratory's operational framework and its ability to consistently meet EPA standards without compromising public trust.
Same As
Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.
Same As
Urging Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Take All Actions Necessary And Proper To Cause The United States Congress To Fund The Construction And Commencement Of Operations Of A Laboratory Certified By The United States Environmental Protection Agency To Analyze Environmental Toxins In The State And Publish The Results To The Public.
Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.
Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.
Urging Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Take All Actions Necessary And Proper To Cause The United States Congress To Fund The Construction And Commencement Of Operations Of A Laboratory Certified By The United States Environmental Protection Agency To Analyze Environmental Toxins In The State And Publish The Results To The Public.
Requesting A Study On The Feasibility Of Establishing An Environmental Protection Agency-certified Laboratory In Hawaii To Test Drinking Water Samples For Toxic Chemicals And Other Contaminants.
Requesting A Study On The Feasibility Of Establishing An Environmental Protection Agency-certified Laboratory In Hawaii To Test Drinking Water Samples For Toxic Chemicals And Other Contaminants.
Urging Every State Agency That Monitors Environmental Toxins And Pollutants To Follow Certain Procedural And Substantive Requirements For The Establishment And Modifications Of Environmental Action Levels.
Urging Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Strongly Support Passage Of The Women's Health Protection Act Of 2021 To Protect The Right To Access And Provide Abortion Services.
Urging The United States Armed Forces, Governor, And Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Work Together To Facilitate The Clean Up And Return Of Additional Military Lands.
Urging Every State Agency That Monitors Environmental Toxins And Pollutants To Follow Certain Procedural And Substantive Requirements For The Establishment And Modifications Of Environmental Action Levels.
Urging Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Take All Actions Necessary And Proper To Cause The United States Congress To Fund The Construction And Commencement Of Operations Of A Laboratory Certified By The United States Environmental Protection Agency To Analyze Environmental Toxins In The State And Publish The Results To The Public.
Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.
Requesting Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Urge Congress To Fund Construction Of A Laboratory Certified By The Environmental Protection Agency To Provide Information To The Public On Environmental Toxins In The State.