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.
Impact
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.
Summary
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.
Contention
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.
Same As
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.
Urging The United States Department Of The Interior To Work With The Office Of The Governor, Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands, United States Congressional Delegations From Hawaii, And Sovereign Council Of Hawaiian Homestead Associations To Make A Determination In Support Of Act 80, Session Laws Of Hawaii 2017.
Requesting The Department Of Agriculture To Convene A Working Group To Review The Effectiveness Of The Relevant State Laws Governing Agricultural-based Commercial Operations.
Relating To Statutory Revision: Amending Or Repealing Various Provisions Of The Hawaii Revised Statutes Or The Session Laws Of Hawaii For The Purposes Of Correcting Errors And References, Clarifying Language, Or Deleting Obsolete Or Unnecessary Provisions.
Relating To Statutory Revision: Amending Or Repealing Various Provisions Of The Hawaii Revised Statutes Or The Session Laws Of Hawaii For The Purposes Of Correcting Errors And References, Clarifying Language, Or Deleting Obsolete Or Unnecessary Provisions.
Urging The United States Department Of The Interior To Work With The Office Of The Governor, Department Of Hawaiian Home Lands, United States Congressional Delegations From Hawaii, And Sovereign Council Of Hawaiian Homestead Associations To Make A Determination In Support Of Act 80, Session Laws Of Hawaii 2017.
Ratifying A Proposed Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Giving The Congress Of The United States Power To Limit, Regulate, And Prohibit The Labor Of Persons Under Eighteen Years Of Age.
Ratifying A Proposed Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Giving The Congress Of The United States Power To Limit, Regulate, And Prohibit The Labor Of Persons Under Eighteen Years Of Age.