HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.971 2012-2014 J Yoshimoto
From: Valerie Connelly <valeriec.mdfb @verizon.net>
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 7:26 AM
To: jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us; bford @co.hawaii.hi.us;vpoindexter @co.hawaii.hi.us;
donishi @co.hawaii.hi.us; dkanuha @co.hawaii.hi.us; gilagan @co.hawaii.hi.us;
keoff @co.hawaii.hi.us; mwille @co.hawaii.hi.us; zkern @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Pat Langenfelder
Subject: Opposition to Bill 79
kt MAI ago
iMary1and Farm Bureau Inc.
8930 Liberty Road • Randallstown, MD 21133 • (410) 922-3426
July 30, 2013 c-a
COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT w
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TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO z r.
BILL 79 w 73
Dear Chairwoman Wille and Committee members:
My name is Patricia Langenfelder and I am President of Maryland Farm Bureau, Inc. I am writing in opposition to Bill
79, which will ban the growing of genetically engineered products on the Big Island. Bill 79 makes inaccurate
assumptions that have no scientific data or facts to justify its passage.
While I understand that we do not reside or farm in the State of Hawaii or on the Big Island for that matter, our
organization and its members rely on the seeds that are grown in Hawaii to be planted throughout the United States.
Hawaii is a critical part of the viability of our U.S. farmers and food production.
As farmers,we take our environmental stewardship and the seeds we grow very seriously as it is our farm families
livelihood at stake to care for the land and produce safe products for many future generations to come. Because of sound
science and genetic modification, farmers are able to be more viable to address the many on-going agricultural challenges.
Science and technology has helped farmers and ranchers become more efficient while increasing production.
The regulatory requirements of genetically modified organisms are very extensive and thorough. The USDA, FDA and
EPA all work together on all aspects of regulating genetically engineered organisms from agriculture, food safety, and the
environment. In addition to these strict government regulations, over 600 independent studies have found no safety or
health concerns directly related to genetic modified organisms.
We appreciate the importance of Hawaii's agriculture to the American farmer and the role it has on making food
affordable for all U.S. citizens, including Hawaii and the Big Island. There needs to be more dialogue with all concerned
to gain a better appreciation and understanding of this complex issue.
We respectfully urge the Council to vote No to Bill 79.
Sincerely, Comm. No 7 ( .911
Ref. To: S► 7L
1
Ref. Dote
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PATRICIA A. LANGENFELDER
President
Valerie T. Connelly
Director of Government Relations
Maryland Farm Bureau, Inc.
8930 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD 21133
(410) 922-3426-office
(443) 690-2411-cell
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