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e, Laura COUNTY CLERK
Murashige, COUNTY 'T
From: John Stuhlmiller[JStuhlmiller @wsfb.com] 2013 JUL 30 AN II: 28
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 3:20 AM
To: Tom Davis; counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: joy @hfbf.org
Subject: Re: Bill 79 -written testimony
Looks good, nice work. I just made a couple changes.
John Stuhlmiller
Chief Executive Officer
7►j
WASHINGTON
Mai FARM BUREAU
Cell: 360.870.6017
Office: 360.528.2903
From:Tom Davis<tdavis @wsfb.com>
Date:Sunday,July 28, 2013 8:56 PM
To: "counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us" <counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us>
Cc: "joy @hfbf.org" <joy @hfbf.org>,John Stuhlmiller<jtuhlmiller @wsfb.com>
Subject: Bill 79-written testimony
MD WASHINGTON
TOE
HIM FARM BUREAU
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975 Carpenter Rd NE, Suite 301, Lacey, WA 98516
July 30, 2013
COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT
TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO
BILL 79
Dear Chairwoman WiIIe and committee members:
My name is Tom Davis and I am the Director of Government Relations for the Washington Farm
Bureau.
I am writing to express our grave concerns over and opposition to Bill 79 which will ban the growing of
genetically engineered (GE) products on the Big Island. Like many other efforts across the country, Bill
79 makes inaccurate statements about GE products that have no scientific data or facts to justify its
passage. L'Q
Comm. 18. s' a-• q[
Ref. To: (P I MIC..
7/30/2013 Ref. Date JUL 0 2 2013
Page 2 of 3
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 GE 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 repeatedly found that GE plants are as safe to eat as conventionally grown
food. The American Medical Association and the World Health Organization have also come to the
same conclusion.
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.
Finally, the proud people of Hawaii, Washington state, and all the states that make up our Union, must
consider the global impacts that local bans may have on the usage of GE seed. Many African nations
are looking to us for guidance on policy development on crucial issues like this. And please remember
that the use of this technology is seen by many as an important tool to feeding an ever increasing
world population; the absence of nutritious food remains a serious problem in much of Asia and
Africa.
For these reasons, we respectfully urge the Council to vote No on Bill 79.
Sincerely,
Tom Davis
Director of Government Relations
WASHINGTON
FARM M B UR A U
7/30/2013
Page 3 of 3
975 Carpenter Rd NE, Suite 301, Lacey, WA 98516
Cell: 360.790.7287
Office: 360.528.2910
7/30/2013