HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 728 Draft 02 2016-20181. COUNTY OF HAWAI `I
STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO.�
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A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FARM SERVICE
AGENCY TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO LIFT THE CAP ON THE NONINSURED
CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DUE TO THE CATASTROPHIC
CIRCUMSTANCES FACED BY THE HAWAII ISLAND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
WHEREAS, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), reauthorized by
the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm
..Service Agency (FSA) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops to protect
against natural disasters that result in .lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting; and
WHEREAS, according to U.S. Geological Survey, the lava event that started on May 3,
2018, destroyed over 700 homes and structures, and covered 13.7 square miles of land including
parcels that housed local farm operations; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the loss of local farm operations due to lava inundation,
agriculture in the region and across Hawaii Island has been affected due to earthquakes, toxic
. gases, volcanic ash, Pele's hair, thick volcanic smog (vog) and laze, water contamination and
wildfires, all challenging agriculture production on Hawaii Island; and
WHEREAS, different types of agriculture have been affected by the many facets of the
lava event, including cattle ranches wherein some 2,000 head of cattle needed to be relocated due
to the then eminent lava hazards, as well as the deterioration of our island's prized papaya fields
by sulfuric oxide gases; losing nearly 90/0 of the State's papaya's production; and
WHEREAS, NAP provides assistance for crop losses when commercial crop insurance
is not available, however a cap is in place limiting relief funds that can be released to farmers;
and
WHEREAS, the set cap amount of $125,000 per crop year, per individual or entity is not
sufficient to cover the necessary expenditures relating to clearing, replanting, fencing, loss of
inventory, infrastructure, and labor that will be required to recover from this lava disaster; and
WHEREAS, this cap has been lifted in the past under similar catastrophic circumstances
and it is time to do it again to help rebuild Hawaii Island agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council is appreciative of our Hawaii federal
delegation, including Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi
Gabbard, and Colleen Hanabusa, who have worked diligently to support our local farmers and
ranchers, and who have had previous discussions in lifting the cap on the Noninsured Disaster
Assistance Program through Senator Mazie Hirono's lead. We are encouraged that they will
again stand ready to partner to work collectively to lift the cap on the Noninsured Disaster
Assistance Program to rebuild our island's agriculture industry; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it
urges the Hawaii Congressional Delegation and the United States Department of Agriculture
Farm Service Agency to work collectively to lift the cap on the Noninsured Crop Disaster
Assistance Program for Hawaii Island agriculture.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Congressional Delegation pursue and
lobby the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency to help rebuild Hawaii
Island agriculture.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Michael R. Pompeo, United States Secretary of State; the Honorable
Sonny Perdue, United States Secretary of Agriculture; the Honorable Brian Schatz, United
States Senator; the Honorable Mazie Hirono, United States Senator; the Honorable Tulsi
Gabbard, United States Representative; the Honorable Colleen Hanabusa, United States
Representative; the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor; the State of Hawaii Board of
Agriculture Chairperson Scott Enright; and the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor.
Dated at Kona
Hawaii, this 17th day of October , 2018 .
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on October 1T, 2018
ATTEST
I
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
2
ROLL CALL VOTE
Reference: C-1127.2/Waived GREDC
RESOLUTION NO. r29 1$
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AYES NOES
ABS EX
CHUNG
X
DAVID
X
EOFF
X
KANUHA
X
LEE LOY
x
O' HARA
X
POINDEXTER
X
RICHARDS
X
RUGGLES
x
8 0
1 0
Reference: C-1127.2/Waived GREDC
RESOLUTION NO. r29 1$
DRAFT 2