MEDIA ADIVSORY - UPDATE ON HAWAIʻI'S INTERAGENCY BIOSECURITY PLAN PRESENTED TO LEGISLATORS

MEDIA ADVISORY – For immediate release  
January 22, 2018
 
Senate Contact: Sen. Mike Gabbard 808-586-6830
Media Contact:  Jill Kuramoto 808-586-6261
 
UPDATE ON HAWAI‘I'S INTERAGENCY BIOSECURITY PLAN
PRESENTED TO LEGISLATORS
 
WHO:             Sen. Mike Gabbard, Sen. Karl Rhoads, Rep. Chris Lee, Rep. Richard Creagan, and Rep. Ryan Yamane
 
WHAT:          Informational Briefing on Hawai‘i's Interagency Biosecurity Plan
 
WHEN:          Wednesday, January 24, 2018
                        10:00 a.m.
 
WHERE:       Conference Room 325
                        Hawai‘i State Capitol
 
State Senator Mike Gabbard (Dist. 20 - Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, will be leading a joint informational briefing on the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan on Wednesday, January 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol, Conference Room 325.

The meeting is open to the public. The Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Branch will bring live invasive species specimens to the informational briefing.

The State of Hawai‘i released the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan for 2017-2027 on January 10, 2017. This Plan is the state's first interagency, coordinated comprehensive plan to tackle the threats and harms from invasive species.

Senator Gabbard said, "As Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I'm introducing several pieces of legislation this session that support recommendations of the Plan, including bills to develop the Invasive Species Authority, fund plans for a biocontrol containment facility, establish an agriculture import substitution grant program and local agriculture marketing campaign, create a biosecurity emergency response fund, and expand Hawai‘i Island Little Fire Ant control."

Presentations will be made by:

·         Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council
·         Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Branch
·         Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch
·         Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
·         Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources
·         Department of Health, Vector Control Branch
·         University of Hawai‘i, Invasive Species Committees
·         University of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Ant Lab
 
More information on the briefing can be found on the hearing notice:

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2018/hearingnotices/HEARING_AEN-WT...

For questions about the informational briefing, contact the Office of Senator Mike Gabbard at 808-586-6830.

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