[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 102 (Thursday, July 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1700-E1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 8, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2997) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2997, the 
FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which makes important 
investments in agricultural research; conservation, rural development, 
and nutrition programs; as well as a number of other programs that 
support agriculture and rural communities in our nation.
  I am very grateful to the Committee, and especially to Chair Rosa 
DeLauro, for support of many of my high-priority requests and for 
recognizing the special challenges faced by Hawaii farmers.
  Yesterday as we were getting ready to begin debate, I was surprised 
to learn that another member had filed an amendment to eliminate 
funding for one of my Hawaii requests included in the final bill. The 
amendment would have eliminated a $153,000 earmark, titled Agricultural 
Diversification in Hawaii, to assist Hawaii farmers succeed in growing 
and marketing new crops to replace sugarcane and pineapple. It was a 
bit disappointing because the amendment was drafted by a member from 
Texas, a state that enjoys far more substantial federal support for its 
farmers in the form of direct payments and other agricultural services 
than Hawaii.
  Ultimately, the member from Texas decided not to offer his amendment. 
If he had, I would have offered the following defense for this 
important program.
  Hawaii is the most geographically isolated state.
  Hawaii imports 85 percent of the food consumed by residents and 
visitors and is estimated to have a 4-7 day food supply in the event of 
a shipping disruption of any kind.
  Our major agricultural industries of sugar and pineapple production 
have declined precipitously in the last 15 years. Of our last two sugar 
companies, one announced it was going out of business last year. Our 
longstanding leaders in pineapple production have moved their fruit 
production operations out of the state. As a result, Hawaii has been 
making a difficult transition from plantation to diversified 
agriculture.
  Increased food production for local and export markets is a key 
component to addressing food security in Hawaii.
  Most of the research done in mainland university and research 
institutions does not have much relevance in Hawaii. We grow different 
crops and have a year-round growing season, which means year-round pest 
and disease issues.
  There are no large national agricultural organizations to lobby for 
the interests of papaya, pineapple, banana, or coffee farmers. Rice and 
cotton growers in Texas can find support from growers in other states 
who will make sure that their needs are understood and met.
  The Hawaii Agricultural Diversification program has evolved over time 
from identifying alternative crops to replace sugarcane and pineapple, 
to assessments on aquaculture crops, to the current emphasis on 
tropical fruits.
  The overall tropical fruit industry in Hawaii comprises nearly 1300 
farmers who produce crops for tropical fruit markets with an annual 
farm gate value of more than $30 million.

[[Page E1701]]

  Included in this agricultural industry are banana, guava, papaya, 
avocados, and wide range of tropical specialty fruits such as rambutan, 
lychee, and longan.
  While the total acreage and the total number of farms increased in 
2007, these growers are small farmers, averaging less than 5 acres per 
farm in production. These farmers have limited resources and do not 
have the means to conduct the R & D to support their industry. This 
funding provides means for stakeholder-driven research and development 
in support of the industry.
  The main problems faced by Hawaii tropical fruit growers include pest 
management strategies, phytosanitary export protocols, and refined 
market information to guide production.
  For example, two major Hawaii Tropical Specialty Fruits, rambutan and 
longan, are grown for export to the U.S. mainland but face stiff 
competition with foreign countries, such as from Thailand, where labor 
and other input costs are much lower. Research funds have been devoted 
to finding best management practices for post-harvest handling of 
rambutan and longan to identify the fungal diseases that damage fruit 
and accelerate spoilage during shipment. Research, done collaboratively 
with USDA Agricultural Research Service, has identified methods to 
extend rambutan and longan shelf-life and to maintain higher quality 
fruit during shipment, giving Hawaii growers a competitive advantage 
over cheap foreign competition.
  Hawaii has an image of being a paradise. Hawaii is beautiful, but at 
the same time we are also very vulnerable to any downturn in the U.S. 
or international economies. Our biggest industry, tourism, has been hit 
hard by the recession. Our geographic isolation means that everything 
is more expensive, including inputs for agriculture.
  My district, which includes all of Hawaii (7 inhabited islands) 
except for the city of Honolulu, is largely rural and most of our 
residents would like it to stay that way. We have a long agricultural 
tradition and history and are struggling to adjust to changing markets 
without the safety net that most states that grow program crops (like 
cotton, rice, and corn) enjoy. Despite the fact that Hawaii farmers are 
not able to take advantage of many of the programs that benefit 
mainland farmers, I have consistently supported farmers throughout the 
country and simply ask that my fellow members also support Hawaii's 
hard-working farmers.

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