LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
HFIA TESTIFIES ON FOOD, WATER, AND OTHER SUPPLIES REPORT
T his Fall the House created a special Food, Water, and Other Supplies Working Group (FWSWG), Co-Chaired by Repre- sentative Greggor Ilagan and Representative Terez Amato. Per the FWSWG’s draft report, “The purpose of the Working Group is to evaluate the availability and distribution of food and other necessary supplies for displaced individuals and families. The Working Group is committed to thoroughly evaluating the current situation and preparing actionable recommendations that can bet- ter support vulnerable communities in times of crisis.” The report goes on to say that, “The work of the Working Group sheds light on the current state of disaster supplies availability and distribution, identifies gaps
and inefficiencies in supply chains, and offers concrete solutions to address issues of critical importance. Specifically, the Working Group proposes six recommenda- tions on the following topics to improve the availability and distri- bution of essential supplies to displaced individuals and families: (1) Distribution Management Plan Maintenance;
(2) Food Bank Reserves; (3) "Right to Garden" Law; (4) Hot Food Donation Standards Outreach; (5) Emergency Prescription Refills; and (6) Emergency Surge Personnel.
Hawaii can significantly enhance its supply availability and dis- tribution system by adopting the recommendations, ensuring a more effective and coordinated disaster response.” In early November the FWSWG held a hearing to discuss the draft report and accept public testimony. The FWSWG did valuable in- formation gathering in the processes of creating the draft and the report offers important insights and recommendations. However, HFIA believes that there were critical gaps in the recommendations relating to the involvement of the private sector in emergency man- agement. As we’ve seen with the response to the Maui fires and every other recent crisis in our state, the private sector plays an ab- solutely vital role in disaster preparedness and response. HFIA submitted testimony with the following recommendations: 1. Designated and Funded Non-Perishable Food Storage Facilities: We recommend the establishment of more designated and funded non-perishable food storage facilities for use in disasters at mass feeding sites. These facilities should be strategically located across the state, including both public and private sector operators who possess the necessary expertise in food storage and distribution. By funding and collaborating with companies that currently import and distribute our food supply, we can ensure a coordinated re- sponse to supply food items quickly and efficiently to affected areas. 2. Pre-Designated Mass Feeding Sites: To further strengthen our disaster response capabilities, we suggest the creation of additional pre-designated mass feeding sites. These sites should be distributed geographically to ensure adequate cov- erage in the event of disasters impacting specific areas. We propose issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and establishing contracts with both private sector and non-profit sector operators who have the expertise to operate mass feeding centers. This proactive ap- proach will enable us to swiftly mobilize resources and provide food to those in need during emergencies. continued on page 13
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10 | HAWAII FOOD INDUSTRY MAGAZINE | WINTER 2023–2024
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