Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Second Reading House Floor Speech
Senate Bill, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 2
Relating to Bioprospecting
Tuesday, March 25, 2004
I rise in support.
First of all, I would like to commend the Chair of Water, Land and Hawaiian Affairs for making the bioprospecting advisory commission more balanced by adding the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and the Director of Health to the commission.
I would also like to commend the Chair of Economic Development and Business Concerns for removing four sections of the prior draft, which included language that would hurt research and innovation.
House 2034, House Draft 3 regarding bioprospecting, which we passed over to the Senate is drastically different from the current form of this measure. As of now, House Bill 2034, House Draft 3 is dead, and we are moving forward a better balanced bill that would allow research and oversee our unique biodiversity.
Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 