Hearing an important captive labor divestment bill (HB 438), which would require prospective commercial marine licensees to provide the Department of Land and Natural Resources with a copy of the work contract of all of fishers that it employs, prior to being granted a license. This will help curb illegal labor trafficking occurring on Hawaiʻi's U.S. commercial fishing vessels. Submit testimony.

About 700 men from impoverished Southeast Asian and Pacific Island nations make up the bulk of the workforce in this unique U.S. fishing fleet. A federal loophole allows them to take the dangerous jobs without proper work permits, just as long as they don't set foot on shore.