STAND. COM. REP. NO. 8

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 77

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 77 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE FOR AMERICA MEMORIAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Defense to enable the State of Hawaii to make a donation on behalf of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, the State Commission on the Status of Women, the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, the Advisory Board on Veterans Services, and two concerned citizens.

Your Committee notes that Hawaii is the only remaining state yet to contribute to the Memorial. Further, it is the Committee's intent to fully support the concept of Hawaii becoming a contributor to the Memorial. However, while suggesting that the amount of $25,000 might be considered as the upper limit, your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs leaves it to the Committee on Finance to determine the actual dollar amount of the State's contribution.

Your Committee also finds that there is some question as to whether this bill is the best way to effectuate the desired purpose. Your Committee would also support and the testifiers were advised that a request for grant-in-aid might be another avenue worth pursuing. The testifiers have agreed to also expeditiously proceed on that front.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 77 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

____________________________

Nestor Garcia, Chair