STAND. COM. REP. NO.2984

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.C.R. No. 44

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 44 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT TO THE EMERGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKFORCE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Army National Guard of the State of Hawaii to provide logistical and transportation support to the Emergency Environmental Workforce created by Act 4, Third Special Session 2001.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui County Mayor, the Project Coordinator for the Emergency Environmental Workforce, the Project Coordinator of the Big Island Environmental Workforce, and a concerned citizen. The Adjutant General submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the Emergency Environmental Workforce created during the Third Special Session of 2001 has begun its work in earnest, and has provided jobs for many workers terminated as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Your Committees also find that the Workforce has been experiencing transportation problems, particularly on the Big Island and Maui. Your Committees further find that the Environmental Workforce could benefit from assistance from the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

Your Committees also understand that federal law prohibits the Army National Guard from competing with commercial enterprises in the private sector. However, there is no federal law prohibiting the Army National Guard from providing assistance or training to the Environmental Workforce from time to time when such cooperation is feasible within the National Guard's schedule.

Therefore, your Committees have amended this measure to clarify further that the Army National Guard is merely requested to provide assistance and training to the workforce whenever possible and consistent with federal law. Other government agencies are also requested to provide transportation assistance and training as well.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Water, Land, Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 44, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 44, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations and Water, Land, Energy and Environment,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair