STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1757

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 249

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 249 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ALLOW ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES RESERVE COMPONENT TO ACCESS THE TRICARE PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the appropriation of funds to allow all members of the armed forces reserve component to access the tricare program.

A proposed SD1 was circulated urging Congress to support the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2005. Testimony in support of amending the measure was submitted by the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, Congress of Visayan Organizations, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, WWII Fil-Am Veterans, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that Filipino soldiers fought bravely beside American troops in World War II to restore liberty and democracy to their homeland, which contributed to the Allied victory. Currently, there is pending federal legislation that would acknowledge full and equitable benefits for these Filipino veterans, particularly health benefits that have been withheld for them. Thus, your Committees have amended this measure by replacing it with language urging Congress to support legislation conferring veterans' benefits on Filipino World War II veterans. These veterans fought honorably for the United States in World War II and were initially promised the same benefits as American soldiers. They deserve this recognition for their loyalty and valor.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 249, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 249, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair