STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3653

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 34

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 34, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE FIFTY-SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE DETONATION OF THE BRAVO HYDROGEN BOMB OVER BIKINI ATOLL, DECLARING MARCH 1ST AS A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, AND REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO PROVIDE FOR THE FULL HEALTH NEEDS OF THE HYDROGEN BOMB TESTS SURVIVORS AND THEIR PROGENY, PAY APPROPRIATE PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS, AND PROVIDE FOR THE COSTS OF CLEANING UP NUCLEAR SITES IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN CONNECTION WITH HYDROGEN BOMB TESTING ON ATOLLS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to declare March 1st as a day of remembrance for the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands who suffer severe health consequences as a result of nuclear weapons testing that was conducted in that region by the United States. The measure also requests the United States Congress to atone for this nation's mistake by providing for the full health needs and appropriate property damage claims of victims and by paying for the environmental remediation.

No testimony was submitted regarding this measure.

Your Committee finds that it is important to remember the mistakes of our past to prevent them from being repeated, and that the United States Congress should provide full and just compensation to the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to try to rectify the harm to health and the environment that resulted from nuclear testing in that region.

Your Committee amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 34, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 34, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair