STAND. COM. REP. NO.  779-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1944

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1944, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FILIPINO VETERANS BURIAL ASSISTANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize the sacrifices of many World War II Filipino veterans and their final wishes to be buried in their homeland by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a Filipino-American Veterans of World War II Burial Assistance Program within the Office of Veterans' Services to provide burial grants to cover the funeral and burial costs of Filipino-American veterans of World War II, including the cost of returning these veterans' remains to the Philippines for burial; and

 

     (2)  Appropriating funds to cover the operating expenses of the Filipino-American Veterans of World War II Burial Assistance Program and for the costs of providing the burial grants.

 

     The Filipina Advocacy Network, Filipino American Citizens League, Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Veterans Services, and Hawaii Civil Rights Commission offered comments for this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1944, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair