STAND. COM. REP. 3486

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.C.R. No. 202

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 202 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO EXPAND VISA PROCESSING CAPACITY IN THE CONSULAR SECTION OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN SEOUL IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND TO INCLUDE THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA IN THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation to introduce federal legislation to provide additional resources to expand visa processing capacity in the Consular Section of the United States Embassy in Seoul in the Republic of Korea, and to include the Republic of Korea in the Visa Waiver Program.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Korean Visitors to Hawaii Project Committee; Korean American Coalition, Hawaii Chapter; and Korean Air Lines in Hawaii.

Your Committees find that the United States has a special relationship with Korea that can be traced back more than one hundred years. The Republic of Korea is a trusted ally and major player in the world economy that rose from third-world poverty after the Korean War to an economy that at present ranks thirteenth in the world, and is the sixth-largest trading partner of the United States.

Your Committees further find that the Republic of Korea lacks parity with other Asian allies in its relations with the United States as they pertain to visa requirements. Your Committees believe this measure will initiate the process to address that inequity and recognize the roles and contributions of Koreans and Korean Americans in our nation over this past century.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 202, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair