STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1284

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 27

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 27, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL AID TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FOR THE PROVISION OF VARIOUS STATE SERVICES TO MIGRANTS FROM THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION NATIONS; DEEM MIGRANTS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FEDERALLY FUNDED FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE; AND PROVIDE DIALYSIS AND CHEMOTHERAPY CENTERS IN MICRONESIA AND ALL AREAS WITHIN THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION NATIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the federal government to provide the State with additional resources to assist migrants from the Compact of Free Association nations.

 

Specifically, the measure seeks to better serve Hawaii's migrant population from the Compact of Free Association nations and offset the costs of providing social and health services to migrants by strongly urging the United States Department of the Interior and the United States Congress to:

 

     (1)  Increase federal aid to the State for the provision of various services to migrants from the Compact of Free Association nations;

 

     (2)  Help offset costs incurred by the State by reviewing the funding of the Compact Impact Assistance Grant and making efforts to increase the amount of direct assistance available to the State;

 

     (3)  Support federal legislation to amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to render Compact of Free Association migrants eligible for federally funded financial and medical assistance;

 

     (4)  Provide dialysis and chemotherapy centers in Micronesia and all areas within the Compact of Free Association nations; and

 

     (5)  Identify and secure other forms of direct assistance, including grants and federal programs, for the State of Hawaii and for migrants from the Compact of Free Association nations living in the United States.

 

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from Patricia McManaman, Director, Department of Human Services; Mila Kaahanui, Executive Director, Office of Community Services, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hardy Spoehr, Executive Director, Papa Ola Lokahi (Native Hawaiian Health Board); Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Sr. Earnest Chung; and Alika Campbell.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii recognizes the unique relationship between the United States and the Compact of Free Association nations.  Under the Compact, a federal agreement, the people of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau are allowed to freely enter the State of Hawaii.  Due to its proximity to the Compact of Free Association nations, Hawaii has experienced a significant economic burden not shared by other states.  The cost of providing health and social services to these migrants increases annually and is straining the state budget.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the federal government must address the issue of additional support for Hawaii if the State is to continue providing services to persons who enter Hawaii under the Compact of Free Association.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 27, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair