STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1444

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   S.B. No. 856

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 856 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOLIDAYS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to recognize the pivotal role Fred Korematsu played in fighting for the civil rights of all Americans, particularly those of Japanese ancestry by declaring January 30th as Fred Korematsu Day in Hawaii.   

 

     The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education, Japanese American Citizens League - Honolulu Chapter, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this measure. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the name of the day from "Fred Korematsu Day" to "Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day" to recognize all individuals who played a role in the struggle to protect the rights of all Americans, particularly those of Japanese ancestry during World War II;

 


     (2)  Amending the preamble of the bill to include information on the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry as well as information on other individuals who also played a role in fighting for the civil liberties of all Americans, particularly those of Japanese ancestry; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 856, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 856, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair