HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

42

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH THE COMMISSION FOR HAWAII'S FUTURE TO GUIDE AND PREPARE HAWAII FOR REDUCED MILITARY SPENDING.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii's economy is deeply dependent on military spending, with over fourteen per cent of the State's gross domestic product derived from federal defense expenditures; and

 

     WHEREAS, as part of its 2020 Force Structure Realignment, the United States Army is currently considering a proposal to eliminate 16,606 active duty soldiers from Schofield Barracks and 3,786 active duty soldiers from Fort Shafter, resulting in a projected loss of $1,350,000,000 to the Hawaii economy, including approximately $9,200,000 in general excise tax receipts; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is prudent for the State to plan for the possibility of a reduced military presence so that those now employed by, or reliant upon, the military sector can be transitioned to alternative employment, and communities that are dependent on revenue generated by military spending can create other revenue streams by planning for, and promoting the development of, alternative sources of income; and

 

     WHEREAS, one other state, Connecticut, has enacted legislation establishing a Futures Commission tasked with developing a plan, legislation, and programming to help the state convert from defense spending to other forms of job creation, including construction, clean energy research, infrastructure development, and transportation enhancement; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has no planning body tasked with guiding the State in adapting to the potential economic changes arising from reduced military spending; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is urged to establish the Commission for Hawaii's Future to address expected reduced United States Department of Defense expenditures by establishing a business plan and making recommendations for increasing economic activity in:

 

     (1)  Infrastructure improvements;

 

     (2)  Reindustrialization with sustainable technologies;

 

     (3)  Clean energy research and development;

 

     (4)  Social and human services; and

 

     (5)  Other fields; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism or the Director's designee is requested to serve as the chairperson of the Commission for Hawaii's Future and that the following individuals, or their designees, are invited to be members of the Commission for Hawaii's Future:

 

     (1)  Director of Labor and Industrial Relations;

 

     (2)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (3)  Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu;

 

     (4)  President of the University of Hawaii System;

 

     (5)  The Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

 

     (6)  President of the Hawaii State AFL-CIO; and

 

     (7)  President of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Governor is requested to invite representatives from the following to become members of the Commission for Hawaii's Future:

 

     (1)  One member from a financial institution;

 

     (2)  One member from a building or construction trade union;

 

     (3)  One member from an environmental organization;

 

     (4)  Two members from affected communities;

 

     (5)  One member from a religious organization; and

 

     (6)  One member from the military; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission for Hawaii's Future is requested to report its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if any, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Mazie Hirono, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Representative Mark Takai; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; President of the University of Hawaii System; Chairperson of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Commander of the United States Army Garrison-Hawaii; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; President of the Hawaii State AFL-CIO; and President of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Military Spending Cuts; Economic; Commission; Report