STAND. COM. REP. NO.2189

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2331

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2331 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION OF THE KOREAN WAR COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reestablish the Fiftieth Anniversary Commemoration of the Korean War Commission (Commission) and to appropriate funds to enable the Commission to complete its work.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Military Affairs Council of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the chair and a member of the Commission, and well over 100 honored veterans. Your Committee was overwhelmed by the level of support for this measure.

Your Committee finds that military veterans hold a special place in our society. The men and women who valiantly fought for the cause of freedom and democracy deserve to be honored and revered for their service.

Your Committee further finds that the Commission was established in 1999 through Executive Order No. 99-07. Although the Commission received a small amount of state funds in 2000, the Commission has not yet completed its work. This problem is compounded due to the fact that the Commission is due to expire no later than the last day of this regular session.

Therefore, your Committee fully supports this measure, both to extend the life of the Commission, and to appropriate funds to enable the Commission to finish its work. The Commission's mission is particularly relevant now, as next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.

Your Committee amended this measure to extend the life of the commission for an additional year, until December 31, 2003.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2331, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2331, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair