Report Title:

Japanese American Citizens League; Grant-In-Aid

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Japanese American Citizens League 75th Anniversary National Convention.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1251

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for the japanese american citizens league 75th anniversary national convention.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Japanese American Citizens League, the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, was founded in 1929 to address issues of discrimination targeted specifically at persons of Japanese ancestry residing in the United States. Today, the Japanese American Citizens League is a national and international organization with two hundred twenty-five chapters and twenty-one thousand members nationwide, including a chapter in Japan. The ongoing mission of the Japanese American Citizens League is to secure and maintain the civil and human rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and prejudice. The leaders and members of the Japanese American Citizens League also work to promote Japanese cultural values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community. The Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii, Honolulu chapter, founded in 1980, is unique among all of the chapters, because it draws upon Hawaii's rich, multi-ethnic society and strong Japanese cultural values. Japanese Americans in Hawaii have made significant contributions to the development of Hawaii.

The Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii will host the biennial Japanese American Citizens League national convention on from August 10-14, 2004 at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. This convention is especially significant, because the year 2004 will mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the existence of the Japanese American Citizens League. Over eight hundred attendees from all across the United States and Japan are expected to attend this landmark convention, and an estimated three thousand persons are expected to attend the gala "Sayonara Banquet" event at the Hawaii convention center on the final evening of the five-day convention. The total tax and spending revenue generated by the 75th Anniversary Japanese American Citizens League National Convention is estimated to exceed $2,000,000.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for a grant-in-aid to the Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii to prepare for the many activities planned for the 75th Anniversary Japanese American Citizens League National Convention. The legislature finds and declares that the appropriation of moneys under this Act is in the public interest and for the public health, safety, and general welfare.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for a grant-in-aid to the Japanese American Citizens League of Hawaii for activities related to the 75th Anniversary Japanese American Citizens League National Convention.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the state foundation on culture and the arts for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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