HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

71

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO ADDREsS THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE 25th infantry division.

 

WHEREAS, on January 13, 2004, the first wave of four thousand eight hundred soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division stationed at Schofield Barracks were deployed for a year of duty in northern Iraq; and

WHEREAS, in March 2004, another four thousand five hundred soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan for a year of duty there; and

WHEREAS, this exodus leaves only approximately one thousand five hundred soldiers at Schofield Barracks; and

WHEREAS, in many cases where a soldier is deployed for an extended period of time, dependent families left behind also leave the State for closer support from their families living on the Mainland; and

WHEREAS, this major deployment of so many soldiers is already being felt by the merchants and providers of various services in Wahiawa and central Oahu; and

WHEREAS, this negative economic impact will reverberate throughout the island of Oahu; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Governor is requested to form a task force to include, but not be limited to, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Adjutant General; the Director of the Office of Planning; a representative of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; a representative of the Council of the City and County of Honolulu; representatives of the Wahiawa, Mililani-Waipio, Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley, and North Shore Neighborhood Boards; and representatives of the merchants and providers of services in the town of Wahiawa and surroundings areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to address the immediate and anticipated negative economic impacts the large deployment of Schofield soldiers is and will continue to have on the economies of Wahiawa and surrounding communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to explore, consider, and propose efforts and possible programs that may be undertaken by both the public and private sectors to mitigate these negative impacts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report to the Legislature with its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; the Adjutant General; the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Director of the Office of Planning; the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of the City and County of Honolulu; and the Chairs of the Wahiawa, Mililani-Waipio, Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley, and North Shore Neighborhood Boards.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Requesting Task Force to Address Economic Impact of the Deployment of the 25th Infantry Division