STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1687

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 144
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 144, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE STATE OF
     HAWAII'S HOPE VI GRANT APPLICATION TO ASSIST PUBLIC HOUSING
     PROJECTS AND URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
     AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO ACT FAVORABLY ON THE APPLICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to support the
State's HOPE VI grant application to assist public housing
projects.

     The concurrent resolution also urges the Department of
Housing and Urban Development to act favorably on the State's
grant application.

     Your Committee finds that the objective of the federally
funded HOPE VI grant program is to revitalize severely distressed
public housing projects by providing grants for planning,
demolition, refurbishment, and if necessary, replacement of
existing housing structures.  Since 1993, the Department of
Housing and Urban Development has annually awarded over $500
million in HOPE VI grants on a competitive basis to eligible
public housing authorities.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1687
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     Your Committee also finds that considering the many aging
housing projects in Hawaii and the State's stagnant economy, it
is imperative that the State make every effort to secure its fair
share of HOPE VI funds.  Your Committee whole-heartedly concurs
with the intent of this concurrent resolution that the State
should apply for such grants on an annual basis.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 144,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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