70
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  URGING THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO RELOCATE FROM THE ISLAND OF
    VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO AND RETURN THE LAND TO THE
    MUNICIPALITY OF VIEQUES FOR CIVILIAN USES.


 1        WHEREAS, the Puerto Rican municipality of Vieques has been
 2   used for thirty years for target practices by the United States
 3   Navy and other countries; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, the island is populated by more than 9,000
 6   residents, who are submitted to the disgrace of seeing their
 7   homeland bombarded by land, air, and sea; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, the bombing and military practices in Vieques
10   have created a series of health hazards for residents of that
11   island, caused serious problems of environmental contamination,
12   and a decline in the fishing industry; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, the people of Vieques have unanimously demanded
15   that the United States Navy cease its bombings and leave the
16   island; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, the report of the Special Commission of Vieques
19   appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, composed of
20   representatives of all the political parties, churches, civil
21   and professional organizations, has unanimously recommended the
22   end of all bombings of Vieques and the immediate exit by the
23   United States Navy; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, the People of Hawai'i underwent a similar
26   struggle which resulted in the return of Kaho'olawe to the
27   State; now, therefore,
28   
29        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
30   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
31   of 2000, that the United States Navy is urged to relocate from
32   the island of Vieques and return the land to the Municipality
33   of Vieques for civilian uses; and
34   

 
Page 2                                                     70
                                  H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Navy is
 2   urged to make reparations for the destruction of the
 3   environment that it has caused and to assist in the social and
 4   economic development of the people of Vieques; and
 5   
 6        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 7   Resolution be transmitted to President William J. Clinton, the
 8   Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, the members of
 9   Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor of Puerto Rico,
10   the President of the Senate of Puerto Rico and the Speaker of
11   the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and the Mayor of
12   Vieques.