STAND. COM. REP. NO. 209________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1352
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred
H.B. No. 1352 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR OCEANOGRAPHIC
     RESEARCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate $750,000 for the
cost-sharing effort of the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the
operation of the AGOR-26 oceanographic research vessel.

     Testimony in support of this bill was received from the
University of Hawaii.

     Your Committee recognizes that the AGOR-26 has superior
performance capabilities that will allow the School of Ocean and
Earth Science and Technology to operate more effectively and
expand its global ocean observation programs in the Pacific.  The
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology now ranks third
in the nation in federal funding for its ocean science programs.
Its professional visibility has significantly increased the
University's professional recognition as one of the key players
in the formulation and execution of many of the new federal
science and engineering initiatives that are long-term,
interdisciplinary, and often international in scope.  

     It is expected that ocean science will continue to play an
important role in the diversification and growth of the State's
economy. In 1977, H.R. No. 106 was adopted committing support to

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 209________
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the University of Hawaii for seagoing activities. This bill
reiterates that commitment.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report,
your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B.
No. 1352 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Higher Education,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID MORIHARA, Chair