Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 124 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $25,000 to the Department of Defense to enable the State of Hawaii to make a donation on behalf of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Your Committee finds that the Women in Military Service for America Memorial was dedicated on October 18, 1997, and officially opened to the public on October 20, 1997. Hawaii's seven thousand seven hundred women veterans were represented at the Memorial's dedication. The Women in Military Service for America Memorial serves to recognize the many sacrifices made by the military women of America, including thousands of Hawaii residents, who served and continue to serve in defense of our Nation. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii is the only state that has not donated funds to show its support for the monument honoring all the women who have served courageously in the military. Your Committee believes that it is past time for Hawaii to recognize and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of women in our military -- past and present.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 124, S.D. 1.