STAND. COM. REP. 1667
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.C.R. No. 56
S.D. 2
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 56, S.D. 2, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN CONGRESS CALLING FOR FURTHER REVIEW OF THE MIGRATION ISSUE AND FOR INCREASED FINANCIAL IMPACT ASSISTANCE FOR PROVIDING SERVICES TO CITIZENS OF THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES WHO RESIDE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII UNDER THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION AND ANY NEWLY RENEGOTIATED COMPACt,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request:
(1) The Bush Administration and the United States Congress to:
(a) Appropriate adequate financial impact assistance for health, education, and other social services for Hawaii's Freely Associated States citizens;
(b) Insert language in all federal welfare, food, and housing legislation stating that Micronesians are eligible for federal food stamps, welfare, public housing, and other federal benefits as "qualified nonimmigrants" residing in the United States; and
(c) Restore Freely Associated States citizens' eligibility for federal public benefits, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps;
and
(2) Hawaii's Congressional Delegation to:
(a) Introduce legislation to further review the migration issue and for increased aid for the educational and social impact of the Compact of Free Association, and any newly renegotiated Compact, on Hawaii; and
(b) Assure financial reimbursements, through the establishment of a trust, escrow, or set-aside account, to Hawaii for educational, medical, and social services and to Hawaii's private medical providers who have provided services to Freely Associated States citizens.
The University of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and Hawaii Government Employees Association testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.
Your Committees find that the estimated costs referred to in this measure are very low estimates, and much larger amounts would probably be required to cover the actual costs the State spends on citizens of the Freely Associated States.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 56, S.D. 2, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health,
|
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
____________________________ MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair |