Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations and Economic Development, to which was referred S.R. No. 124 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to discontinue military base closures in Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that the economy of the State of Hawaii relies heavily on federal military expenditures. In addition, military personnel stationed at bases in Hawaii contribute greatly to the local community, and also contribute to the overall local economy by supporting local businesses.

When a military base is closed, there is suddenly a void left in the local community where the base was located, which has a negative ripple effect throughout the area. For example, the closure of Barbers Point Naval Air Station in 1999 has had an adverse impact not only on West Oahu, but throughout the City and County of Honolulu and the State.

Therefore, your Committees support this measure, which urges the United States Congress to spare Hawaii military bases in the event that further military budget cuts are made in 2005.

Your Committees amended this measure to include additional provisions to further stress the importance of military bases to local communities and the economy of the State.

Your Committees also amended this measure and its title to establish a "Base Realignment and Closing Committee" to work to preserve Hawaii bases and to position Hawaii bases to inherit work from other bases that have closed.

Although only six Committee members are specified in this measure, your Committees believe that additional members should be appointed from the public and private sectors and the military, as appropriate.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 124, S.D. 1.