Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 173 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and its local immigration District Director reconsider their decision to prohibit Filipino national longline fishers with a C-1 Visa from entering Hawaiian ports.

A concerned citizen testified in support of this concurrent resolution.

Your Committee finds that since October 2002, when the issuance of C-1 visas was suspended, Filipino longline fishermen are no longer able to enter Hawaiian ports. However, these individuals continue to be recruited to work on Hawaii-based fishing vessels.

During the public hearing on this measure, concerns were raised as to whether restrictions placed on Filipino nationals with C-1 Visas also applied to other foreign nationals with C-1 Visas. Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Judiciary to look into this matter in further detail.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 173 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.