STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1485
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: H.R. No. 118
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.R. No. 118 entitled:
"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE ALLOW FILIPINO NATIONAL LONGLINE FISHERMEN WITH A C-1 VISA TO ENTER HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this resolution as received is to request that the Immigration and Naturalization Service "reconsider its decision to prohibit Filipino national longline fishermen with a C-1 visa from entering Hawaiian ports."
A concerned individual testified in support of this measure.
The standing committee report of the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs requested that your Committee look into the matter of whether restrictions placed on Filipino nationals with C-1 visas were applied to other nationals with C-1 visas.
Based on a newspaper article by Genevieve A. Suzuki entitled "Foreign fishermen barred from isles" that appeared in the Sunday, October 13, 2002 Honolulu Star-Bulletin, it appears that the decision to refuse certain individuals entry into the United States was not based on the country of origin, but instead was based on an Immigration and Naturalization Service policy concerning the circumstances where a "temporary work visa" rather than a "transit visa" would be required. Accordingly, your Committee is not aware of any evidence that this policy is inconsistently applied to the detriment of Filipino nationals. Your Committee believes that there are complex issues related to existing and potential immigration classifications and visa categories.
Your Committee believes that this measure is important to encourage productive use of our fishery resources.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Replacing the gender-specific word "fishermen" with "fisher";
(2) Where appropriate, replacing references to the former Immigration and Naturalization Service with current references to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services;
(3) Replacing the request that the Immigration and Naturalization Service reconsider the decision concerning C-1 visas with a request that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services consult with Filipino national longline fishers to assess the impact of the C-1 visa decision, provide information about alternative visa options, and consider possible extension of visa provisions applicable in Guam;
(4) Requesting that the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Inc. serve as liaison to foster communications;
(5) Adding the Hawaii Longline Association as an entity to whom a certified copy of this resolution is to be provided; and
(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 118, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 118, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair |
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