Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations and Economic Development, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 102 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Honolulu District Office of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to authorize the entry of Filipino longline fishermen with valid transit visas.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from one individual. Offering comments on the measure were two individuals.

Your Committees find that this measure is designed to preserve and protect the economic viability of Hawaii's longline fishing industry by requesting the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to reissue transit visas to Filipino longline fishermen. According to the Hawaii Longline Association, Hawaii's longline fishing industry relies heavily on skilled foreign fishermen and Filipinos comprise sixty percent of this critical labor force. Transit visas do not confer legal immigrant status on the holder, and they must be lawfully obtained through a United States consulate. Your Committees find that this measure fulfills the needs of Hawaii's longline fishing industry while ensuring that the entry of foreign nationals into the United States remains properly regulated by the federal government.

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.C.R. No. 102 and recommend its adoption.