Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 126 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to encourage Congress to increase funding for the continuation and expansion of veterans' benefits and services.

Furthermore, this resolution expresses this body's disappointment in the President and his administration's lack of support for this country's own veterans.

Your Committee finds that the Veterans Affairs Department has begun to reject new enrollments into its health care system, evidently due to a tight budget and overwhelming demand for services while the President considers proposals that would reduce benefits to veterans. Moreover, Congress is deliberating over a bill that inadequately funds veterans' services. In light of the thousands of active duty military and reservists currently risking their lives while deployed in dangerous arenas in Afghanistan and Iraq, your Committee finds that these federal actions are being carried out at a most inappropriate time.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 126 and recommends its adoption.