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 Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 51 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request Hawaii's Congressional delegation to support the passage of federal legislation that will provide healthcare benefits to retired members of the military and their dependent spouses.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the State Office of Veterans Services.

Your Committees find that some retired veterans are entitled to free lifetime health care benefits while others are not. The military base closings have aggravated the situation.

Your Committees further find that this measure demonstrates the support of the Hawaii Legislature in urging the immediate passage of the "Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act" currently pending in both houses of Congress. This Act is crucial in ensuring that America's retired military veterans and their dependent spouses have adequate health care benefits.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 51 and recommend its adoption.