RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, continue to have repercussions today; and

WHEREAS, thousands of military service members and their families are in the midst of coping with troop deployments to dangerous, volatile, and unstable areas of the world, such as Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, in addition, many of those who have already completed one tour of duty face re-deployment in what the United States Department of Defense describes as the largest series of troop rotations since World War II; and

WHEREAS, for instance, approximately eighty-five thousand regular, United States reserves, and national guard troops will be deployed to Iraq as part of the rotation; and

WHEREAS, such a massive mobilization and deployment of United States forces has not left Hawaii untouched; and

WHEREAS, the assigned strength of the Hawaii Army National Guard and Hawaii Air National Guard stands at around three thousand and two thousand five hundred, respectively; and

WHEREAS, as of January 2005, over eighty per cent of the Hawaii Army National Guard, including the entire 29th Brigade Combat Team, has been mobilized for deployment to either Iraq or Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, even beyond the sheer numbers, however, the effects of the call-up of the national guard are substantial; and

WHEREAS, although national guard members recognize their duty and are willing to serve their nation, the disruption to their personal and professional lives cannot be denied; and

WHEREAS, individuals from all walks of life--from college students and engineers to physicians and public servants--are plucked from their daily routines and sent overseas under hostile conditions; and

WHEREAS, for many, active service in the Hawaii National Guard entails a significant disruption in their life plans; and

WHEREAS, to send national guard members into harm's way while expecting them to absorb substantial financial losses is unduly onerous and highly unfair; and

WHEREAS, rather, they should be provided as much support as possible and the impact on their lives should be minimized to the greatest extent feasible so that they can focus on accomplishing their mission without needing to worry about matters back at home; and

WHEREAS, as beneficiaries of their courageous and dedicated service, the people of this State bear a special responsibility toward United States military forces, but particularly toward our citizen-soldiers in the Hawaii National Guard; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that these patriotic men and women deserve the full support of the State and the Nation; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that one way government can express its appreciation to its citizen soldiers is by providing them with enhanced retirement benefits; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the Senate concurring, that the federal government is requested to lower the minimum retirement age for national guard members and military reservists who satisfactorily serve for twenty years or more years in such military service from sixty to fifty-five years of age; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Report Title:

National Guard and Military Reserves; Retirement Benefits