Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 71 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the federal government support conforming the retirement benefits of national guard members and military reservists to that of active duty military service members.

Specifically, the measure asks the federal government to take action to provide national guard members and military reservists who serve for more than twenty years in such military service with the ability to retire and immediately qualify for military retention pay and military retirement pay, regardless of their age upon retirement on the same basis as members of the active military services who transfer to the retired reserve after twenty or more years of active service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the state Department of Defense and the Representive of the Forty-fourth District.

Your Committee believes that providing the same retirement benefits to national guard members and military reservists that active duty military service members enjoy, especially in this time of war, is prudent, fair, and a fitting way to support the men and women of the national guard and military reserves.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 71 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.