Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 49 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge Congress to authorize and appropriate funds to allow members of the Armed Forces Reserve component to access TRICARE health benefit coverage.

The Department of Defense, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii National Guard Association, and Hawaii National Guard Enlisted Association supported this measure.

Your Committee distributed a proposed draft of H.C.R. No. 49 for review and consideration before decision-making on this measure. Specifically, the proposed draft requests the United States Secretary of the Navy to provide rent relief to the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park and USS Missouri Memorial.

The USS Memorial Association, Inc., USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support of the proposed draft.

Your Committee finds that the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. (Memorial), and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park (Museum) are not-for-profit organizations that are or will be severely affected by the climbing fair market lease rent. Both organizations do not receive government funding and coupled with increasing expenses for maintenance, improvement projects, preservation, and presentation of the Museum and Memorial, the rising fair market value compromises the ability of these organizations to maintain their services.

In view of the educational and historical value and services these organizations provide to the public and military service members, reducing their lease rents are in the public interest.

After much consideration and discussion, your Committee has amended this measure by:

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. 49, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 49, H.D. 1.