STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1237

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1065

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1065, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide adequate funds for the care and maintenance of veterans' cemeteries statewide.

     This measure also includes an appropriation for the purchase of casket liners to help remedy the soil problems at these cemeteries.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the state Department of Defense and the Office of Veterans Services.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's veterans' cemeteries suffer from inadequate care and maintenance.  As these cemeteries hold the remains of those who served their country in peace and wartime, it is incumbent upon the State to honor these veterans by maintaining these cemeteries at a level they deserve.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1065, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair