STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2074

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.C.R. No. 41

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 41 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES' FEE INCREASE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to condemn the proposed fee increase by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and request a halt on the fee increase for all naturalization applications.

     The Hawaii Human Rights Center testified in support of this concurrent resolution.

     Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Changing its title to, "STRONGLY OPPOSING THE FEE INCREASES PROPOSED BY THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES";

     (2)  Replacing its contents with the similar contents contained in H.C.R. No. 191, which:

          (A)  Opposes proposed USCIS fee increases, particularly those that affect the attainment of United States citizenship and the preservation of family unity; and

          (B)  Urges Hawaii's Congressional Delegation to support a legislative inquiry into the proposed fee increases and support increased federal funding for USCIS;

          and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 41, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 41, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair