STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1370

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 298

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 298 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT AND SENATORS AND CONGRESS MEMBERS TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO EXPEDITE IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR FAMILY REUNIFICATION OF CERTAIN FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to help reunite veterans with their families by urging the United States President and Hawaii's Congressional delegation to support legislation expediting immigrant visas for the families of certain Filipino veterans of World War II.

     The WWII Fil-Am Veterans – Hawaii Chapter (FAV) and several concerned individuals supported this resolution.

     Your Committee notes that FAV has indicated that some families of Filipino World War II veterans have waited as long as 15 years to receive a visa to reunite with their veteran relatives in the United States.  As FAV states that the average age of these veterans is 85, your Committee emphasizes the necessity of expediting the immigrant visa process so that those who have honorably served may be reunited with their families.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 298 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, & Military Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair