STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3100

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 75

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 75 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE MILITARY STRATEGY OF FORWARD-BASING A VISIBLE MILITARY FORCE IN HAWAII AND URGING THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HAWAII TO CONTINUE WITH ITS WORK AS THE LIAISON FOR HAWAII IN MATTERS RELATING TO THE MILITARY'S PRESENCE IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the military strategy of forward-basing a military force in Hawaii, and to urge the Military Affairs Council of The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii to continue with its work as the liaison for Hawaii in matters relating to the military's presence in Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Retired Officers Association of America, Hawaii Chapter.

     Your Committee finds that the United States and its allies are partners who share common economic and security concerns regarding threats to security within the Pacific region, which could result in the disruption of the free flow of commerce and trade that is vital to the economies of Asia Pacific nations and the United States, specifically Hawaii.  The United States military strategy of forward-basing its military forces in Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, South Korea, and Guam provides a visible presence that has successfully deterred adversaries from taking aggressive military actions that would cause political and economic instability.  Your Committee supports the continuation of this successful strategy.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 75 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair