STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1213

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 149

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 149 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION AS A STRATEGIC AND TIMELY GROWTH INDUSTRY FOR HAWAII AND REQUESTING THE STATE ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE PROACTIVE, COORDINATED, AND SUSTAINED ACTION TO FULLY REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANT SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL BENEFITS THAT SPACE LAUNCH OPERATIONS AND RELATED AEROSPACE ENTERPRISE CAN BRING TO HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Recognize commercial space transportation as a strategic and timely growth industry for Hawaii;

     (2)  Request the State administration to take proactive, coordinated, and sustained action to fully realize the significant scientific, educational, and commercial benefits space launch operations and related aerospace enterprise can bring to the State; and

     (3)  Request the State to work collaboratively and proactively with federal and municipal agencies and organizations, as well as local and overseas universities and companies, to explore and promote opportunities to initiate, expand, and diversify commercial space launch capabilities and operations in Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Aerospace Advisory Committee; Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; International Ventures Associates; and four individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's strategic location and assets make the State an ideal site to support commercial space launches to equatorial and polar orbits.  Your Committees further find that Hawaii has already taken important steps toward becoming a key leader in space and planetary research, as well as an incubator for innovation within the international space community.  This measure supports the expansion of local transportation and communications infrastructure and the provision of new technology-based training and employment opportunities to help diversify Hawaii's economic base.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 149 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing,

____________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair