STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1429-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.R. No. 196

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.R. No. 196 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF "ATOMIC VETERANS" THE VETERANS INVOLVED IN THE CLEANUP OF THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR TEST SITE ON LOJWA ISLAND FROM 1977 TO 1980 MAKING THEM ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist veterans who participated in radiation-risk activities during active service and were involved in the cleanup of the United States nuclear test site on Lojwa Island in the northern half of the Enewetak Atoll from 1977 to 1980, by urging the United States Congress and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to include these veterans within the definition of "Atomic Veteran", thereby making them eligible to receive compensation and health care benefits from the United States government.

The Advisory Board to the Office of Veterans' Services testified in support of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 196 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair