STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2524

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3046

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Technology and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 3046 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GOLD STAR FAMILY DAY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate the last Sunday in September as "Gold Star Family Day" to honor family members of the men and women who gave their lives to their country while serving with the United States Armed Forces in time of war or during a period of hostilities.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Office of Veterans Services; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Hawaii Catholic Conference; Hawaii Family Forum; National Association for Uniformed Services, Hawaii Chapter; and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that on June 23, 1936, a joint Congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as "Gold Star Mother's Day" to honor the mothers of men and women who gave their lives for their country while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  In September 2009, President Barack Obama renamed the day as "Gold Star Mother's and Family Day", including family members as part of the honorees.  Seven states have already enacted legislation to recognize this day.  This measure honors the families of those United States Armed Forces members who have bravely sacrificed their lives for their country.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Technology and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3046 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Technology and the Arts,

____________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair