STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1438

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1438 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to honor the 100th Anniversary of World War I with programs, ceremonies, and activities to commence on April 2, 2017.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, State Office of Veterans Services; Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Hawaii; Oahu Veterans Center; Friends of the Natatorium; and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that on April 6, 1917, the United States of America declared war on the German Empire.  During the conflict, approximately ten thousand men and women from the Territory of Hawaii volunteered to serve in the Great War.  Your Committee finds that it is important to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who served in the Great War, and to remember the suffering and loss of life of all who were involved.  Your Committee further finds that the funds appropriated for the purposes of commemorating the one-hundredth anniversary of World War I will help create programs, ceremonies, and activities for the event.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the activities will occur from April 2, 2017, through November 11, 2018.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1438, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1438, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair