STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3041

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2698

H.D. 3

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2698, H.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate monies for various programs, ceremonies, and activities commemorating the centennial anniversary of World War I and the men and women who served in the war.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services; Hawaii State World War I Centennial Task Force; Military Order of the World Wars, Department of Hawaii; National Association for Uniformed Services Hawaii Chapter; National Trust for Historic Preservation; Daughters of the American Revolution; American Veterans Hawaii Post 2 Ewa Battlefield; 808 Cleanups; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 858; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that direct American involvement in World War I was initiated by a request from the President to Congress for a declaration of war against the German Empire on April 2, 1917, and lasted until an armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. During the war, approximately ten thousand men and women from the Territory of Hawaii volunteered to serve in either military or civilian roles. This measure will provide the resources to commemorate the centennial anniversary of World War I and honor the sacrifices of the men and women who served in the war.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of March 19, 2035, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2698, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2698, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair