STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3494

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 44

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 44, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT TO ENSURE THAT THE ACT RECEIVES PERMANENT AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the United States Congress to make permanent the authority of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act, with all of the funding resources necessary to effectuate its stated policy of raising the health status of Native Hawaiians to the highest possible health level.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i.

Written comments in opposition were received from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies.

Your Committee finds that this measure will help to provide Native Hawaiians with the same assurance given to other indigenous people in the United States with respect to federal funding for health programs and services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 44, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair