STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2190

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 43

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 43 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAI‘I'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR TO COLLABORATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO ENSURE EXPEDITED BURIALS FOR VETERANS, DECEASED ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AT VETERANS CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request Hawai‘i's congressional delegation and the Governor to collaborate with the Legislature to ensure expedited burials for veterans, deceased active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, and their spouses at veterans' cemeteries throughout the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Veterans' Services.

Your Committee finds that all United States veterans and their spouses have earned the privilege to be buried in a veterans' cemetery, and all decedents deserve the highest standards for burials. Furthermore, just as the proper burial of a deceased Native Hawaiian is an important sacred practice, rite, and right, your Committee finds that burials of all deceased veterans, active duty members, and their spouses are important and that collaboration is necessary to ensure proper burials without administrative delay.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 43, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair