STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1603

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.R. No. 28

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 28 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO CLEAN UP MUNITIONS AND EXPLOSIVES OF CONCERN IN HAWAII UNDER THE MILITARY MUNITIONS RESPONSE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States military to clean up munitions and explosives of concern in Hawaii under the Military Munitions Response Program.

Your committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that Congress established the Military Munitions Response Program in 2001 to address munitions-related concerns, including explosive safety, environmental and health hazards from releases of unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and munitions constituents found at locations other than operational ranges on active and Base Realignment and Closure installations and formerly used defense sites properties.  Your Committee further finds that certain areas of Hawaii were used for military training exercises that resulted in large quantities of munitions and explosives being deposited on the ground.  Your Committee also finds that remediation efforts should focus on restoring the land rather than rendering it inaccessible whenever possible.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 28 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair