STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1744

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 47

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 47, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO RECOGNIZE A PRESUMPTIVE SERVICE CONNECTION FOR CHRONICALLY ILL VETERANS WHO WERE STATIONED AT KUNIA FIELD ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize a presumptive service connection for chronically ill veterans who were stationed at Kunia Field on the island of Oahu, and to provide medical care and long-term services regardless of the veterans' ability to conclusively link their conditions to toxic exposure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals.

Your Committee finds that Kunia Field Station was constructed on Oahu during World War II to serve as an underground bomb-proof aircraft assembly plant. Kunia Field Station is located under former pineapple fields near Wheeler Army Airfield and Schofield Barracks. Your Committee further finds that a report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 found multiple contaminants in groundwater and soil at the Kunia Field Station site. In addition, a report by the Navy and National Security Agency in 2000 indicated the presence of arsenic and lead in the field station's air intake system, as well as moderate to high levels of fungal contamination due to air ventilation problems and high moisture levels. Your Committee also finds that many veterans who were stationed at Kunia Field Station have developed chronic illnesses, and they and their advocates argue that they have been denied access to the government records needed to conclusively link their illnesses to toxic exposure. This measure urges the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize a presumptive service connection to allow ill veterans to receive the medical care and long-term services they need.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 47, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Corrections, Military, & Veterans,

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair