STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1517-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 160

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 160 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE TIES BETWEEN HAWAI‘I AND THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES AND URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO APPOINT A LEAD NEGOTIATOR TO REVITALIZE AND FINALIZE THE STALLED RENEGOTIATION OF THE COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION PRIOR TO THE COMPACTS' EXPIRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to celebrate the ties between Hawaii and the Freely Associated States and to urge the President of the United States and United States Congress to appoint a lead negotiator to revitalize and finalize the stalled renegotiation of the Compacts of Free Association prior to the compacts' expiration.

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

Your Committee finds that citizens of the Freely Associated States provide important social, cultural, and economic contributions to Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that negotiations to extend financial provisions of the Compacts of Free Association, which are set to expire in 2023 and 2024, have stalled and remain incomplete, creating a looming national security threat and threatening the ability of citizens of the Freely Associated States to access many of the United States' domestic programs. This measure celebrates the many contributions of the Compacts of Free Association population in Hawaii and the broader United States and recognizes the importance of the Compacts of Free Association to the United States and the Freely Associated States by urging the President and Congress of the United States to revitalize and finalize the stalled negotiations of the Compacts of Free Association before any portion of those compacts expire.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 160 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair