STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1745-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 184

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.R. No. 184 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND REQUESTING DATA ON THE EFFECT OF CASE BACKLOGS AND THE LACK OF FREE OR LOW-COST LEGAL REPRESENTATION ON IMMIGRATION CASES FILED IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to provide adequate funding for immigration services, including moneys for additional United States Citizenship and Immigration Services staff to process case backlogs and moneys for free or low-cost court-appointed legal counsel for low-income immigrants, including low-income immigrants in Hawaii. Also requested is the provision of data to the Legislature on the effect of existing case backlogs and the lack of free or low-cost legal representation on immigration cases filed in Hawaii, including the cases’ average processing times and outcomes and the applicants’ nationalities and access to legal representation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 184 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

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SYLVIA LUKE, Chair