STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2274

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2591

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2591 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A MEMORIAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of bonds and appropriate moneys for plans and design of a memorial and replicas honoring veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Global War on Terrorism, Homeland Defense, and Operation Noble Eagle and those who have protected our borders by land, sea, and air.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense; State Office of Veterans Services; Military Order of Foreign Wars, Hawaii Commandery; Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of Hawaii; American Legion, Department of Hawaii; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Gulf War, and subsequent military actions associated with the Global War on Terror, together represent the longest period of sustained military conflict carried out by generations of American service members. Public memorials are an essential form of recognition and remembrance to honor United States veterans and military service personnel who have served in and died as a result of war and conflict. It is appropriate for Hawaii to follow the example of other states in erecting its monuments to these veterans who gave their lives in service to the nation. This measure will allow the citizens of the State of Hawaii to recognize the sacrifices of military personnel from 1990 until today by funding plans and design of a memorial and replicas honoring veterans of the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Global War on Terrorism, Homeland Defense, and Operation Noble Eagle and those who have protected our borders by land, sea, and air.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2591 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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