STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1646

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 45

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 45 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO ESTABLISH AND FUND A VETERAN WOMEN SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION WITHIN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Department of Defense to establish and fund a Veteran Women Services Coordinator position within the Office of Veterans' Services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans' Services; Women's Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that current estimates indicate that there are between 9,502 and 11,744 women veterans who reside in Hawaii.  The Hawaii Military Women's Task Force determined that women in the military face multiple, inter-related, and complex problems, including a high rate of sexual trauma, inadequate health care after reentry into civilian life, high rates of post‑traumatic stress syndrome, homelessness, and unemployment.  A Veteran Women Services Coordinator within the Office of Veterans' Services will aid female active duty service members and veterans with their specific needs and issues.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 45, and recommends that it be referred to the 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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WILL ESPERO, Chair