STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1381

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 180

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.R. No. 180 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines on July 4, 2021.

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

Your Committee finds that the United States and the Republic of the Philippines (Philippines) established diplomatic relations seventy-five years ago, on July 4, 1946.

Your Committee further finds that Filipino-Americans have a long-standing history of serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, with many having received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and continue to demonstrate a sense of patriotism and honor in the Armed Forces. The Filipino-American community has flourished in the United States, and today, it has become one of the largest among the Asian-American and Pacific Islander groups in the United States.

Your Committee also finds that since the arrival of the first fifteen Filipino plantation workers on December 20, 1906, Filipino-Americans have helped shape the history of the State and have contributed to the development of Hawaii. The Filipino-American community continues to thrive in Hawaii, and individuals of Filipino ethnicity make up the largest portion of the State's population. The existence of the economic and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the large number of sister city relationships between the cities and counties of Hawaii and cities and municipalities of the Philippines is evidence of the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between Hawaii and the Philippines.

Your Committee believes that Hawaii's recognition of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Philippines will further solidify its strong and prosperous relationship with the Philippines.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the names of the countries to their official form;

(2) Inserting language to support the democratic institutions and processes established in the Philippines and their commitment to the preservation of and respect for human rights and dignity; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 180, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair