STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1942-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 13

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 13, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND MEMBERS OF HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the President of the United States and members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi County Council; Syced Investigations, LLC; Malu ʻAina; Trinity United Methodist Church; Aloha Lokahi Association; HULI PAC; Autotech Kona; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Episcopal Church in Hawaii; UNITE HERE Local 5; Progressive Democrats of Hawaii; Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management; Our Revolution Hawaii; Muslim Association of Hawaii; AF3IRM; Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaii; Ka Lei Maile Alii; Kona 4 Palestine; Veterans for Peace, Hawaiʻi Ch. 113; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Jewish Sisterhood of Kauaʻi; Jewish Community of Kauaʻi; Jewish Community Relations Board of Hawaii; Kauai Jewish Center; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that between October 7, 2023, and April 4, 2024, armed violence has claimed the lives of more than thirteen thousand Palestinians and wounded tens of thousands more, the majority of which are civilians. Your Committee further finds that hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a permanent ceasefire is not reached and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay. Your Committee therefore believes that the United States federal government should utilize its immense diplomatic and economic power to save Palestinian and Israeli lives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying Hamas' role in the Israel-Hamas War Hostage Crisis;

(2) Inserting language about the meaning of "Aloha";

(3) Clarifying that members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation and the Biden Administration are urged to publicly call for an immediate, permanent bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and the return of all hostages; facilitate the de-escalation of hostilities; promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; and continue negotiations for lasting peace in the region;

(4) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

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 S.C.R. No. 13, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 13, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair