STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1434-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 36

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 H.C.R. No. 36 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMPTLY REINSTATE FUNDING FOR THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST TO SUPPORT ITS LIFE-SAVING AND CRITICAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO PALESTINIAN REFUGEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the President of the United States to promptly reinstate funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East to support its life-saving and critical humanitarian assistance programs to Palestinian refugees.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Rise for Palestine; Democratic Socialists of Oʻahu; UNITE HERE! Local 5; Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaiʻi; Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church; Faith Action Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Workers Center; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from One Impact Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that innocent men, women, and children in Palestine continue to face mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and limited access to necessities such as food, clean water, and health care services. Your Committee further finds that humanitarian agencies assisting Palestinians in dire need require continuous funding from governments or other private donors. Your Committee therefore believes that the United States should help fund the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and World Food Programme, as supporting these agencies save Palestinian lives through food assistance, cash transfers, and other necessary interventions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the humanitarian agency receiving aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to the United Nations Children's Fund and World Food Programme;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

(3) 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 H.C.R. No. 36, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 36, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair