SCR 24: strongly urging the united states department of defense to maintain all references to the 100th infantry battalion and 442nd regimental combat team on its websites for the public.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

strongly urging the united states department of defense to maintain all references to the 100^th infantry battalion and 442^nd regimental combat team on its websites for the public.

     WHEREAS, during the second world war, the United States government incarcerated more than one hundred twenty thousand residents of Japanese ancestry in internment camps throughout the continental United States; and

     WHEREAS, more than half of the people of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly detained without charges or the right to an appeal were American citizens; and

     WHEREAS, thousands of Japanese Americans lost their homes, rights, and freedom during this time as a direct result of systemic anti-Asian racism in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, second-generation Japanese American men who were born and raised in the United States were still encouraged to join and were even drafted into the United States military to fight for their country that classified them as "enemy aliens" on the basis of their race; and

     WHEREAS, altogether, more than thirty thousand Japanese Americans served with distinction in the United States military in segregated units during the second world war; and

     WHEREAS, the most renowned group of Japanese Americans to fight for the United States in this war was the 100^th Infantry Battalion which led to the formation of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team; and

     WHEREAS, the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team were the most decorated units for their size and length of service during the entire history of the United States military; and

     WHEREAS, in total, approximately fourteen thousand men served in the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, the vast majority of whom were Nisei, or children of Japanese immigrants born in the continental United States or the Territory of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, two-thirds of the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team were Hawaii-born Nisei, including Medal of Honor recipient and late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii historically played a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific theater and continues to provide critical resources to the United States military; and

     WHEREAS, recognizing the history of the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team is of vital importance to acknowledging the contributions of the people of Hawaii to securing the freedoms enjoyed by Americans today; and

     WHEREAS, recognizing the history of the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team is fundamental to sustaining the memory and honoring the sacrifices of the brave Japanese Americans who substantially contributed to the war efforts of the United States while many of their families were incarcerated by the American government on the basis of their race; and

     WHEREAS, on or about March 5^th, 2025, the Pentagon removed information pertaining to the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team from the United States Army's official website amid a federal purge of content identified as being related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is a state composed of an extremely diverse population that celebrates and respects cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature does not support the removal of historical references to intersectional minorities and holds that the selective erasure of history is a dangerous act that facilitates the repetition of horrific injustices of the past; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the United States Department of Defense is strongly urged to maintain all references to the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team on its websites for the public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of Defense is strongly urged to maintain all references to intersectional minorities in its media as the recording of history involving those individuals who happen to be characterized as minorities is not an act of elevating minorities above non-minorities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Senate, with the House of Representatives concurring, remain vigilant in support of social justice, civil rights, equal protection, and upholding the rule of law; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff of the United States Army; Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant Governor; each member of Hawaii's congressional delegation; Governor; Adjutant General; Chair of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; President of the Japanese American Citizens League of Honolulu; Office Administrator of the 100^th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club; President of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team Veterans Club; Director of ACLU of Hawaiʻi; President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter; Executive Director of The Legal Clinic; and President of Hawaii Women Lawyers.

Report Title: 

DOD; United States Army; 442^nd Regimental Combat Team; 100^th Infantry Battalion; Website

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

strongly urging the united states department of defense to maintain all references to the 442^nd regimental combat team on its websites for the public.

     WHEREAS, during the second world war, the United States government incarcerated more than one hundred twenty thousand residents of Japanese ancestry in internment camps throughout the continental United States; and

     WHEREAS, more than half of the people of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly detained without charges or the right to an appeal were American citizens; and

     WHEREAS, thousands of Japanese Americans lost their homes, rights, and freedom during this time as a direct result of systemic anti-Asian racism in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, second-generation Japanese American men who were born and raised in the United States were still encouraged to join and were even drafted into the United States military to fight for their country that classified them as "enemy aliens" on the basis of their race; and

     WHEREAS, altogether, more than thirty thousand Japanese Americans served with distinction in the United States military in segregated units during the second world war; and

     WHEREAS, the most renowned group of Japanese Americans to fight for the United States in this war was the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team; and

     WHEREAS, the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service during the entire history of the United States military; and

     WHEREAS, in total, approximately fourteen thousand men served in the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, the vast majority of whom were Nisei, or children of Japanese immigrants born in the continental United States or the Territory of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, two-thirds of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team were Hawaii-born Nisei, including Medal of Honor recipient and late United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye; and

     WHEREAS; Hawaii historically played a crucial role in the Indo-Pacific theater and continues to provide critical resources to the United States military; and

     WHEREAS, recognizing the history of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team is of vital importance to acknowledging the contributions of the people of Hawaii to securing the freedoms enjoyed by Americans today; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the history of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team is fundamental to sustaining the memory and honoring the sacrifices of the brave Japanese-Americans who substantially contributed to the war efforts of the United States while many of their families were incarcerated by the American government on the basis of their race; and

     WHEREAS, on or about March 5^th, 2025, the Pentagon removed information pertaining to the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team from the United States Army's official website amid a federal purge of content identified as being related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is a state composed of an extremely diverse population that celebrates and respects cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature does not support the removal of historical references to intersectional minorities and holds that the selective erasure of history is a dangerous act that facilitates the repetition of horrific injustices of the past; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the United States Department of Defense is strongly urged to maintain all references to the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team on its websites for the public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Department of Defense is strongly urged to maintain all references to intersectional minorities in its media as the recording of history involving those individuals who happen to be characterized as minorities is not an act of elevating minorities above non-minorities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Senate, with the House of Representatives concurring, remain vigilant in support of social justice, civil rights, equal protection, and upholding the rule of law; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense; Chief of Staff of the United States Army; Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Lieutenant Governor; each member of Hawaii's congressional delegation; Governor; Adjutant General; Chair of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission; Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; President of the Japanese American Citizens League of Honolulu; Office Administrator of the 100^th Infantry Battalion Veterans Club; President of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team Veterans Club; Director of ACLU of Hawaiʻi; President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Hawaii Chapter; Executive Director of The Legal Clinic; and President of Hawaii Women Lawyers.

Report Title: 

DOD; United States Army; 442^nd Regimental Combat Team; Website

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the Office of the governor, state building code council, building departments OF EACH COUNTY, mayors OF EACH COUNTY, and chairs of the SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING committees on housing to develop a comprehensive strategy for adopting UPDATED building codes.

     WHEREAS, building codes are a multi-tiered set of rules and standards at the local, state, and federal levels that govern construction to safeguard public safety and the longevity of infrastructure; and

     WHEREAS, increasingly frequent natural disasters make constructing resilient, stable structures of vital importance to public safety; and

     WHEREAS, the State's building codes are governed by multiple bodies, including the State Building Code Council, county-level building and planning departments, and the state Legislature; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Josh Green's 2023 Proclamation Relating to Affordable Housing sought to fast track the construction of housing, especially on Maui, but has had the unintended consequence of suspending the State Building Code Council and adopting unamended building codes formulated by the International Code Council; and

     WHEREAS, as many of the unamended codes do not apply to the State, such as those for snow, Governor Green issued another proclamation allowing counties not to abide by the 2021 building code, meaning contractors now face unclear directives that jeopardize construction and public safety; and

     WHEREAS, the State's building codes must now be amended to comply with national standards, offer contractors clarity, and reflect local issues and updated best practices for expedient, safe construction; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, Building Departments of each county, Mayors of each county, and Chairs of the Standing Committees on Housing in the Senate and House of Representatives are urged to develop a comprehensive strategy for the statewide adoption of updated building codes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the comprehensive strategy is requested to be formulated through stakeholder engagement and address the feasibility of compliance with updated codes; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, Building Departments of each county, Mayor of each county, and the Chairs of the Committees on Housing in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Report Title: 

Office of the Governor; State Building Code Council; County Building Departments; Mayors; Housing Committee; Building Codes; Contractors; Compliance

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2115

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.C.R. No. 24

      S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 24, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO MAINTAIN ALL REFERENCES TO THE 100TH INFANTRY BATTALION AND 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM ON ITS WEBSITES FOR THE PUBLIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to strongly urge the United States Department of Defense to maintain all references to the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team on its websites to allow the public and future generations to understand the historical importance of these military units.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Military Affairs Council; Nisei Veterans Legacy; 100^th Infantry Battalion Veterans; Hawaii J20+; Hawaii Coalition for Civil Rights; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team were Japanese-American units renowned for their service during the Second World War.  Your Committee further finds that the Pentagon removed information pertaining to these units from the United States Army's official website as a part of the federal purge of content identified as being related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  This measure seeks to protect the legacies of these units and ensure that the public has access to information related to them.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 24, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1552

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 24

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 24 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL, BUILDING DEPARTMENTS OF EACH COUNTY, MAYORS OF EACH COUNTY, AND CHAIRS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STANDING COMMITTEES ON HOUSING TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR ADOPTING UPDATED BUILDING CODES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of the Governor, State Building Code Council, building departments of each county, mayors of each county, and Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees on housing to develop a comprehensive strategy for adopting updated building codes.

     Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committees posted and made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1, which deletes the contents of the measure and inserts language to:

     (1)  Strongly urge the United States Department of Defense to maintain all references to the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team on its websites for the public; and

     (2)  Strongly urge the United States Department of Defense to maintain all references to intersectional minorities in its media as the recording of history involving those individuals who happen to be characterized as minorities is not an act of elevating minorities above non-minorities.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of the proposed S.D. 1 from Indivisible Hawaii, Daniel K. Inouye Institute, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, Nisei Veterans Legacy, Hawaii Coalition for Civil Rights, 100^th Infantry Battalion Veterans, and four individuals.

     Your Committees find that the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team and 100^th Infantry Battalion, comprising thousands of Japanese American soldiers from Hawaii and the continental United States, proudly served in the United States military during the second world war.  Meanwhile, one hundred twenty thousand Americans of Japanese ancestry, including two thousand Americans of Japanese descent from Hawaii, were incarcerated in concentration camps throughout the United States by the United States government based solely on their ancestry.  In response to a federal Executive Order, the United States Army recently removed all references to the 100^th Infantry Battalion and 442^nd Regimental Combat Team from its website, under the auspices of the executive mandate to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) references and initiatives.  This measure will address this harmful act by strongly urging the United States Department of Defense to maintain all references to the mainly Japanese American and most decorated unit of its size and service in American military history, in addition to maintaining all historical references to intersectional minorities.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1 and further amending the measure by:

     (1)  Including references to the 100^th Infantry Battalion in addition to the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team;

     (2)  Amending its title accordingly;

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 24, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 24, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,