From left: Rep. Cindy Evans, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Mark K. Takai, Dennis Egge, Rep. Barbara Marumoto. (Photo special to Hawaii 24/7)

MEDIA RELEASE

House lawmakers have presented a package of military appreciation bills that have been introduced this 2010 legislative session in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Angus McKelvey, chairman of the House Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business and Military Affairs (EBM), was joined by committee member Rep. Cindy Evans and Dennis Egge, chairman of the Oahu Veterans Council’s Legislative Committee.

The package includes 14 bills and one resolution that propose to help as well as recognize veterans and military men and women currently serving their country.

One bill would prevent courts from using a parent’s extended absence due to military service or other public duties to alter or affect awards of child custody and visitation.

Another would require that the National League of Families’ prisoner of war/missing in action flag to be flown with the United States and Hawaiian flags to honor American prisoners of war and military personnel who are missing in action.

“These bills will help to strengthen the relationship that the state of Hawaii has with the military and help to stimulate more federal investment to Hawaii through the defense spending the military has committed to Hawaii,” McKelvey said, noting President Obama’s proposed budget being sent to Congress has about $708 billion marked for defense spending, which will have important implications for Hawaii.

“These bills introduced on the House side bring attention to issues affecting our military, which are servicemen and their families, ” Evans said. “With over 55,000 troops in Hawaii, we embrace the military as part of our ohana.”

“All the bills that we are supporting benefit veterans and military personnel who live and work in our great state, and the Oahu Veterans Council sincerely thanks the legislature for offering them,” Egge said.

“The spectrum of benefits from supporting the bills runs from the flying of the POW flag to the proper burial of indigent veterans,” Egge said. “One bill that I feel very strongly about is the bill that will assure voting rights for our veterans and deployed service personnel.”

Contacts:
Rep. Angus McKelvey
Phone: 808-586-6160

Rep. Cindy Evans
Phone: 808-586-8510