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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
60 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
requesting the united states department of defense, including the navy, army, and air force, to increase on-base housing AVAILABILITY for active duty personnel and their dependents ASSIGNED TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE STATE.
WHEREAS, an affordable housing shortage and an increasing homeless population are among the most pressing challenges in the State; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii's unique strategic position in the Pacific Ocean has led to one of the largest concentrations of United States military forces in the country, as there are over forty-two thousand active duty military personnel assigned to military installations throughout Hawaii as of September 2022; and
WHEREAS, the large number of assigned military personnel to Hawaii results in competition among local civilian residents for limited housing in the State; and
WHEREAS, many military personnel who choose to live off-base are provided a basic housing allowance based on location, pay grade, and whether they have dependents to offset the cost of non-government-provided housing; and
WHEREAS, nationally, about seventy percent of military personnel choose to live off-base; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the monthly basic housing allowance for military personnel with and without dependents on Oahu ranged from $3,084 to $4,608 and $2,313 to $3,939, respectively; and
WHEREAS, in instances when multiple military personnel reside together, their combined basic housing allowance allows them to compete with civilian residents for higher priced housing rentals; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii's high cost of living and housing scarcity has resulted in a disproportionately high number of multi-generational households; and
WHEREAS, homeless encampments in the State are increasing, despite significant action by state and county government in the form of emergency homeless shelters, temporary housing, and affordable housing initiatives; and
WHEREAS, a major contributing factor to high rent and limited availability of housing in the State is the demand for housing by active duty military personnel and their dependents; and
WHEREAS, increasing on-base housing for active duty military personnel and their dependents will help to alleviate the overall increased demand for housing in the State, resulting in more housing availability for local residents; and
WHEREAS, this body requests that the military recognize the negative housing impact its current housing policy is creating in the State and urges the Department of Defense to take immediate action on this opportunity to be a respectful guest in the islands; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the United States Department of Defense, including the Navy, Army, and Air Force, is requested to increase on-base housing availability for active duty personnel and their dependents assigned to military installations in the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Senior Commander of the United States Army Garrison Hawaii, and Commanding Officer of the Marines Corps Base Hawaii are requested to support construction of additional on-base housing to house at least ninety percent of their active duty personnel and their dependents by 2030; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment; all Service Secretaries of the United States Armed Forces; Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command; Commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Senior Commander of the United States Army Garrison Hawaii, and Commanding Officer of the Marines Corps Base Hawaii.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Military Personnel; Active Duty Personnel; Housing; On-base Availability