Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu
Senate Bill 907 SD2 HD2 CD1
Relating to Aerospace Development
Written Comments for the House Journal
May 3, 2007 (Day 60)
I rise in support.
For nearly half a century, the State has supported our national space efforts, beginning with astronaut training programs in the late 1950s and the development of world-class observatories in the 1960s. Over the past three decades, the University of Hawaii, the United States military, and numerous companies statewide have also engaged in a variety of nationally-funded pioneering programs in planetary geosciences, satellite communications, remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and meteorology.
The purpose of this bill is to position Hawaii to be nationally and globally competitive and recognized in aerospace development. The measure renames the Office of Space Industry to the Office of Aerospace Development, and adds additional duties and appropriates out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the Office of Aerospace Development to carry out its duties to identify and promote opportunities for expanding and diversifying aerospace-related industries in the State.
Thank you.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 