HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.C.R. NO. 155 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZing january 11-17, 2026, as "Strong start, strong economy week".
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.C.R. NO. 155
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.C.R. NO.
155
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZing january 11-17, 2026, as "Strong start, strong economy week".
WHEREAS, investing in policies and programs that support maternity and early childhood stability is essential in breaking the cycle of generational poverty and offers better outcomes for the State's economic development and growth within local communities; and WHEREAS, according to the American Academy for Pediatrics, low socioeconomic status and the health challenges that arise from living in poor socioeconomic circumstances is a contributing factor to intergenerational poverty; and WHEREAS, the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold is the average annual income needed to afford basic necessities, which for a single adult is $39,384, and for a family with two adults, one infant, and a preschooler is $107,796, while the federal poverty level in Hawaii for each respective group is $17,310 and $35,880 per year; and WHEREAS, forty percent of Hawaii households are currently living below the ALICE threshold as of 2024, and according to the Department of Human Services, ALICE households are the largest consumers of social services in the State; and WHEREAS, working families are the backbone of the State's economy and contribute to the prosperity and well-being of communities and society through their dedication and hard work; and WHEREAS, Hawaii has a workforce shortage in jobs that require higher education, trade training, and subject matter specialty; and WHEREAS, ALICE workers, in a stabilized situation, would be able to join the workforce in skilled jobs that offer higher wages, allowing younger generations to gain experience in entry level roles that otherwise would have been occupied by ALICE workers; and WHEREAS, research shows that the early years of a child's life are critical for cognitive, social, and emotional development; and WHEREAS, strengthening resources for unemployed and ALICE families during maternity and early childhood impacts the stability of children, thereby reducing the risk for lifelong instability, increasing opportunities to overcome intergenerational poverty, and enabling these children to help fulfill the State's skilled workforce needs; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that this body recognizes January 11-17, 2026, as "Strong Start, Strong Economy Week"; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during "Strong Start, Strong Economy Week", the Representatives of House Districts 4 and 5 are requested to work with local, national, and international scholars, organizations, and local initiatives to explore connections between family stability and the impact that early childhood stability has on the economy and highlight how social services can serve as a long-term workforce solution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes that the positive impacts of stability in early childhood increase the long-term potential for stable cognitive, social, and emotional development, leading to more productive adults within society who are more prepared to overcome intergenerational poverty, complete postsecondary education, and fulfill the State's skilled workforce needs; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate. OFFERED BY: _____________________________
WHEREAS, investing in policies and programs that support maternity and early childhood stability is essential in breaking the cycle of generational poverty and offers better outcomes for the State's economic development and growth within local communities; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Academy for Pediatrics, low socioeconomic status and the health challenges that arise from living in poor socioeconomic circumstances is a contributing factor to intergenerational poverty; and
WHEREAS, the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold is the average annual income needed to afford basic necessities, which for a single adult is $39,384, and for a family with two adults, one infant, and a preschooler is $107,796, while the federal poverty level in Hawaii for each respective group is $17,310 and $35,880 per year; and
WHEREAS, forty percent of Hawaii households are currently living below the ALICE threshold as of 2024, and according to the Department of Human Services, ALICE households are the largest consumers of social services in the State; and
WHEREAS, working families are the backbone of the State's economy and contribute to the prosperity and well-being of communities and society through their dedication and hard work; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii has a workforce shortage in jobs that require higher education, trade training, and subject matter specialty; and
WHEREAS, ALICE workers, in a stabilized situation, would be able to join the workforce in skilled jobs that offer higher wages, allowing younger generations to gain experience in entry level roles that otherwise would have been occupied by ALICE workers; and
WHEREAS, research shows that the early years of a child's life are critical for cognitive, social, and emotional development; and
WHEREAS, strengthening resources for unemployed and ALICE families during maternity and early childhood impacts the stability of children, thereby reducing the risk for lifelong instability, increasing opportunities to overcome intergenerational poverty, and enabling these children to help fulfill the State's skilled workforce needs; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that this body recognizes January 11-17, 2026, as "Strong Start, Strong Economy Week"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during "Strong Start, Strong Economy Week", the Representatives of House Districts 4 and 5 are requested to work with local, national, and international scholars, organizations, and local initiatives to explore connections between family stability and the impact that early childhood stability has on the economy and highlight how social services can serve as a long-term workforce solution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body recognizes that the positive impacts of stability in early childhood increase the long-term potential for stable cognitive, social, and emotional development, leading to more productive adults within society who are more prepared to overcome intergenerational poverty, complete postsecondary education, and fulfill the State's skilled workforce needs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate.
OFFERED BY: _____________________________
OFFERED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title: Strong Start, Strong Economy Week; Early Childhood Stability; Skilled Workforce; Social Services
Report Title:
Strong Start, Strong Economy Week; Early Childhood Stability; Skilled Workforce; Social Services