H.C.R. 4
LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL
6 Approved for Filing: K.P. Gasser 6
6 01-26-23 2:33 PM 6
H.C.R. 4
1 CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON ADDRESSING SERVICE
2 MEMBERS IN JAPAN
3 2023 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Tyler Clancy
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7
8LONG TITLE
9General Description:
10 This resolution encourages the United States Congress and National Security Council to
11review the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan and to
12review the investigation and trial of Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis.
13Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 <encourages the United States Congress and National Security Council to formally
16review the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan; and
17 <encourages the United States Congress and National Security Council to officially
18investigate the circumstances surrounding the investigation and trial of Navy
19Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis to ensure that American service members are being
20properly treated and adequately protected while serving in Japan.
21Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
25 WHEREAS, there are over 100,000 American service members and dependents
26stationed in Japan, more than any other place in the world other than the United States;
27 WHEREAS, active-duty Utahns are, and will continue to be, stationed abroad in Japan
*HCR004* H.C.R. 4 01-26-23 2:33 PM
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28while serving in the United States Armed Forces;
29 WHEREAS, status of forces agreements are designed to ensure adequate and fair legal
30treatment of American service members stationed abroad;
31 WHEREAS, in practice, the United States-Japan Status of Forces Agreement does not
32appear to provide adequate legal protection for American service members as there are reports
33that Japan regularly violates the Status of Forces Agreement by detaining American service
34members without adequate cause or necessity prior to charges;
35 WHEREAS, there are reports that Japanese authorities consistently deny legal counsel
36to service members during police interrogations and fail to provide adequate translation
37assistance during interrogations and trials, which violates Department of Defense policy
38regarding the legal rights of service members overseas as outlined in Secretary of the Navy
39Instruction 5820.4G and Army Regulation 27-50;
40 WHEREAS, the case of Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis embodies the reported issues
41surrounding the United States-Japan Status of Forces Agreement as Lieutenant Alkonis
42experienced prejudicial treatment during Japanese police detainment and trial;
43 WHEREAS, there are numerous reports of Lieutenant Alkonis receiving extremely
44suspect legal advice and inadequate support from United States Navy personnel during legal
45proceedings;
46 WHEREAS, there is evidence of the United States Navy knowingly misleading
47members of the United States Congress regarding Lieutenant Alkonis's case;
48 WHEREAS, there is sufficient evidence to reasonably suspect that Lieutenant Alkonis
49is wrongfully detained; and
50 WHEREAS, the United States Congress through the United States House Committee
51on Armed Services is responsible for conducting oversight of the United States Navy and
52ensuring that international agreements are in the best interest of the American people and
53abided by the parties entered therein:
54 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
55Governor concurring therein, encourage the United States Congress and the National Security
56Council to:
57 (1) conduct a formal review of the Status of Forces Agreement between the United
58States and Japan to ensure that the agreement is in the best interest of the United States and 01-26-23 2:33 PM H.C.R. 4
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59adequately protects American service members in accordance with constitutional rights and
60United States Department of Defense policy;
61 (2) conduct an official investigation into the circumstances and dealings surrounding
62the investigation, trial, and conviction of Navy Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis to ensure that
63Lieutenant Alkonis was treated fairly by Japan and that the United States Navy provided fair
64and adequate support; and
65 (3) refer Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis's case to the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage
66Affairs to be designated as a wrongfully detained case.
67 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon adoption of this resolution, an appropriate
68copy be provided by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the majority leader of
69the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the
70Chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services, the Chairman of the
71United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Chairman of the United States Senate
72Committee on Foreign Relations, the Chairman of the United States House Committee on
73Foreign Affairs, the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the
74Chairman of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary, the National Security
75Advisor, and the members of the Utah congressional delegation.