Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) joined his colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee in approving the $422.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005. The Committee reported the bill, which authorizes funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). Senator Akaka, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, helped guide the Subcommittee's efforts to support the readiness of U.S. military forces, improve the facilities in which our military personnel work and housing for them and their families, and enhance the efficiency of DOD operations.
"Having recently traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan, I returned with tremendous respect for the professionalism exhibited by the men and women serving in our military who I had the opportunity to meet.," Akaka said. "It underscored my commitment to ensure that our men and women in uniform around the world have the support and resources they need as they work to defend our great nation." The committee mark includes $603.2 million for force protection gear and combat clothing for service members.
Senator Akaka was successful in amending the committee mark to strike language which would have permanently repealed the prohibition against contracting out security guards at military installations. His amendment instead extends the current waiver of the prohibition for an additional two years and requires the Department of Defense to submit its report on its long-term plans for meeting its increased security guard needs which was due to Congress in May 2003. "I believe that the security of our defense facilities is best served by hiring federal employees to safeguard them on a full-time basis." Akaka said. "Experience has shown that federal employees are better screened, better trained, and better supervised than contracted security guards."
The bill continues efforts Senator Akaka initiated in FY 2002 to enhance the Department's coordination of anti-corrosion programs. Akaka was successful in inserting language in the Senate Committee report which urges the Department's Comptroller to establish by December 1, 2004, a specific funding mechanism for use by the Department in FY06 for the Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight. The office, which is responsible for coordinating Department of Defense policy to prevent and mitigate the corrosion of military equipment and infrastructure, was created at Akaka's urging in the FY02 National Defense Authorization Act. "The Department is spending billions of dollars to fix equipment affected by corrosion," he noted. "We must proactively address this problem and ensure that there is coordination within the Department between the services on these efforts."
The bill authorizes $365.7 million for military construction funding in Hawaii, an increase of $26 million over the President's budget request of $339.7 million. This increase reflects additional military construction projects requested by Senator Akaka and Senator Daniel K. Inouye. These additional projects include $10 million for Saddle Road , $7.5 million for the AEOS Mirror Recoat Facility on Maui, and $8.5 million for the Electrical Grid at Hickam AFB.
The FY05 Defense Authorization bill includes funding authorization and statutory language Senator Akaka sought for several projects of particular interest to Hawaii. Senator Akaka successfully secured funding of over $77 million for the following projects for the State of Hawaii:
The Advanced Fusion Processor, for the amount of $4.0 million
Tissue Development on Elastin Biomatrices, for the amount of $4.0 million
CUSAS- Common Picture Advanced Technology, for the amount of $3.0 million
Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (AUSV), for the amount of $3.0 million
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell Trial, for the amount of $3.0 million
Remote Sensor Monitoring Technology Research Program, for the amount of $3.0 million
SEE-Rescue Distress Streamer, for the amount of $3.0 million
Unexploded Ordnance Detection Using Airborne Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), for the amount of $4.7 million
High Accuracy Network Determination System (HANDS), for the amount of $10.0 million
Man Overboard Identification System (MOBI), for the amount of $10.0 million
Wave Power Demonstration Project, for the amount of $4.0 million
High Performance Metal Fiber Brushes, for the amount of $5.0 million
Corrosion Prevention and Control Program for Marine Corps, for the amount of $4.0 million
Corrosion Prevention and Control Program for Army, for the amount of $8.0 million
Electrical Grid at Hickam AFB, for the amount of $8.5 million
