Released by the office of Senator Daniel Inouye: 

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka announced today that House and Senate conferees have approved the appropriation of more than $691 million for Hawaii-related labor, health, education, and military construction initiatives.

"The bulk of the funds - nearly $534 million - are for 12 military construction projects," said Senator Inouye, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "The bricks and mortar are important for our national defense, and for the well-being and care of our brave men and women in uniform. But I am also gratified that Senator Akaka and I were able to secure funding for initiatives that give hope to those whose circumstances oftentimes put adequate healthcare and educational opportunities beyond reach. We are especially proud of the health and educational programs that cut away at the health and educational disparities that our islands' First Citizens, Native Hawaiians, confront."

Senator Akaka added: "I am pleased that Senate and House conferees were able to come to agreement to fund these vitally important projects for the state of Hawaii. The funds included for military construction will not only make much-needed improvements to our military facilities in Hawaii, but will also be invaluable in ensuring a high quality of life for the men and women serving our nation in the Armed Forces.

"I am also pleased critical funding for education and healthcare development in Hawaii was included in the appropriations bill. I urge the President to make the needs of our communities and our military a priority by signing this bill into law."

The legislation covering military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs contains language offered by Senator Inouye and Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, both of Alaska, that requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the access to medical services that veterans who live in remote, rural areas have to services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Our veterans willingly put themselves in harm's way. We, as Americans, must ensure that they have access to the healthcare they need," said Senator Inouye, who, like Senator Akaka, served with the U.S. Army during World War II.

The study must examine the problems and costs faced by veterans in remote rural areas in obtaining VA medical services; the need to fund alternative sources of medical services, particularly in areas that require air transportation to reach a VA facility; and an assessment of the possibility of increasing local access through partnerships with other government and local health care providers.

Senators Inouye and Akaka said they are pleased that the military construction/VA measure provides $3.6 billion more than what the President proposed for VA programs and facilities.

"The cost of caring for our veterans and for our disadvantaged is the cost that a great nation must bear," Senator Inouye said. "We cannot sidestep this responsibility. I hope the President will reconsider his veto threat."

Senator Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said: "This bill truly reflects our commitment to fully fund veterans' healthcare and benefits. It represents the largest increase in funding for VA healthcare. We in Congress have taken an important first step; I hope the President will join us to improve conditions for our veterans. I am pleased that there are additional funds included in the bill for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries and for VA mental health programs, to treat the invisible wounds that many veterans suffer from after serving in combat. These are two areas of vital importance to service members returning from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom."

The conference report on the Labor-Health and Human Services funding bill, which now technically includes military construction and Veterans' Affairs, could be considered in the Senate as early as Monday, November 5, 2007. Once the Senate and House agree on the conference report, it will be sent to the White House for the President's consideration.

 

The following are the Hawaii-related initiatives in the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that House and Senate conferees approved on Thursday, November 1, 2007:

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Maui Community College

Remote Rural Hawaii Job Training Project $2,400,000

This initiative supports job training and community development on all neighbor islands and rural Oahu.

Training and Education Opportunities $1,000,000

This appropriation supports job training and education programs through the Samoan/Asian Pacific Job Training program.

Alu Like Digitization of Hawaiian Newspapers $100,000

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Regional Biocontainment Laboratory $25,000,000

These funds are for the construction of a regional biodefense laboratory. The laboratory will play a key role in homeland security. Hawaii is the logical site for this Pacific-based lab because of its geopolitical location and because of Pearl Harbor's symbolic value of American resilience and determination. Also, in recent years several global public health emergencies caused by epidemic pathogens, such as pandemic flu, have originated in the Asia-Pacific region; this underscores the importance of strengthening disease detection and response in the Pacific Basin, making Hawaii the logical site for this laboratory.

Emergency Medical Services for Children $19,900,000

This appropriation would continue funding for a nationwide program created by Senator Inouye two decades ago, when he was concerned that children were being treated like "little adults" when their needs were different. This program supports demonstration grants for the delivery of emergency medical services to acutely ill and seriously injured children.

Native Hawaiian Health Care (Papa Ola Lokahi) $14,200,000

These funds enable Papa Ola Lokahi/Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to continue their efforts to improve the health of Native Hawaiians by making available primary care, health education, and disease prevention services. This initiative also supports the Native Hawaiian Health Professionals Scholarship Program, which strives to increase the number of Native Hawaiians in health care professions. This health care program was established in 1988 under the Native Hawaiian Healthcare Improvement Act.

Hansen's Disease Treatment $2,000,000

The initiative provides continuing support, including medical care and treatment, for people suffering from Hansen's disease in hospitals and clinics at Kalaupapa and Honolulu.

Telehealth and Community Outreach $1,000,000

The bulk of this appropriation will go to the Hawaii Primary Care Association to develop and support a telehealth network among community health centers across the state. The appropriation also includes grants of $50,000 to: Bay Clinic Community Health Center, Hilo; Kalihi-Palama Community Health Center; Koolauloa Community Health and Wellness Center; Kuakini Hospital; Molokai Native Hawaiian Health Center; Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific; and the Waianae Coast Community Health Center.

Maui Community Health Center Expansion $800,000

These funds will be used to provide continued support for the expansion of the Maui Community Health Center, which serves people who are uninsured or underinsured.

University of Hawaii School of Law Health Policy Center $200,000

This appropriation is for the creation of a center on health policy at the UH Law School.

Childhood Rural Asthma Project $125,000

Community health centers in Hawaii will use these funds to aid children in rural areas who suffer from asthma.

Big Island Health Center Youth Anti-Drug Program $100,000

These funds will be used to continue anti-drug initiatives throughout the Big Island. Services include school-based outreach and counseling, and treatment.

Hilo Medical Center Robotics Training Lab $100,000

Lanai Women's Initiative $100,000

The Maui Economic Development Board will use this appropriation to establish a health center that serves the needs of women and families on the rural island of Lanai, where there are major gaps in health and education services.

Straub Hospital Burn Center $100,000

The Straub Hospital Burn Center is the only primary and tertiary burn treatment center for Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific regions. It provides care for burn patients of all ages.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Impact Aid $46,000,000

Hawaii's Impact Aid funding is part of a larger amount recommended by the Congress for Impact Aid programs nationwide. Impact Aid provides support to school districts with students who are dependents of members of the armed forces and federal government employees.

Native Hawaiian Education $34,204,000

This initiative supports curriculum development, teacher training and recruitment programs, and the renovation of public schools with a high percentage of Native Hawaiians.

Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian Higher Education $6,071,500

Hawaii and Alaska evenly split $12.5 million. Hawaii's share will support vocational education by providing Native Hawaiians with secondary and vocational training to enter, compete, and advance in the workplace.

Bishop Museum

Education Through Cultural

and Historical Organizations (ECHO) $1,500,000

These funds support the Bishop Museum's cultural and educational programs involving community partners throughout Hawaii, including Imiloa Center and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. The appropriation also supports internships and exchanges between with Alaska and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.

Maui Economic Development Board

High Technology Training $475,000

Rural Computer Utilization Training $300,000

Girls into Science Program $250,000

These appropriations aim to increase the number of women and minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math through statewide initiatives. The computer-related initiative addresses the unique barriers that rural communities face in accessing technology education and training.

University of Hawaii at Hilo $800,000

This appropriation will establish a clinical pharmacy training program and an applied rural science program. The funds will cover the start-up costs for the creation of a pharmacy education program to serve Hawaii and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific region.

Kauai Economic Development Board

Math and Science Education $300,000

This appropriation will be used to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and math training and career opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Henry Kuualoha Giugni Archives, University of Hawaii $200,000

This appropriation will enhance cultural education because the Giugni Archives will aid the development of curricula and instructional materials that are based on archives of oral histories that shed light on Native Hawaiian history and culture.

Polynesian Voyaging Society $150,000

This initiative supports cultural education programs geared toward enhancing leadership skills and cultural knowledge through deep-sea voyaging.

INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES

Filipino Community Center, Waipahu $250,000

This appropriation is for cultural education.

Bishop Museum Library Services $100,000

The following are the Hawaii-related military construction initiatives that were approved:

ARMY

Fort Shafter

Barracks Complex $31,000,000

Schofield Barracks

Barracks Complex $45,000,000

Barracks Complex $43,000,000

Wheeler Army Airfield

Barracks Complex $51,000,000

NAVY

Kaneohe Bay

Bachelor Enlisted Quarters $37,961,000

Pearl Harbor

Submarine Drive-In

Magnetic Silencing Facility $49,860,000

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard

Drydock Ship Support Services $30,200,000

Wahiawa

Communications Center $65,410,000

AIR FORCE

Hickam Air Force Base

DCGS Intelligence Squadron OPS Facility $16,500,000

C-17 Parking Ramp $15,471,000

DEFENSE-WIDE

Hickam AFB

Replacement of Hydrant Fuels System $11,900,000

Kunia

Regional Security Operation Center III $136,318,000

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