RELEASED BY OFFICE OF SEN. INOUYE:
WASHINGTON --- Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka announced today that legislation providing approximately $208 million for defense-related initiatives in Hawaii during Fiscal Year 2008 has advanced to the White House for the President to sign into law.
The congressionally approved measure also includes a provision, inserted at the request of Chairman Inouye, that gives the U.S. Navy the discretion to transfer as much as $20 million from its approximately $33.1 billion operations and maintenance budget to the Department of the Interior to help in the nationwide effort to rebuild the Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum and Visitors Center.
"The Memorial Museum - a symbol of our nation's resilience, strength, and determination -- is sinking. It needs to be replaced," said Chairman Inouye, who, as a 17-year-old with first-aid training, rushed into service to tend to civilian casualties in his Honolulu neighborhood following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor nearly 66 years ago. "What happened on December 7, 1941, and the sacrifices that were made that day must never be forgotten."
Chairman Inouye said he is pleased that key initiatives - such as the Maui Space Surveillance System, PanSTARRS, and Pacific Airborne Surveillance and Testing - were approved by the Congress for continued funding. "These and other high-tech initiatives are crucial for our security," he said. "They underscore the importance of Hawaii to our nation's security."
Senator Akaka, who served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, added: "The Senate and House passed vital legislation that will provide our troops with the funding required to support their mission both at home and abroad. I am pleased that Senator Inouye and I were able to secure appropriations for a number of projects important not only to our home state of Hawaii, but to our military mission in the Pacific and worldwide. These projects will advance critical technology and innovations to ensure our Armed Forces continue to have the most cutting edge military capabilities in the world."
The Senate approved the defense appropriations bill by voice vote late Thursday night [November 8, 2007]. Earlier Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the defense funding measure by a vote of 400 to 15.
In addition to the Hawaii projects in the defense funding bill, there are numerous competitive opportunities for Hawaii-based organizations and companies to secure defense-related grants. These competitive funding initiatives are listed at the end of this news release.
Below are the Hawaii initiatives in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill:
OAHU/STATEWIDE
Hawaii Technology Development Venture $10 million
Funding for this program supports a regional center for the commercialization of defense and homeland security technologies, and provides an opportunity for companies in Hawaii to compete for funding to develop advanced technologies for national defense.
Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Studies (CEROS) $10 million
The appropriation would be used to foster technology development and commercial use of ocean and marine research through CEROS, an initiative that seeks to advance innovative concepts and new approaches to technology of importance to the Navy and the Fleet.
Electrical Distribution Upgrade at Hickam Air Force Base $7 million
This funding continues the repair of Hickam's base-wide electrical distribution system. This project will provide reliable backup power to support the Joint Air Operations Center, the Hawaii Air National Guard, and strategic lift missions.
Intelligent Decision Exploration (INDEX) $5.5 million
Funding would continue to improve the effectiveness and coalition interoperability of expeditionary force structures to enhance force protection during coalition operations.
Hawaii Undersea Chemical Weapons Assessment Program $5.5 million
This Army-University of Hawaii initiative seeks to characterize and assess the impact of military munitions in the deep water and shallow water ocean environments.
Defense Dependents Education Support and School Repairs $5.5 million
The appropriation is a partnership between the Hawaii Department of Education and the U.S. Pacific Command. It would be used to support school construction and additional resources to aid Hawaii public schools with significant numbers of military dependents, children of National Guard and Reserve members, as well as schools in military impact areas. Of the total, $500,000 will be used for Project Assist to continue targeted services utilizing technology innovation to those public schools with large numbers of military dependents with special needs.
LEONIDAS $4 million
Low-Earth Orbit Nanosatellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System (LEONIDAS) is a University of Hawaii project to launch small satellites from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF).
Army Conservation and Ecosystem Management $3.5 million
Funds support the U. S. Army efforts to be good stewards of their lands through tested conservation practices, monitoring for ordnance, fire control/management, and community outreach. Of the amount, $1.75 million will be set aside for initiatives related to military munitions, particularly along the Leeward Coast.
Theater Undersea Warfare Initiative (TUSW) $3.2 million
This funds an on-going effort to improve submarine detection capabilities. The project is supported by the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC).
Warfighter Rapid Awareness Processing Technology $3 million
This research effort will develop a capability to deliver information to the warfighter to increase situational awareness.
Military Applications of Medical Grade Chitosan $3 million
Funding would continue the research and development of optimized anti-bacterial and anti-viral chitosan-based materials for improved treatment capabilities of military injuries and infections.
Hawaii National Guard Counterdrug Program $3 million
The funds for this ongoing program would be used to enhance drug interdiction activities at Hawaii's ports of entry, support anti-drug programs targeting youths, and eradicate marijuana.
Brown Tree Snake Control $2 million
The funding would be used to continue the military's efforts to prevent Brown Tree Snakes from leaving Guam, where they are prevalent and responsible for destroying much of Guam's unique ecosystem, on military transports flying to Hawaii. The program is key to keeping Brown Tree Snakes out of Hawaii.
Foliage Penetrating Reconnaissance and Surveillance System $2 million
Funding would be used to identify objects that are hidden behind natural barriers.
Corrosion Prevention and Control Program
Marine Corps $1.8 million
Army National Guard $1.8 million
Army Reserve $1.8 million
This program seeks to limit the corrosion of equipment and vehicles that operate under harsh environmental conditions.
Rescue Streamer Distress Signal Kits $1.5 million
The funds would be used to purchase orange streamers that would be deployed by military personnel lost at sea or in distress, making it easier for them to be located by search and rescue teams.
Virtual Onboard Analyst for Multi-Sensor Mine Detection $1 million
The program would develop a self-learning, virtual onboard analyst that replicates the capabilities of an experienced mine countermeasures analyst.
Marine Air-Ground Task Force Situational Awareness $1 million
This funding supports the development and field test of a prototype situational awareness and tactical decision support system for a counter-sniper weapon system.
Information Sharing for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance,
Targeting and Engagement (ISRTE) of Mobile Targets $1 million
This funding would develop a robust airborne and ground architecture to support aircraft ISRTE operations, and will help address airborne network bandwidth limitations.
Immersive Group Simulation Virtual Training System $1 million
The system will provide additional training opportunities for the Hawaii Army National Guard by using virtual reality to supplement live training exercises.
Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel $1 million
Funding would support testing the autonomous unmanned surface vessel under development for use as a cost-effective, high endurance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system.
Advanced Detection of Explosives $1 million
This program supports improvised explosive device protection by providing enhancements to the mobile test bed platform.
MAUI
Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) $23 million
MSSS is a state of the art electro-optical facility that combines operational satellite tracking facilities with research and development activities. It houses the Department of Defense's largest telescope, the 3.67-meter Advanced Electro Optical System, and several other telescopes.
PanSTARRS $9 million
The appropriation would be used to continue development of large aperture telescopes with different sensors. The Maui Space Surveillance System, the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy, and the Maui High Performance Computing Center are cooperating on this initiative.
Applications of LIDAR to Vehicles with Analysis (ALVA) $8.4 million
Funding continues the ALVA program for the Air Force and incorporates the multi-frame blind deconvolution work that provides near real-time analysis using data fusion algorithms and image processing to reduce the size of data to more accurately track and identify objects that are hundreds of kilometers away.
Pacific-Based Joint Information Technology Center $6.5 million
Funding would be used to create and manage databases, such as the location of military and federal medical supplies worldwide and will continue to expand activities into the intelligence domain.
High Accuracy Network Determination System (HANDS) $5.2 million
Funding would continue work on HANDS, which uses relatively low-cost, innovative telescopes to determine orbital information of satellites. HANDS provides greater accuracy in tracking space data through a network of telescopes that would allow the Air Force to better perform its Space Situational Awareness mission.
Pacific Disaster Center $6 million
The Center, in operation since February 1996, is a federal information processing facility that supports emergency management activities in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions.
Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) $5 million
Funds would be used to support operations at MHPCC. The MHPCC is one of the world's premier supercomputer installations, and it supports a wide range of military activities.
Multi-mission Deployable Optical System $4 million
This research has the potential to enhance optical systems with the capability to perform daylight imaging.
Real-time Optical Surveillance Applications $1.6 million
Funding will develop state-of-the-art surveillance technologies for space, air, and terrestrial applications.
KAUAI
Pacific Airborne Surveillance and Testing $15 million
The program would develop non-cooperative target identification techniques, advanced radar processing, radar transmitters, and open architecture environment for early warning aircraft. It would also design open architecture radar processing solutions and distribution networks for Navy radar applications.
Strategic Materials and Silicon Carbide Optics $5 million
This is an ongoing project to develop technologies for the manufacture of strategic materials, specifically low-cost, corrosive-resistant ceramics and ceramic matrix composite materials. Funds would be used to continue research and manufacturing of hard, corrosion-resistant optical coatings for mirrors with space, missile defense, and commercial applications.
Mobile Modular Command Center (M2C2) $3.2million
M2C2 is a vehicle equipped with radios and communications equipment that allows Marines to communicate while on the move.
Flood Control at PMRF $3 million
This funding continues pump operations to guard Pacific Missile Range Facility against flooding, and to complete comprehensive electrical upgrade studies.
Multi-Target-Tracking Optical Sensor Array Technology (MOST) $3 million
MOST technology will benefit test and evaluation of missile defense systems by providing enhanced data on missile intercepts.
Pacific Region Interoperability Test and Evaluation Capability $3 million
This project creates a developmental and operational testing environment in the Pacific that is interoperable with other Defense Department test facilities.
PMRF Force Protection Laboratory $2 million
The lab serves as an incubator for force protection and base security technologies.
HEALTH
AKAMAI II, Telemedicine and Technology Initiative $25 million
AKAMAI II supports applied research, development and deployment of telehealth and health care technology to improve access and the quality of care to military families, federal beneficiaries and impacted communities. It also strengthens partnerships between government agencies and with health care providers and institutions, technology companies, and the University of Hawaii.
AKAMAI II funding breaks down as follows:
$4.25 million -- Vascular Graft Development on Elastin Biomatrices
Funds will be used to continue research on promising new techniques to grow replacement tissue and blood vessels to improve survival and enhance recovery after battlefield injuries.
$3.25 million -- Hyperspectral Diagnostic Imaging
Funds will be used to continue the development of a non-invasive detection of cervical and colon cancer.
$1.9 million -- To continue development of nanotechnology-based tools to detect adverse drug reactions to improve vaccine effectiveness and safety;
$2.75 million -- To advance development of materials and technologies for tissue replacement, for contamination of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and for tagging and tracking assets;
$1.9 million -- To support development of functional infrared brain sensing to aid crew life support and unmanned aerial vehicle control;
$1.9 million -- To continue development of improved clinical information systems and information processing to enhance patient safety;
$2.25 million -- To establish a congestive heart failure clinic and regenerative medicine research in partnership with Tripler Army Medical Center, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and St. Francis Hospital.
$2 million -- To support development of research with the Tripler Army Medical Center and the John A. Burns School of Medicine in tropical medicine and infectious diseases which are of pressing concern to both U.S. civilian and military experts, as well as our nation's allies in the Asia -Pacific region; $1 million will be used for Tripler-led research using a universal pathogen detector of military and homeland defense interest;
$1.9 million -- To pursue the optimization of small molecule anthrax lethal factor inhibitors to combat late-stage inhalation of anthrax infection;
$900,000 -- To continue the Triple Helix (academic, government and industry) partnership approach to accelerate development of defense and civilian advanced health care technologies;
$500,000 -- To develop and integrate advanced health care technologies such as genomics, informatics and imaging to empower personal and population health for the military, veteran and civilian communities;
$500,000 -- To continue development of effective preventive chronic disease management care at home for a primarily veteran/military retiree population with renal disease;
$500,000 -- To continue studies using imaging and virtual reality in diagnosing and treating post-traumatic stress disorder and other behavioral health problems in active duty and veteran patients;
$500,000 -- To develop process for detecting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents using radio frequency identification tags, with a focus on public health risks.
COMPETITIVE FUNDING INITIATIVES
The Senator has also supported a wide variety of funding increases in areas that are of interest to numerous organizations and companies based in Hawaii. The funding increases provide competitive opportunities in areas of importance to Hawaii, the Pacific Command and its strategic posture. These include:
- $136 million for test and training range upgrades
- $52 million for alternative energy research
- $35 million for environmental restoration
- $24 million for university research
- $16 million for the readiness and environmental protection initiative
- $16 million for regional Centers for Security Studies
- $15 million for space situational awareness research
- $12 million for command and control upgrades for U.S. Army, Pacific
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