Mr. Akaka. Mr. President, I rise in support of Senator Kent Conrad's amendment.  I thank Senator Conrad for his leadership and agreeing to include a provision on behalf of the senior Senator from Hawaii, Dan Inouye and myself to H.R. 5385, the Fiscal Year 2007 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. 

               October 15, 2006, an earthquake measuring 6.7 in magnitude rocked the Hawaiian Islands and set off a series of aftershocks felt throughout the State.  The earthquake loosened rocks, dirt, and building foundations, and subsequent heavy rains have continued to undermine the structural integrity of public utilities, buildings, roads, and related infrastructure.  In recognition of these damages, President Bush on October 17, 2006, declared the State as a major disaster area.  While this declaration enabled some relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a significant amount of damage still remains unaddressed. 

               The farming community was hit particularly hard by the earthquake.  The water intakes for the Lower and Upper Hamakua Ditches and the Kohala Ditch on the Big Island were buried by landslides.  The earthquake and the many aftershocks also caused the collapse of earthen tunnels and wooden flumes and cracks in dams.  These irrigation systems provide the sole source of water for most farmers and other members of rural communities in the region.  The Big Island also suffered a collapsed lane on the Hawaii Belt Road on the Hamakua Coast, north of Hilo town.   

                 The provision second degree amendment would add $21 million to address the agriculture damages caused by the October 15th earthquake:

• $12 million to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Emergency Watershed Protection Program for the repair of the Lower Hamakua Ditch and the Waimea Irrigation System/Upper Hamakua Ditch -- which were heavily damaged by the earthquake, and are negatively impacting the farming community on the Big Island;

• $3 million to the Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council to repair of the Kohala Ditch system that was also severely damaged by the earthquake.

• $6 million to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for its Emergency Conservation Program to repair broken irrigation pipelines and damaged and collapsed water tanks. Of this amount, $2 million will go towards repairing the damages to stone fences on cattle ranches in the Kona and Kohala areas, and another $2 million is needed under the Emergency Loan Program to cover losses of agricultural income.

               Mr. President, last week I met with Big Island farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods have been dramatically impacted by the October earthquake.  They need water for their farms or they risk losing cattle and crops.  The damage done to Hawaii's irrigation systems is too severe to be repaired by the State alone.  I promised then that I would not abandon these hard working individuals.

                I ask my colleagues to support our amendment and join us in helping Hawaii's farmers and ranchers recover from last month's earthquake.