RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF SENATOR DANIEL INOUYE:

WASHINGTON - Members of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation said today they were pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $20 million to fund the preliminary engineering phases of the facility and transit system design of the Honolulu-Kapolei transit project.

The project is among the 21 transportation and housing initiatives for Hawaii that total nearly $83.7 million in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye and other Senate appropriators advanced today to the full Senate for consideration.

"The Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project is a crucial initiative that brings the delegation together because we all have jurisdiction over it," said U.S. Senators Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka. "It provides a solution to the heavy traffic congestion in the east-west corridor between fast-growing Kapolei and densely populated Honolulu. The more than 546,000 people - 60 percent of Oahu's population - who live in the transit corridor have expressed their desire for traffic relief, and we are poised to secure the federal funding to ensure that this vital projects moves forward."

Representative Abercrombie added: "This is a clear statement that the federal government is committed to help solve one of the worst traffic congestion problems in the country. This rapid transit system is likely to be Honolulu's largest infrastructure development project in more than 30 years. It will provide construction jobs, workforce housing, and other transit oriented development, not to mention the much needed congestion relief."

"The Honolulu Transit Project," said Representative Mazie Hirono, "is a top priority for the entire delegation. I am proud to be part of the strong and effective Hawaii Congressional team, and I look forward to helping Hawaii on this and other projects through my service on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure."

In assessing all of the Hawaii projects that were approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Akaka said: "This bill includes essential resouces that will help better meet the transportation, housing, and social service needs of Hawaii. These vital projects strengthen and connect our communities, while enhancing the quality of life for all the people of Hawaii."

Representative Hirono pointed to the Arc of Hilo, which will receive $400,000 under the Senate appropriations bill approved today. "The Arc of Hilo provides essential services for the developmentally disabled. This funding will enable the organization to have a facility that can accommodate its programs, including educational, vocational and employment training and client support services."

Senator Inouye noted that $300,000 was approved for the repair and renovation of Kunia Village. "When Del Monte announced last year that it was ending its local operations, that meant it was not only leaving 500 workers without jobs - it was also leaving without repairing and renovating the nearly century-old homes in Kunia Village that housed its workers and their families. In this instance, it is important for the federal government to step in and offer a helping hand."

The following are the Hawaii-related initiatives in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved today:

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration Formula Funds:  $31,907,358

These funds are used to support and maintain the City and County of Honolulu’s bus system, including the purchase of replacement buses and Handi-vans, and the construction of transit centers.

Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project:  $20,000,000

The appropriation will fund the preliminary engineering phases of initial facility and transit system design, in addition to the refinement of capital cost estimates, as required by the Federal Transit Administration.

Hawaii Ferry Funds:  $7,500,000

This is Hawaii’s share of an allocation that is equally divided between Hawaii and Alaska for capital investments in ferry infrastructure or vessels, and will support Oahu’s renewed interest in a ferry system from West Oahu to Honolulu.

H-1 Improvements Kinau and Lusitana On-Ramps:  $5,000,000

These funds will be used to complete this project, which provides safe freeway access to and from downtown Honolulu.

These funds will be used by Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai counties to purchase buses to expand routes and increase the frequency of service throughout the neighbor islands. The funds may also be used to provide bus shelters, transit benches, and upgrades to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Alien Species Action Plan:  $1,600,000

This appropriation will be used to continue the implementation of the federal Alien Species Action Plan governing the State of Hawaii and air carriers serving Hawaii to prevent the introduction of alien species through aircraft that fly to Hawaii. Under this initiative, aircraft and cargo must be inspected and cleared of alien species upon arrival. Maui’s Kahului Airport is the only airport in the nation subject to these rigorous inspection requirements.

Federal Land Improvements:  $1,500,000

Federal property within Hawaii includes several extensive wildlife refuge and national parks located on four islands. These parks encompass rugged volcanic terrain, wetlands, tropical forests, coastline, and historical fishponds used in Native Hawaiian aquaculture. This appropriation will enable access to and within designated federal properties for proper park service maintenance and security.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is working to increase the affordable housing inventory on Hawaiian homelands to meet the demand for housing for low-income Native Hawaiian families. DHHL is seeking to enhance the supply of affordable housing units through the construction of infrastructure improvements, single-family, multi-family, rent-to-own, and rental housing.

Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Program:   $1,500,000

This appropriation is half of the $3 million provided through the HUD Community Development Fund to support both Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions in their efforts to address community development needs in their localities, including neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development, principally for persons of low or moderate income.

Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund Program:  $1,044,000

These funds in credit subsidy will support loan-guarantee authority of $41,504,255. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) intends to utilize the loan program as an institutional borrower to construct houses for purchase by low-income borrowers by way of direct loans from DHHL.

Arc of Hilo Client Support Services Facility:  $400,000

This appropriation will be used to build a client support service facility in Hilo to expand services for disabled people, develop a community choir and music program, create a Special Olympics training program, provide a wheelchair-accessible swimming pool, develop low-income housing, and expand after-school youth services.

Keehi Adult Supportive Services Center Project  $300,000

These funds will be used to complete construction of a center that will be used as a health center and daycare facility. The center will primarily be used to provide low- and moderate-income elderly men and women with instruction on computer use, aerobics, cooking, gardening, music, dance, nutrition, medication, personal hygiene, and health screening.

Kunia Village Housing Repair and Renovation  $300,000

This appropriation will be used to renovate a Catholic Charities Hawaii social service community center.

Easter Seals Hawaii Kapolei Service Center  $200,000

This appropriation will help complete the construction of a program service center in Kapolei. The center will have activity rooms, classrooms, and physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy rooms to serve 500 youths and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, and other disabilities.

Goodwill Ohana Career and Learning Center, Kapolei  $200,000

Leeweard Oahu has a large population of chronically underserved communities, including Native Hawaiians and non-native speakers. Leeward residents seeking job training currently must take a three-hour bus ride to access training programs in urban Honolulu. The center in Kapolei will assist 1,600 individuals in acquiring English language, resume-writing, and interview skills.

Gregory House Programs  $200,000

The appropriation supports the work of Gregory House Programs, a Honolulu-based nonprofit agency, which provides temporary shelter and support services, including job training, for homeless people coping with AIDS/HIV.

This appropriation will be used to design, develop, and construct an interactive exhibit center that would create community awareness on preserving the watershed that feeds into the Ala Wai Canal.

Kipahulu Kitchen Construction Project  $200,000

The remote Kipahulu area of east Maui is mainly inhabited by Native Hawaiian families that have lived in the area for generations. The community engages in small-scale organic agriculture, ranching, hunting, and fishing. However, the community is challenged by poverty and substance abuse. This project will permit the community to process products such as poi, sugar cane juice, bananas, and fish, and support job and income generation, and skill development.

These funds will be used to construct an adult day health center in Pearl City that will provide social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities to help the elderly remain active and productive. Hawaii’s aging population is expected to increase exponentially in the next decade.

Funds will be used to construct a botanical research center, which will be used to assist economically disadvantaged families living on west Kauai by training both youths and adults in horticulture and natural resource management. Through skilled and gainful employment, the cycle of poverty will be broken.

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