Recovery Benefits

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Hawai‘i’s 2nd Congressional District

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a critical piece of legislation to bolster our struggling economy and invest in our country’s future. The Recovery Act will create and save jobs; help state and local governments with their budget shortfalls, including in education and Medicaid benefits; cut taxes for working families; and invest in the long-term health of our economy.

In addition, it provides for unprecedented levels of accountability, oversight, and transparency to ensure that American taxpayers know how every dollar is being invested. The Recovery Act will save or create approximately 15,000 jobs in Hawai‘i and provide other benefits to thousands of people in need in our state.

Among its provisions:
• 500,000 workers and their families have started to receive a tax reduction through the Making Work Pay Tax Credit program;
• 110,000 Hawaiians have seen an increase in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (food aid);
• 86,000 middle-income taxpayers will NOT pay the Alternative Minimum Tax;
• 24,000 people have seen a boost in their unemployment benefits;
• 15,000 patients will be treated at 18 new community health centers;
• 49,000 children are covered by the expanded Child Tax Credit provision, and;
• 11,000 students and families will benefit from the new American Opportunity Tax Credit to promote college affordability.
 
The following is a list of critical investments that are being made or will be made in Hawai‘i’s 2nd Congressional District:

TRANSPORTATION
Hawai‘i has received $246 million in Recovery Act funds to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure, of which $152 million is allocated for projects in the 2nd Congressional District. This will create 3,170 jobs statewide in construction and other related industries. The list of shovel-ready projects includes:

Hawai‘i- $47.5 million
• $11 million, Bridge projects and Hawaii Belt Road upgrade
• $35 million, Construction of four-lane Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona
• $600,000, Construction of first part of multi-use Waimea Trails and Greenway
• $933,667, Public bus transit system improvements

Kaua‘i- $25.3 million
• $17 million, Kapa‘a Bypass Road
• $2 million, Kuhio Highway resurfacing
• $4.1 million, Kapa‘a Bike/Pedestrian path
• $1.2 million, Maalo Road resurfacing
• $933,667, Public bus transit system improvements

Maui- $47.4 million
• $2 million, Hana Highway resurfacing
• $5 million, Pi‘ilani Highway pavement preservation
• $6 million, Reconstruction and improvements of Market Street
• $933,667, Public bus transit system improvements
• $33.5 million, Kahului Airport
    •  Rehabilitate apron pavement for loading/unloading aircraft
    •  Install Explosive Detection Systems to screen and process baggage

Moloka‘i- $6 million
• $4 million, Resurfacing of Maunaloa Highway
• $2 million, Resurfacing of Kalae Highway

O‘ahu- $25.8 million
• $17 million, Kamehameha Highway – South Punalu‘u Bridge replacement
• $7 million, Kalaeloa Boulevard – widening and reconstruction
• $1.8 million, Seismic retrofit of Farrington Highway and Makakilo Separation structures over H-1 Freeway

ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The Department of the Interior will invest $22 million in the 2nd Congressional District for construction, habitat restoration, volcano monitoring, and long-neglected maintenance projects. The National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey are the responsible agencies.

Hawai‘i- $12.1 million

• $590,000, Hakalau Forest – Construction of storage/maintenance building
• $20,000, Kaloko-Honokohau – grade and re-gravel unpaved roads
• $61,000, Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau – repair flood damage to Kiilae Village
• $3.3 million, Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory – volcano monitoring
• $190,000, Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory – deferred maintenance
• $136,000, Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory – upgrade streamgages
• $7.8 million, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
     •  Replace Existing Visitor Contact Station
     •  Rehabilitate Halemaumau Trail
     •  Resurface Rainshed Roads

Kaua‘i- $120,000
• $120,000, Kilauea Point – rehabilitation work on the Lighthouse

Maui- $8.6 million
• $1.3 million, Haleakal¬a – repair fences and flooding damage
• $7.3 million, Kealia Pond Refuge – construction of energy-efficient administrative and visitors building; previous building destroyed by a fire

Moloka‘i- $536,000
• $536,000, Kalaupapa – rehabilitate historic Paschoal Hall

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands- $406,000
• $406,000, Hawaiian Islands Refuge – replacement of solar energy system, housing and storage unit at Laysan Island

Pacific Islands Coastal Program- $220,000

• Moloka‘i – restoration of Lehua Island native habitat and Mokio coastal strand
• Maui – cattle and predator control fencing around Nuu Wetland

HEALTH CARE
The Recovery Act also will expand the services offered at community health centers and provide care to the uninsured. Additional funding has been included for Native Hawaiian health care systems. Overall, nearly $2.4 million will be issued to 15 community health center grants in the 2nd Congressional District.

Hawai‘i- $700,473
• $110,430, Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi in Hilo
• $253,278, The Bay Clinic in Hilo/Kau/Keaau/Pahoa
• $174,263, Hamakua Health Center in Honokaa
• $162,502, West Hawai‘i Community Health Center in Kailua-Kona

Kaua‘i- $174,155
• $174,155, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i in Lihue/Waimea/Kapaa

Lana‘i- $100,483
• $100,483, Lana‘i Community Health Center in Lana‘i City

Maui- $444,807
• $118,807, Hana Community Health Center in Hana
• $109,085, Hui No Ke Ola Pono in Wailuku
• $216,915, Community Clinic of Maui in Kahului/Wailuku/Lahaina

Moloka‘i- $228,578
• $111,385, Na Puuwai in Kaunakakai
• $117,193, Molokai Ohana Health Care in Kaunakakai

O‘ahu- $749,332
• $143,669, Ko‘olauloa Community Health and Wellness Center in Kahuku
• $335,656, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center in Waianae
• $140,768, Waimanalo Health Center in Waimanalo
• $129,239, Ke Ola Mamo; based in Honolulu, centers across O‘ahu

MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE
With its allotment of Recovery Act funding, the Department of Defense is investing in construction, facilities improvements, and energy efficiency projects to improve the quality of life of our troops and their families. These infrastructural improvements will result in improved readiness to meet the national security challenges of the 21st century. Over $132 million has been allocated for military-related projects in the 2nd Congressional District.

Hawai‘i- $2.6 million
• $683,000, Bradshaw Airfield – install photovoltaic system and generator set
• $1.9 million, Pohakuloa Training Area – install 2 photovoltaic systems

Kaua‘i- $31.5 million
• $31.5 million, Pacific Missile Range Facility – repair runway pavement

O‘ahu- $98.2 million
Army Corps of Engineers projects: $4.9 million
• $100,000, Barbers Point Harbor – replace A/C system in visitor center
• $248,000, Barbers Point Harbor – renovate restrooms to meet ADA requirements, upgrade visitor center exhibits
• $3.1 million, Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor – dredge entrance channel to reduce navigational hazard to boaters
• $1.5 million, Waianae Small Boat Harbor – dredge entrance channel to reduce navigational hazard to boaters

Military facilities projects: $93.3 million
• $3.5 million, Schofield Barracks – repair structural damage to primary roads
• $2.75 million, Schofield Barracks – repair various bridges
• $2.3 million, Schofield Barracks – repair range roads
• $1.6 million, Schofield Barracks – repair roof of theater army materiel command
• $1.2 million, Schofield Barracks – repair roof for gym facility
• $794,000, Schofield Barracks – repair roads in Area X
• $690,000, Schofield Barracks – replace Fernandez Hall Roof
• $650,000, Schofield Barracks – repair roofs (Phase II)
• $500,000, Schofield Barracks – restore B-Quad Courtyard
• $274,000, Schofield Barracks – install cable on east perimeter fence
• $2.5 million, Wheeler Army Airfield – repair structural damage to primary roads
• $33.5 million, Schofield Barracks
    •  Second round of Army construction projects
    •  Includes energy efficiency projects, roof repairs, fencing repairs, other building maintenance projects, and runway repairs
• $17.35 million, Wheeler Army Airfield
    •  Second round of Army construction projects
    •  Includes energy efficiency projects, building and road repairs, roof repairs, and building maintenance to meet ADA requirements
• $43,000, Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station – erosion control structure
• $431,000, Kaena Point STS – replace/repair water storage tanks
• $861,000, Kaena Point STS – repair/construct potable water system
• $1.02 million, Kaena Point STS – replace Dillingham Waterline
• $19.36 million, Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i in Kaneohe – construct Child Development Center
• $3.9 million, Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i – improve energy efficiency of windows in headquarters area