Washington, D.C. -- Despite nearly $20-billion in Congressional cuts to 2008 domestic federal spending to avert a presidential veto, Rep. Neil Abercrombie was able to keep $34-million in funding in place for Hawaii public services and needs.  The House today approved a pared-down $516-billion omnibus appropriations bill, rolling 11 separate funding bills into one.

"I was able to make the case that funds for the development of our transit system, the Honolulu Police Department’s forensic lab and major flood control projects met important public needs and demonstrated the proper use of federal funding," said Abercrombie.

The funding bill includes $15.5 million to pay for preliminary engineering phases of a rail transit system for Honolulu. "This funding is part of our congressional delegation's promise to ensure that the federal government contributes a share of the cost for Honolulu’s rail transit project," Abercrombie said. "The approval of these funds demonstrates the confidence Congress has in the city of Honolulu to move forward with this vital project that will give Oahu’s commuters an alternate means of transportation."

The bill also includes $446,500 to expand the Honolulu Police Department’s crime lab. "These funds are needed so that HPD’s crime lab can be expanded to help alleviate a chronic backlog caused by the heavy demand on the facility from other federal agencies and departments," added Abercrombie.

The Honolulu Police Department has the only full forensic laboratory in the state, and in addition to HPD, it serves the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and several branches of the military, state agencies, city agencies and even Guam, Saipan and Micronesia.  The new funds will pay for expansion of the Scientific Investigations Section and provide much needed equipment, training and software.

Efforts to avoid a repeat of the October 2004 flooding of Manoa Stream received a boost from the bill which also provides $700,000 to the Army Corps of Engineers to continue work on the Ala Wai Watershed flood control project affecting Makiki, Moiliili, and Manoa streams. Another $350,000 will go to a flood control project for Wailupe Stream.

In the 2008 Appropriations bills, Congress had sought to reverse several years of Bush Administration cuts to medical research, access to healthcare, public education, college student aid, renewable energy, and other areas.  However, the President threatened to veto almost every remaining funding bill if his budget recommendations were not followed.  Lacking sufficient votes to overturn a veto, Congress acceded to the Bush budget totals, but shifted funding priorities within the bills.

The bill now goes to the Senate.  Any changes made by the Senate would have to be approved by the House in another vote before it is sent to the President for his signature.

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