Senate Approves $365 Million for Military Construction Projects in Hawaii

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November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Veterans Committee Chairman Daniel K. Akaka announced that Hawaii is expected to receive more than $365 million to fund infrastructure improvements to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Schofield Barracks and Hickam Air Force Base.

The federal funds for Hawaii-related projects were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill.

The full Senate passed the spending measure by a vote of 100 to 0. The bill still requires approval by the House of Representatives.

"We must support the efforts of our men and women by providing them with state of the art facilities, infrastructure and equipment," said Chairman Inouye. "The military industrial complex is the second largest industry in Hawaii and by funding it to the fullest extent possible we create work for local companies and jobs in an economy that is struggling to manufacture opportunities for local residents."

"This funding will provide the modern facilities and upgrades our men and women in uniform need," said Senator Akaka. "As Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am pleased this bill fully funds programs to develop better prosthetic devices for wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and continue VA research into conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and Gulf War Illness. And for the first time, VA will also receive advance appropriations for the next fiscal year (2011), which will go a long way towards rectifying the chronic underfunding of VA."

The following are the Hawaii-related projects in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Appropriations Bill:

AIR FORCE:

C-17 Kona Short Auxiliary Airfield (planning and design): $910,000

Wheeler Air Force Base:

Construct ASOC Complex $15,000,000

ARMY:

Schofield Barracks:

Vehicle Maintenance Shop $63,000,000

Vehicle Maintenance Shop $36,000,000

Warrior in Transition (WT) Barracks $55,000,000

Warrior in Transition Complex $30,000,000

Wheeler Air Force Base:

Regional SATCOM Information Center $7,500,000

NAVY:

Oahu:

Range, 1000 - Puuloa $5,380,000

Pearl Harbor:

Productive Services Support Facility $25,070,000

APCSS Conference & Technology Learning Center $12,775,000

Missile Magazines (5), West Loch $22,407,000

PACFLT Sub Drive-In MAG Silencing FAC $8,645,000

Air National Guard:

Hickam Air Force Base:

TFI - F-22 LO/Composite Repair Facility $26,000,000

TFI - F-22 Parking Apron and Taxiways $7,000,000

Defense Information Systems Agency:

Ford Island:

Pacific Operations Facility Upgrade $9,633,000

Source: Senator Daniel K. Akaka