Congresswoman Hirono Votes In Support Of Consolidated Appropriations Bill

Press Release

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today voted in support of the conference agreement on H.R. 3288, the FY2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act. H.R. 3288 makes targeted investments aimed at meeting our nation's security, transportation, environmental, and social services needs. The House approved the bill by a vote of 221 yeas to 201 nays. Once passed by the Senate, the bill will go before the President for his approval.

H.R. 3288 includes $233,228,900 in FY2010 funding for projects in the State of Hawai"i and national education projects that Congresswoman Hirono requested. Many of the projects approved for funding were also requested by Senators Inouye and Akaka and Congressman Abercrombie.

"A principal function of Congress is to appropriate funds to keep our federal government running," said Congresswoman Hirono. "This bill funds essential federal agencies from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Transportation. The bill also includes targeted funding for projects that address real needs in Hawaii such as creating low income housing on Kauai, relieving traffic congestion in Kapolei, and assisting at-risk youth in Lanai and Maui."

Approved in the bill are funds for the following projects requested by Congresswoman Hirono:

Commerce, Justice, and Science

* $2,500,000 to support the Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo.
* $2,000,000 to fund the Hawaii Integrated Justice Information System based in Hilo.
* $500,000 to provide training, education, research, and technical support to all state court systems in the United States.
* $400,000 for Hawaii fisheries development at the Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo.
* $350,000 to help fund the Ka Wili Pu Project for at-risk youth on Maui.
* $275,000 to fund Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan Implementation.
* $200,000 for the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center's Human Rights Alliance program in Honolulu.
* $100,000 to help maintain the Protected Species Habitat at Kure Atoll.
* $25,000 to help fund the Coalition for a Drug-Free Lanai's Youth Mentoring Program.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education

* $34,315,000 to fund educational programs for Native Hawaiians.
* $25,646,000 for the National Writing Project.
* $24,803,000 for the Reading is Fundamental educational program.
* $21,617,000 to fund two programs (We the People and Cooperative Education Exchange) as part of the Civic Education program.
* $15,084,000 to fund the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Programs.
* $14,000,000 to provide primary health promotion and disease prevention services for Native Hawaiians.
* $8,754,000 for the Alaska Native and Hawaiian Education for Cultural and Historical Organizations (ECHO) Programs at the Bishop Museum and elsewhere.
* $6,000,000 for the Reach Out and Read program.
* $5,019,000 to fund the Council on Economic Education for the Cooperative Education Exchange program as part of the Civic Education Program.
* $1,942,000 for the Close Up Fellowships Program.
* $1,500,000 to fund the University of Hawaii at Hilo Clinical Pharmacy Training Program.
* $700,000 to the Hawaii Department of Education for its Assistance to Low Performing Schools Project, which may include equipment and technology.
* $500,000 for the National History Day program.
* $100,000 for facilities and equipment at the Maui Medical Center's Simulation Center in Wailuku.
* $18,000 for the Teach for America program.

Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations

* $5,446,000 to fund design of the Hawaii Army National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters Readiness Center.
* $850,000 to support provision of adequate permanent waterfront facilities at the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard's Drydock 2.

Transportation-HUD Appropriations

* $30,000,000 for the design and planning of the Honolulu High Capacity Transit Corridor Project.
* $3,435,000 for final design of phases 2-4 of the Kapolei Interchange Complex.
* $3,419,400 to support rural bus systems on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
* $487,000 for the construction of a 76-lot subdivision for a self-help housing project in Maili for low-income families.
* $243,500 for on-site infrastructure improvements to enable the construction of 36 residential homes for low-income households on Kauai.

State-Foreign Operations Appropriations

* $23,000,000 for the continuation of existing activities and to enhance existing programs at the East-West Center in Manoa.

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