U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), released the following statement after the committee unveiled legislative language for the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will be considered by the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces on Wednesday:
"I am pleased and proud that the legislative package for the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces includes many provisions that will support Hawaii," Hanabusa said. "Working with my colleagues on HASC, we were able to authorize another $70 million in new loan guarantee money for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program, which ensures commercial loans for privately financed commercial ship construction and shipyard modernization, all in the U.S. This authorization could spark billions in new shipbuilding for our commercial maritime fleet.
"The proposal also prioritizes investments in the Joint High Speed Vessel, which was a key component for lowering transportation costs to Pohakuloa Training Area in the bill we introduced yesterday, the Asia-Pacific Region Priority Act.
"The two destroyers and two Virginia Class submarines the package procures will also help support our workforce at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. These and other provisions we have included in this legislative package represent solid progress in providing for Hawaii and our nation. I thank the committee and my colleagues, and look I forward to continuing to work on the NDAA and planning for our future."