WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai‘i, this week voted in favor of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 1105, which includes $172 million of the congresswoman’s highest priority funding requests. The bill passed the House by a vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai‘i, this week voted in favor of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 1105, which includes $172 million of the congresswoman’s highest priority funding requests. The bill passed the House by a vote of 245 to 178.
The current funding resolution expires on Friday, which lends added urgency to the final passage of this legislation.
“A large portion of my approved funding requests are for educational, agricultural, and infrastructure projects and programs in Hawai‘i, all areas I’ve focused on in my work in Congress” said Hirono, in a news release. “This funding not only addresses immediate budgetary needs for these programs, it strengthens our island economy over the long-term.
“I’m particularly pleased that we obtained funding for educational programs such as Tutu and Me and the Kanuikapono Charter School. The $500,000 appropriation to the Tutu and Me Traveling Program will be put to good use by this unique preschool program that provides free preschool to neighborhoods where 50 percent of Hawaiian children enter kindergarten without any early educational opportunities,” she said.
“The $119,000 to the Kanuikapono Public Charter School on Kaua‘i will be used to establish a Computer Technology and Learning Resource Center at the school. Many of the school’s students have no access to a computer at home, something many of us take for granted,” Hirono said.
Among the remaining appropriations obtained, $24 million will go toward critical agricultural projects in Hawai‘i such as the $469,000 for the Hawai‘i Honeybee Protection/Varroa Mite Suppression program.
Another $20 million will go to Honolulu’s fixed rail transit project. The bill also includes strong funding for several environmental initiatives, including the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Project, which was never funded under the Bush Administration, $7 million to expand the Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu’s North Shore, as well as $185,000 to study the degradation of some of Maui’s reefs. A number of Army Corps projects will improve our harbors, provide flood control, restore ecosystems, and support recovery of endangered species.
Funding for many of these projects was also requested by other members of Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation.
H.R. 1105 now goes before the U.S. Senate for consideration.
