Hawaii projects
get boost from
defense bill

The House OKs funds of $228
million; the Senate still must act

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Staff and news reports

Hawaii stands to gain $227.96 million in new military construction projects under terms of the 2003 defense authorization approved this week by the House of Representatives.

However, these projects still must withstand the scrutiny of the Senate.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Urban Oahu, the ranking member of the House military installations and facilities subcommittee, said the spending bill contains $18.5 million for the consolidation of a Pearl Harbor waterfront facility and mechanical shop.

There are also funds for continual upgrading of enlisted quarters at Schofield Barracks and more family housing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Hickam Air Force Base.

Other provisions would allow service members to collect veterans' disability benefits along with their pension and would require the Pentagon to provide Congress with a detailed implementation plan for the new U.S. Northern Command.

In the Senate, meanwhile, Hawaii would get $251.36 million under legislation endorsed by the Armed Services Committee authorizing national security spending by the Defense and Energy departments for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

The legislation also includes provisions for addressing the clearance of unexploded ordnance at a former defense site at Waikoloa on the Big Island, and for the Navy's cleanup of the former bombing range on Kahoolawe, according to U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

The Navy faces a November 2003 deadline to finish clearing unexploded ordnance, but because work on the project only began in 1998, the Navy will not be able to clear most of the island by the deadline, Akaka said.

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