ASSOCIATED PRESS
The new Stryker combat vehicle was demonstrated in June 2002 at Fort Benning, Ga. Congress has passed a defense bill that gives Hawaii $433 million, including $17.5 million for the Army's new Stryker vehicles, which are expected to be assigned to Schofield Barracks.
Defense bill funds
Strykers in HawaiiCongress passes a bill that
will give nearly a half-billion
dollars for Hawaii projects
Congress has passed a defense spending bill that provides $433 million for Hawaii projects, including $17.5 million for the Army's new mobile combat Stryker vehicles, which are expected to be assigned to Schofield Barracks.
CORRECTION
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003>> A military construction bill that would provide $330.5 million for construction projects in Hawaii is in a House-Senate conference committee. A Page A1 article yesterday incorrectly reported that the bill had been passed by Congress earlier this year.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
The Senate approved the funds yesterday as part of its $369 billion defense appropriations bill that was also approved by the House on Wednesday, according to U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
The bill goes to President Bush for final approval.
The latest appropriation brings the total military spending in Hawaii for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 to $763.6 million, according to Inouye. Earlier this year, Congress approved a separate military construction bill with $330.5 million for isle projects.
Although the latest bill provides money for the Stryker brigade in Hawaii, there hasn't been any official word from the Pentagon about when the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade will begin conversion to a Stryker unit. The transformation is supposed to be by 2010. Also pending is a required study on Stryker's environmental impacts.
The Stryker -- the brainchild of retired Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki -- is an eight-wheel armored vehicle that can be configured in 10 versions, each performing a specialized combat mission, including carrying troops. The Army hopes to send 300 of these vehicles to Schofield.
Earlier this year, Inouye reported that Hawaii will receive $71.8 million beginning in October for four major military construction projects planned to accommodate the new 19-ton, Stryker armored vehicles and additional training the new brigade would require.
Other appropriations for Hawaii in the defense bill include:
>> The final allocation of $18.43 million in the 10-year, $400 million cleanup of Kahoolawe, which was used for bombing target practice for decades by the Navy and is supposed to revert to state control in November.>> $26.7 million for various programs at Pearl Harbor, including $15 million for equipment, $10 million for repairs and maintenance and $1.7 million for an apprenticeship program.
>> $27 million for the Maui Space Surveillance System, which includes the Defense Department's largest telescope -- the 3.67-meter Advanced Electro Optical System.
>> $23 million for telemedicine technology for Triple Army Medical Center.
>> $19 million to upgrade the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai.
>> $14.7 million to support the Army's information, communications, computers and intelligence system in the Pacific.
>> $13.7 million for continued research in the Pacific Fleet's anti-submarine and mine countermeasures programs.
>> $7 million to install a "man overboard identification system" on all ships at Pearl Harbor to locate individuals who fall off Navy ships.
>> $2.7 million for the Hawaii National Guard's antidrug program that focuses on Hawaii ports, marijuana eradication, and programs for youth.
>> $2.6 million for continued participation in a test of battery-powered electric vehicles at Hickam Air Force Base.
>> $1 million for the military's efforts to keep Guam's Brown Tree snakes out of Hawaii.
