Bill for military
construction passes
Senate

The U.S. Senate has passed a military construction spending bill that includes $367 million for 16 Hawaii projects, Sen. Daniel Inouye said Thursday.

A joint House and Senate panel that Inouye, D-Hawaii, will sit on will work on resolving differences between their two versions of the legislation, which appropriates funding for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. The Senate's version of the bill includes:

» $66.2 million for family housing at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
» $61.5 million to build a new Regional Security Operations Center in Wahiawa for intelligence gathering and analysis.
» $60.3 million for Pohakuloa Training Area, including $17 million to upgrade Saddle Road.
» $48 million for phase one of a Schofield Barracks complex.

Inouye, the ranking Democrat on the defense appropriations subcommittee, said the spending would enhance national security.

"Given Hawaii's strategic location and the challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, the Hawaii projects will strengthen our nation's defensive posture, and help to support our military personnel during their time of service," Inouye said in a statement.

The Senate Construction Appropriations Committee approved a version of the bill in July that included the same Hawaii projects.

The Senate has now passed all but four of its 12 annual appropriations bills. Contentious debates await on measures funding the Pentagon and the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.