The federal budget enacted by the newly passed $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill has wide-reaching effects on every state, and Hawaii is no exception.
Among the benefits to the state are:
• $36.4 million to Native Hawaiian education — specifically for the “construction, renovation, and modernization of any elementary school, secondary school, or structure related to an elementary school or secondary school, run by the Department of Education of the State of Hawaii, that serves a predominantly Native Hawaiian student body.”
• $17.5 million to Native Hawaiian health centers throughout the state.
• $8 million for conservation efforts to preserve the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and sea turtles.
• $16 million nationwide to financial assistance, technical assistance, training and outreach programs designed to benefit Native Hawaiian and other Native American communities.
• $4.4 million nationwide to native tourism programs — $3.4 million from the Department of the Interior and $1 million from the Department of Transportation — for Native Hawaiian and other Native American communities to promote cultural tourism initiatives.
• $14 million nationwide for Native American language preservation activities, including $12 million for language preservation activities and $2 million for Native American language immersion schools.
• $7 million for Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Reserve.
• $6 million for Haleakala National Park.
• $26.6 million nationwide for coral reef conservation.
• $30 million nationwide for regional coastal resilience grants, which help coastal communities prepare for and recover from extreme weather events.
• $317 million for various military construction projects throughout the state, including $25 million for an operational readiness training complex at Pohakuloa Training Area.
In addition, some benefits for the state were retained despite President Donald Trump proposing their elimination, including:
• $2 million for Native Hawaiian housing, through the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to Native Hawaiian families attempting to buy or renovate a home.
• $1.9 million to treat Hansen’s Disease in Hawaii.
• $2.9 million nationwide for the preservation of Japanese-American confinement sites, including the Honouliuli National Monument in Honolulu.
• $31.6 million nationwide for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Tsunami Program, which funds tsunami monitoring as well as coastal states’ preparedness activities.
Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz called the bill “the best appropriations bill that we’ve seen for Hawaii since I got here.” Schatz has held his office since 2012.
“This appropriations bill will give our state funding to create jobs, help our veterans, protect our environment and strengthen education and health care programs,” Schatz said.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
“Best appropriations bill for Hawaii I’ve seen since I got here.” Sen Schatz
A. Good for Brian for telling it straight and not playing politics.
(Many Reps were not pleased w/ much here, specifically the Wall, and pressured POTUS to veto.)
B. Outstanding so much of this is earmarked for **Hawaiians**. As it should be. Federal Aid for low income housing, education, etc, -ever notice the Hawaiians always have to split that pie w/ sooo many other groups? Hawaiians have been leaving their home state in droves this past decade, out priced in housing, while immigration and the related assistance is soaring.
This is not right. Just plain very, very wrong.
So, *Hawaiian home OWNERSHIP* funds -YES!! (Sorry parasite ‘housing foundations’: New leadership, business minded, changing direction that will obsolete you middle$$men)
PLUS $$ for Hawaiian Language preservation. Vital.
3. Environment and Endangered Species -Coral Reefs, Monk Seals.
4. Even Hanson’s Disease.
On and on.
I hope Hawaii remembers what POTUS did for us here. (See above re Republican misgivings. The Wall priority is non negotiable to many, especially border states who are on their knees.)
And I hope they act accordingly the next time the President and First Lady visit.
The display of ugliness, sour grapes last time was utterly shameful. An embarrassment to Hawaii. No one has to change party or opinion, but endless tantrums, displays of near hysteria and low behavior – it’s getting wearisome.
Now, let’s hear from the Blue Fog detractors in 1…2…3…