Congresswoman Hirono helps secure $7.7 million in Hawaii funding
in the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the FY2010 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, which funded several of the requests Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) submitted to the House Appropriations Committee in April, including funding social services programs and programs to support recovery of endangered and protected species. H.R. 2847 passed out the House by a vote of 259 yeas to 157 nays.
Congresswoman Hirono’s funded earmarks include:
- $25,000 for the Coalition for a Drug-Free Lanai, a mentoring program to prevent or decrease the use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by at-risk youth on the island of Lanai.
- $200,000 for the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center’s (formerly Na Loio) Human Rights Alliance project, which assists immigrants who have been subjected to human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault, or other human rights abuses with legal services, medical and psychological care, and social services. (This project was also requested by Congressman Abercrombie.)
- $100,000 for Protected Species Habitat Restoration at Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument), which includes improving habitat for Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles, albatross and other seabirds at the most remote atoll in the Hawaiian chain.
- $275,000 for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan Implementation as a Hirono earmark and language in the bill report encouraging the National Marine Fisheries Service to provide $7.1 million “from all appropriated sources for the Hawaiian Monk Seal, as it is one of the most endangered marine species.”
Congresswoman Hirono had requested $5.7 million for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan Implementation, the same amount provided in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill based on her request.
“I am proud of the funding I’ve been able to secure for Hawai‘i,” said Hirono. “While some criticize the earmarking process, it is clear that without members advocating for the needs of their districts, many valuable programs would not receive funding at all if all the decisions were being made by non-elected bureaucrats in federal agencies in Washington. Moreover, without an indication of support from members of a state’s delegation, even programs supported by agency scientists, like the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Plan, would not receive the needed level of funding.”
The 111th Congress increased accountability and transparency in the earmarking process. Every member’s appropriations requests are listed on that member’s website. Congresswoman Hirono’s requests can be accessed at http://hirono.house.gov/FY2010AppropriationsRequests.shtml.
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