HIRONO AND ARMED SERVICES COLLEAGUES COMPLETE MARKUP OF DEFENSE BILL, INCLUDE MILLIONS IN MILITARY CONSTRUCTION FUNDING, HONOR INOUYE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono and her Senate Armed Services Committee colleagues drafted and voted late last week to pass the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act out of committee and to the full Senate for consideration. The bill would provide more than $400 million in military construction projects in Hawaii, $44 million more than the previous year. Military installations including Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor and Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe will receive funds. A number of provisions of interest to Hawaii include naming the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in honor of Senator Daniel K. Inouye, as well as funding to expand ocean renewable energy research and development.

“As the military continues its rebalance to the Pacific, Hawaii stands to play a key role in maintaining our national security,” Hirono said. “The increased military construction funding the committee approved will provide critical investments and improvements at Hawaii installations to help keep our forces ready while creating jobs in the state. I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure this funding remains in the bill passed by the full Senate.”

Key provisions include:

More Than $400 Million For Military Construction Projects In Hawaii:
Hawaii will receive more than $400 million in military construction projects in Hawaii, $44 million more than the previous year. Projects include a command and control facility at Fort Shafter, a submarine production support facility at Pearl Harbor, and an aircraft hangar at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay.

Redesignating The Asia-Pacific Center For Security Studies In Honor Of Senator Daniel K. Inouye:
The Asia-Pacific Center For Security Studies (APCSS) is a U.S. Department of Defense academic institute in Honolulu that analyzes regional and global security issues, fostering dialogue between military and civilian scholars and professionals from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations. In recognition of Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s instrumental support for the founding of the APCSS, this legislation would redesignate the APCSS as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

11 Acres Conveyed To Navy Hale Keiki School:
The Navy is authorized to convey approximately 11 acres of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to the Navy Hale Keiki School, a nonprofit school that serves a significant number of Air Force and Navy children from preschool through fourth grade. This will enable the school to purchase the land at a fair market value.

$150 Million For The Energy Conservation Investment Program:
The Department of Defense’s Energy Conservation Investment Program will receive $150 million. This competitive program supports projects with a high savings-to-investment ratio that will reduce energy and water use across the Department of Defense, such as the construction of new, high-efficiency energy systems and the improvement and modernization of existing systems.

Ensuring Military First Responders Are Adequately Trained To Assist Sexual Assault Victims:
Each branch of the military will be required to detail how it will ensure military first responders are adequately trained to assist sexual assault victims and how each service will track and enforce refresher training.

Review Of Military’s Energy Security Strategy:
The Department of Defense will be required to include a review of the military’s energy security strategy in its Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).

Ensuring A Fair Contracting Process For Native Hawaiian Organizations, Native Companies, And Alaska Native Corporations:
This provision requires the Department of Defense to provide clear guidance for implementing a requirement for a justification for contracts above $20 million in value. Studies have shown that since this provision was enacted, there has been a significant drop in the number of contracts awarded to Native-owned companies.

Aid For Local School Districts Hosting Military Dependent Children:
Authorizes $25 million nationally in supplemental impact aid for local education entities with military dependent children.