Hawaii to receive more than $277M for military construction under defense spending bill

Hawaii's military installations will receive more than $277 million in construction under the defense spending bill passed by the U.S. Senate Thursday.

The National Defense Authorization Act, which now goes to President Barack Obama, lays out the military resource levels and defense policies for fiscal year 2017.

“Hawaii’s vital role, especially in the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance, continues to be reflected in our national security priorities for the coming year,” Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said in a statement.

Hirono is a member of the conference committee that worked out differences between the House and Senate on the bill and is a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on seapower.

The bill also includes Talia’s Law, a provision to strengthen reporting and action on child abuse on military bases.

“From securing nearly $300 million in military construction funding to including Talia’s Law, which improves child abuse reporting requirements in honor of Talia Williams, this comprehensive legislation strengthens our national security and benefits our service members,” she added.

Some of the funding includes $73 million for the Navy’s regimental consolidated communications and electrical facility at Marine Corps Base on Oahu, $43 million for the Navy power plant and electrical distribution systems at the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kauai and $40 million for the U.S. Army Pacific command and control facility at Fort Shafter on Oahu.