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Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act Containing Hirono-Led Provisions to Provide $1 Billion to Close Red Hill, Nearly $800 Million to Upgrade Military Infrastructure in Hawaii

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which included key provisions she secured, including $1 billion for the defueling and closure of Red Hill and nearly $800 million for other military infrastructure upgrades in Hawaii. The NDAA—which passed the House by a vote of 350-80 last week—also included Senator Hirono’s legislation to electrify all of the military’s non-tactical vehicles by 2035. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 83-11 and now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

“Today, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act,” said Senator Hirono. “As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, my priority in NDAA—first and foremost—has been to safely close Red Hill. I’m proud that I successfully secured $1 billion in this year’s NDAA for that purpose—and that this legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. I will continue to work with the Department of Defense to ensure that Red Hill is closed safely and quickly. In addition to closing Red Hill, this bill contains nearly $800 million I fought to secure to safeguard and modernize critical military infrastructure in Hawaii, and across the region, in order to protect families and ensure INDOPACOM meets its mission of enhancing stability in our region. I will keep fighting for families and servicemembers across Hawaii.” 

More information on the military provisions Senator Hirono secured is available below:

Red Hill

  • Authorizes $1 billion in funding for the Red Hill Recovery Fund.
  • Authorizes the closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu and $1 billion in funding to support the closure.
  • Develops plans for
  • Directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to appoint a single point of contact to lead the closure of Red Hill and conduct an independent assessment of optimal post-closure care for the Red Hill facility.
  • Establishes a water monitoring program at the facility.
  • Directs a federally funded research and development to conduct a study to determine the range of feasible alternative DoD uses for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and provide to the Secretary a report on the findings of the study. 
  • Directs a briefing on the efforts of the Secretary of Defense to appropriately track the health implications of fuel leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility for members of the Armed Forces and dependents thereof, including members of each Armed Force and dependents thereof. 
    • the closure, clean-up, monitoring and maintenance and post-optimal closure care for the facility;
    • environmental remediation of ground water at the facility; and
    • how the Department will coordinate with state regulatory authorities, water utility authority, state environmental agencies and surrounding community.
    • While not a part of NDAA, the military is taking additional steps to address health implications, including standing up the Red Hill Clinic, administered by the Defense Health Agency, which will be the main medical agency for symptoms and conditions related to the water contamination.

Delivering for Hawaii

  • Directs the Secretary of the Navy to pay for the cost to transfer customers off the Navy’s electrical system at Kalaeloa to a new system operated by Hawaiian Electric.
  • Authorizes up to $40 million in funding for planning and design for the Waterfront Production Facility at Pearl Harbor Shipyard.
  • Authorizes $446 million for the replacement of Dry Dock 3 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham (JBPHH).
  • Authorizes $7 million for the construction of an aircraft maintenance hangar at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.
  • Authorizes $10 million for increasing safety and modernization of missile magazines at JBPHH.
  • Authorizes $57.9 million for the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.
  • Authorizes $40 million for the C-40 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.
  • Authorizes $29 million for the National Guard Readiness Center, Kalaeloa.
  • Authorizes $89 million for the Air Force Research Laboratory, Maui Experimental Site.
  • Authorizes $25 million for the Company Operations Facility, Schofield Barracks.
  • Authorizes $33 million for Water System Upgrades at Fort Shafter.
  • Authorizes $38 million for the Potable Water System at Tripler Army Medical Center.
  • Authorizes a 4.6% salary increase for servicemembers.

Strengthening Our Ability to Protect the Pacific Region

  • Directs INDOPACOM to submit a report on the international agreements necessary to achieve the necessary force presence in the Pacific, and a plan for entering into those agreements.
  • Directs the Secretary of the Navy to implement the Comptroller General’s recommendations to the Shipyard Improvement Optimization Plan (SIOP) to better understand anticipated costs of the program.
  • Sets a floor of at least 31 amphibious assault ships in the U.S. fleet.
  • Authorizes $78.9 million for INDOPACOM theater exercises.
  • Authorizes $19 million for the  Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability (PMTEC) to connect training ranges across the Pacific.
  • Authorizes $2.4 million for INDOPACOM Pacific Movement Coordination Center to support collaboration and information sharing across the Pacific region.
  • Authorizes $8 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative (APRI) to strengthen the U.S. military’s relationships with Pacific region partners.
  • Authorizes $250 million for LPD Flight II Advance Procurement to support the procurement of additional amphibious transport docks.

Prioritizing Sustainability

  • Requires DoD to transition fully to electric and other alternatively-fueled vehicles for its fleet of non-tactical vehicles by 2035, helping reduce the DoD’s reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Authorizes $176 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) to make military installations more resilient to climate change and land use conversion.
  • Authorizes $30 million to improve the reliability of the electrical grid at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam under the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP).

Video of Senator Hirono discussing the provisions to close Red Hill is available here and video of her discussing other investments in military infrastructure is available here

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