Panel OKs state's military construction

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

More than $344.7 million in military construction in Hawai'i was approved Wednesday by the House Armed Services Committee, according to U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie.

The full House of Representatives is expected to approve the money next week as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005.

Most of the money — $229.8 million — would be spent on projects at Schofield Barracks, including several live-fire training areas.

More than $25 million would go to support the C-17 cargo aircraft that are headed for Hickam Air Force Base.

"Federal investment has always been a key element in our economy and it will remain important for the future," Abercrombie said. "The bottom line here is jobs, contracts and small-business survival."

The committee also approved an Abercrombie amendment to establish stronger "standards of accountability and transparency" for private contractors hired by the Department of Defense to work in Iraq.

If approved, the amendment calls upon the Pentagon to report to Congress within 30 days how it plans to handle several of the guidelines, including how it decides which security functions will be handled the military and which are handled by civilians. Also part of that reporting would be a description of the overall chain of command and oversight to ensure adequate supervision is in place, as well as an explanation of the rules of engagement for private security personnel.

"Private contractors are playing a much larger role in Iraq than anyone anticipated and we have to get a handle on their activities," Abercrombie said.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.