Updated at 5:54 p.m., Thursday, February 15, 2007
$62.5 million for Hawaiian programs in federal budget
Associated Press
Congress has approved a federal budget bill that allocates $62.5 million for Native Hawaiian education, housing and healthcare, Hawaii's congressional delegation said today.The Senate passed the legislation on Wednesday 81-15. The House voted 286 to 140 to approve the bill late last month.
The legislation now goes to President Bush for his signature, said Hawai'i's four Democratic representatives in Washington — two in the Senate and two in the House — in a joint statement.
"I am pleased that Hawai'i's congressional delegation, and the Democratic Party as a whole, came together to preserve vital health and education opportunities for Native Hawaiians," said Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.
The funds, if signed by Bush, would benefit overall public health in Hawai'i and the state's education infrastructure, Akaka added.
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye said the bill enabled lawmakers to fund items that were left out of the budget for this fiscal year, which goes through Sept. 30.
"Fortunately, we were able to rectify some of the shortcomings of the current budget as it pertains to Native Hawaiian initiatives," Inouye said.
The new bill includes:
— Nearly $34 million for Native Hawaiian education programs under the No Child Left Behind Act.
— Nearly $14 million for healthcare under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act.
— Nearly $9 million for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants
— Nearly $6 million through the Native Alaskan/Native Hawaiian Institutional Aid provision of the Higher Education Act.
