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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, October 25, 2007

$160M for Hawaii will fund lab for biodefense

Associated Press

The U.S. Senate has approved nearly $160 million for Hawai'i-related labor, health and education initiatives, including $25 million for construction of a regional biodefense laboratory.

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye yesterday said the lab is vital to the security of the nation.

"It will protect all Americans, and it will make our communities more secure in our post-9/11 world," said Inouye, D-Hawai'i.

"This regional lab will be crucial to developing the shields and the coordinated responses to biological or chemical attacks, or infectious diseases that may threaten Hawai'i or other parts of the United States," he said.

The legislation also includes seven projects totaling more than $57 million that will directly benefit Native Hawaiians.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, said he was especially proud of the funding he and Inouye were able to secure "to provide for the culturally relevant and appropriate Native Hawaiian healthcare and education programs.

"These programs help reduce the health and education disparities found in our Native Hawaiian communities," Akaka said.

The legislation also includes $46 million for impact aid funding for Hawai'i to support the state's public school system for the education of dependents of members of the armed forces and federal government employees.

Money for the various projects is part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that the Senate passed 75-19.

The measure goes to a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences. Inouye, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, will serve as one of the Senate's conferees.

Following House and Senate passage of the final version of the bill, it will be sent to President Bush for his signature.