Hawai'i could receive almost $845 million in federal funding for programs and construction next year under a massive spending bill now awaiting President Bush's signature.

The Hawai'i money includes $533.6 million for military construction, $68 million for Native Hawaiian programs, $25 million for a Pacific region biodefense laboratory and $15.2 million for the Honolulu rail transit system.

"All of the funded projects will improve the quality of life in Hawai'i and preserve our precious and unique ecosystems," Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said yesterday.

The money is part of a $555 billion bill that Congress approved this week. It will pay for all the federal government's operations and programs — except the Defense Department — for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. It includes $70 billion for the Iraq War without specifying a troop withdrawal deadline.

The defense spending bill, without war funding, was approved in November.

Other project spending includes $4.6 million to replace the slowly sinking USS Arizona Memorial Visitors Center in Pearl Harbor and $4 million to expand the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on O'ahu.

Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawai'i, said the bill's funding will increase educational opportunities, healthcare services, economic development and transportation throughout the state.

"This legislation also supports efforts in Hawai'i to promote sustainable agriculture production and improve our island infrastructure to address our unique security and economic needs," Akaka said.

The military construction funds also include $136.3 million to continue building a National Security Agency operations center at Kunia and $88 million to continue the 20-year "Whole Barracks Renewal" program to improve living conditions by revamping all soldier housing at Schofield Barracks.

MILITARY PROJECTS

Under the bill, the Navy also would use almost $50 million to begin building a new drive-in facility at Pearl Harbor to help submarines maintain their stealth, and the Air Force would get $16.5 million to expand its surveillance operations center at Hickam Air Force Base.

An additional $121 million would be used for new barracks at Fort Shafter, Wheeler Army Airfield and the Marine Corps base in Kane'ohe.

The bill also has $20 million to continue construction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regional office on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, and $6.7 million to compensate commercial fishermen for closing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to fishing.

Other funding would go to emergency medical services for children ($19.5 million), and Native Hawaiian health care ($14 million).

Native Hawaiian education would receive $33.3 million for teacher training and recruitment and renovation of public schools with Native Hawaiian enrollment. And $5.6 million would be used for Native Hawaiian secondary and vocational training.

Other transportation projects in the bill include $7.5 million for ferry infrastructure, $3.8 million to complete on-ramps for the H-1 Freeway from Downtown Honolulu, and $1.5 million for rural bus service.

Hawai'i also would receive $9 million in block grants for its Native Hawaiian housing programs, $1.5 million for Native Hawaiian economic development and $1 million for a program to guarantee Native Hawaiian housing loans.

OTHER FUNDING IN THE BILL: