Senate Committee Advances Military Construction and VA Appropriations Bill with Hawai'i Priorities

Statement

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i), a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, worked to include $444 million for military construction projects across Hawai"i.

"The $444 million in funding for military construction projects that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved today reflects the long-term investment that the Department of Defense is making in Hawai"i," said Senator Schatz. "Hawai"i has long been recognized as an essential link to the Asia-Pacific region; and militarily, our location, training environment, and knowledge of the Asia Pacific are central to the Defense Department's strategic engagement in the region. This appropriations bill ensures that the military will have the facilities, capabilities, and infrastructure it needs to sustain Hawai"i's long-term role in the rebalance to Asia."

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