Senate Committee Advances Defense Appropriations Bill with Hawai'i Priorities

Statement

Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai"i), a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, worked to include funding for defense programs important to Hawai"i.

"The funding for defense programs that the Appropriations Committee passed today is a key investment in our national security and is further indication of the important role Hawai"i plays in our defense strategy," said Senator Schatz. "Within the constraints of the sequester, a number of Hawai"i's defense priorities were funded. These are critical if we are going to have a successful strategy to rebalance to the Asia Pacific. But ultimately Congress will need to abandon the sequester in order to make all of the investments necessary. I hope my colleagues will join me in a bipartisan effort to end the sequester in the weeks ahead as opposed to waiting until late this year."

Source