Yesterday the U.S. Senate voted to pass a package of three Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills, which includes a provision to provide $2 million in federal funding to address deferred maintenance at U.S. schools of agriculture.
The package, which includes the Agriculture; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and transportation, housing, and urban development appropriations bills, also includes more than $285 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for Hawaiʻi nonprofit organizations and government agencies.
The bill passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 85-12 and now must be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The deferred maintenance provision would provide funding for grants for construction of agricultural research facilities at schools of agriculture across the country. The grants—available to universities and colleges of agriculture—go towards construction, alteration, acquisition, modernization, renovation, or remodeling of facilities and research equipment.
U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono secured nearly 40 CDS requests in the bill, which would provide over $285 million in federal funding for a wide range of projects in Hawaii covering agriculture; military construction and veterans affairs; and transportation, housing, and urban development. While this funding is included in the Senate bill, it is not guaranteed until a final bill is signed into law.
A detailed list of the projects can be found below:
AGRICULTURE PROJECTS:
- Hawaii Land Trust – $1,097,000
- To install predator proof fencing to protect native forest species from invasive predators.
- MA’O Organic Farms – $567,000
- To construct an Agroforesty Training Baseyard as proper infrastructure to support a new offshoot of youth workforce programs.
- Hoa Aina O Makaha – $96,000
- For improvements to the infrastructure of Hoa Aina O Makaha including: complete renovation of the Front House; roof replacement for the tool shed building; electrical power line upgrading to code; termite inspection, treatment, and repair.
- Hawaii Land Trust – $1,500,000
- To restore the historic Dickey house structure to a Cultural Learning Center to provide a safe space for students, educators and practitioners from weather conditions, while connecting our community and school partners to the land through place-based experiential learning.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES (MILCON-VA) PROJECTS:
- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam – $49,080,000
- The planned Waterfront Production Facility will bring light industrial productive capacity and shipboard worker services closer to the drydocks in a permanent and modern facility.
- Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay – $109,000,000
- Upgrades a water reclamation facility at Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay.
- Fort Shafter – $23,000,000
- Construct a Clearwell and Booster Pump System.
- Helemano Military Reservation Hawaii – $33,000,000
- Construct wells, pump station and storage tank.
- Schofield Barracks – $21,000,000
- Construct water storage tanks, pumping station and distribution lines.
- Schofield Barracks – $16,000,000
- Construct elevated potable water storage tank and distribution lines.
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (THUD) PROJECTS:
- Child and Family Service – $1,181,000
- To undertake demolition and infrastructure work on Child and Family Service’s existing property in an effort to build a new youth residential crisis stabilization facility for children in crisis.
- City and County of Honolulu – $2,500,000
- To construct a Kupuna Resource Center (KRC) to better help kupuna access services as seamlessly as possible. The KRC will house a resource library and computer center, as well as workspace for Elderly Affairs Division staff to provide direct services.
- County of Kauai, DPW – $3,200,000
- This funding will support design and construction of a roadway, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
- YWCA of Hawaii Island – $1,500,000
- To replace a defunct swimming complex with a new, modern preschool, including age-appropriate play areas and a commercial kitchen.
- County of Kauai – $3,290,000
- To replace the roof of the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall, including the curved auditorium, central lobby, and north lobby. The current roof, which was built in the 1960s, has exceeded its useful life.
- Hui Malama O Ke Kai Foundation – $785,000
- To construct a multi-purpose pavilion with a certified commercial kitchen and multipurpose space for educational and community activities.
- Residential Youth Services and Empowerment (RYSE) – $3,000,000
- To build and renovate facilities to address youth homelessness through small census living models and residential care, programming, and supportive services.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii – $1,500,000
- To purchase and renovate a building to create a new headquarters for Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. The headquarters will serve as a space to host youth programs, to facilitate community and family workshops, to distribute resources, and as a hub for mentoring services for youth and teens.
- County of Kauai – $1,600,000
- To develop civil engineering and construction documents for the Kilauea Affordable Housing subdivision on approximately 50 acres of County-owned land in the town of Kilauea, including, stormwater systems, water systems, wastewater, roadways, and utilities.
- County of Kauai – $1,800,000
- To undertake the engineering and design work for a wastewater treatment facility for the Kilauea Affordable Housing subdivision and other areas of Kilauea Town.
- Island of Hawaii YMCA – $625,000
- To acquire parcel of land adjacent to the existing Island of Hawaii YWCA, allowing the organization to expand program access.
- Malaai – $676,000
- To replace an existing outdoor shelter, and be used as an outdoor classroom for the approximately 200 students of Waimea Middle School that participate in Malaai’s programs.
- Child and Family Service – $2,000,000
- To contribute to the construction of a 6,000 sq ft walk-in service and resource center adjacent to the organization’s existing location.
- County of Kauai – $1,400,000
- To develop civil engineering and construction documents for the Waimea 400 affordable housing subdivision, including the engineering and design of all required on- and off-site civil infrastructure including, stormwater systems, water systems, wastewater, roadways, and utilities.
- Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife – $900,000
- To build a Hawaiian design-inspired educational center at the State Kawaiele and Mana Waterbird Sanctuary for locals and visitors to learn about the complex history of West Kauai and see five endangered Hawaiian waterbirds, including the nene, Hawaii’s state bird.
- Hui O Hauula – $5,399,000
- To replace a community center in disrepair with a community resilience hub that functions as both a new community center and as a wind- and tsunami-resilient shelter in an area of Oahu that does not currently have that kind of shelter.
AP Photo