Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 6, 1 Iune 1995 — Federal update [ARTICLE]

Federal update

Dems, GOP agree on cuts; Clinton expected to veto

A joint House-Senate conference committee on HR 1158, the Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions bill for FY 1995, has reached agreement on proposed cuts to federally-funded programs. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a participant in the conference, said that mueh of the funding for Hawai'i programs previously zeroed out or drastically reduced in an earlier version by the House of Representatives was restored. The measure must be passed in both the House and Senate before it ean be sent to the President. However, the $15.4 hillion bill was expected to be vetoed by President Clinton. The president opposes the bill's deep cuts because it would have a direct and immediate effect on programs and projects he supports. This veto would force Congress to reconsider the measure, whieh retroactively rescinds (cuts) funds that were approved in 1994 and earlier years, but whieh have not yet been spent. The rescissions package cuts $3 million from Native Hawaiian education, as compared to a proposed cut of $12 million. This leaves $9 million for FY 1995, an increase over the FY 1994 level of $8.224 million. The package also cuts $188,000 from native Hawaiian heahh programs, compared to a proposed cut of $3.122 million. This takes program funding back to the FY 1994 level of $4.336 million. Other Hawai'i programs faced reductions, however, including the Pacific Basin health care programs and the National Undersea Research Program. Eeonomie development monies were severely cut back ($3.5 million). There will still be $2.5 million in disaster relief funding available, but Hawai'i will face fierce competition for these funds from other disaster-stricken states, Inouye said in a press release. Funding ($1.5 million) was rescued for the Center for Applied Aquaculture in Hawai'i, to construct facilities on O'ahu, Moloka'i and the Big Island. Conferees also restored $5.2 million in cuts for a Hawai'i project under the Farmers Home Administration rural rental housing program. Funds will be used to build a 56-unit housing project in Kapolei for low-ineome and elderly residents.