Hirono Votes in Favor of Federal Budget Deal

Senator Mazie Hirono. U.S. Senate photo.

A bipartisan omnibus package worth $1.1 trillion in government funding was voted on within the United States Senate Friday.

Senator Mazie Hirono voted in support of the bill, which would include funding for numerous Hawai’i programs through September 2016.

The Hawai’i senator notes that her vote in support is also to provide tax relief for both individuals and families, as well as the renewal of incentives for clean energy.

On Friday, the bill passed the Senate in a 65-33 vote.

“The appropriations and tax package approved by Congress is very much a hard fought, bipartisan compromise,” said Senator Hirono. “I have deep concerns about ending the ban on U.S. oil exports. However, Republicans also unsuccessfully sought a host of other policy changes that were even worse for our environment, our economy, and our nation.

“The final agreement invests in Hawai’i’s future, and will help families and small businesses succeed by making some key tax credits permanent, fully funding programs that create educational opportunity and improve our communities, and making critical investments in national security and our veterans. Taken together, the benefits of this bill for Hawai’i outweigh the costs and I concluded it was an agreement that I could support.”

Senator Hirono noted her top ten reasons for voting in favor of the bill:

1. 1. Makes Permanent Key Supports for Middle Class Families
2. 2. Keeping Our Commitment to Veterans
3. 3. Strong Investments in Our National Security
4. 4. Makes Critical Investments in Education and Job Creation
5. 5. Supports Land Conservation, Cultural Resources, and Hawai’i’s Environment
6. 6. Preserves Federal Commitments to Native Hawaiian Advancement
7. 7. Accelerating Hawai’i’s Clean Energy Transition
8. 8. Improving Hawai’i’s Highways, Harbors, Transit, and Investing in Affordable Housing
9. 9. Continues Federal Commitment to Hawai’i for Hansen’s Disease
10. 10. Supporting Security Enhancements and Investments that Benefit Hawai’i’s Tourism Industry