How Hawaii Delegation Voted on Highway, Student Loan BIll

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The U.S. House of Representatives voted 373-52 on legislation “that will extend federal highway programs through 2014, a low interest rate on student loans for one year, and the National Flood Insurance Program for five years,” according to this report in The Hill.

Colleen Hanabusa and Mazie Hirono voted with the majority.

In the U.S. Senate, the vote was 74-19. Dan Akaka voted “aye” while Dan Inouye was absent for the vote.

News excerpt:

The bill will likely be the last major piece of legislation approved by Congress until after the November elections. …

White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Obama looks forward to signing the bill.

In other congressional news, Hanabusa and Hirono voted against the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2013, which passed 261-163. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Statement from Hanabusa:

I could not support a bill that slashes important grants for transportation and housing initiatives in Hawaii. This legislation eliminates the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant, which has been funded year after year as a fulfillment of the trust obligation that Congress created in 1920 through the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.

—Chad Blair

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