CASE SAYS PRESIDENT’S DIVERSION OF $3.6 BILLION IN KEY MILITARY PROJECT FUNDS FOR UNAUTHORIZED BORDER WALL CRIPPLES SECURITY AND READINESS

Action specifically affects $32 million in already-appropriated priority projects for Hawai’i

News Release from Office of Rep Ed Case, September 4, 2019

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today strongly criticized the President’s announcement of a planned diversion of $3.6 billion in already appropriated funds for high-priority military projects to build a border wall not authorized or funded by Congress.

Case was informed today that among the projects affected are two in Hawai’i considered by the Department of Defense as critical for military readiness and security.

Case, a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related

Agencies, responsible for all military construction appropriations worldwide, said “This attempted raid on already-funded projects by the President is not only a subversion of the authority of Congress, but will compromise military readiness and security and lower morale across the Department of Defense.”

“The Congress did not authorize $3.6 billion to pay for a border wall. I support continuing our evaluation of whether and to what extent an additional border wall should be built and funded as part of responsibly securing our borders. But Congress will not enable this move by appropriating new funds to backfill the projects now defunded.” The two Hawai’i projects impacted by the President’s decision are:

- $26.5 million for security improvements at Mōkapu Gate, the back entrance to Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i (MCBH) at Kāne‘ohe Bay.

Case said, “According to DoD, if this project is cancelled MCBH will be out of compliance with anti-terrorism and force protection standards and regulations”.

- $5 million for a Consolidated Training Facility prioritized by the Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Case said, “Erosion in command and control, staff activities and training capabilities for the Air Force in the critical and growing Indo-PaCom theater will negatively impact mission readiness and effectiveness.”

The two projects are among 127 military construction projects based in the country and overseas. The question of whether the President has exceeded his authority is currently pending in the federal courts of appeal after the federal district court ordered an injunction against the President’s earlier effort.

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