Daniel Inouye: “I rise to expound upon a provision in the Transportation appropriations bill to forgive the State of Hawaii from its…”

“I rise to expound upon a provision in the Transportation appropriations bill to forgive the State of Hawaii from its obligation to repay $30 million owed to the Airport Revenue Fund for ceded land payments to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs [OHA]. Current law states that airport revenues can only be used for airport purposes. The U.S. Department of Transportation's inspector general found in September of 1996, that the approximately $30 million in ceded land payments made from the Hawaii Airport Revenue Fund were not in compliance with the law. In April of this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation affirmed the decision, and is seeking the repayment of those moneys. A continuation of the status quo--continued ceded land payments from the Airport Revenue Fund--was not possible. It was counter to the U.S. Department of Transportation's position and policy. I did not have the support of my colleagues to legislate its continuation. At this time, forgiveness of the $30 million debt was possible and achievable. I thank my colleagues for allowing for the congressional forgiveness of an airport revenue diversion in order to aid the State of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.”