Category: Current Issues

Maui Approved Minor Replacement CBOC (one stop shopping concept) Minor Project – Obligated $937,451.42

Maui Approved Minor Replacement CBOC (one stop shopping concept) Minor Project – Obligated $937,451.42

Maui Multi-Services Center (One-Stop):  A Land Donation Offer has been received from the State of Hawaii and has been approved by VA Central Office.  Recent turnover in the State required development of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Land Donation.  VA Contracting, VAPIHCS, and the State of Hawaii are working towards final award, projected to be in early FY19.  Thirty percent design of the new CBOC has been accomplished with a remaining design/build project to be completed by mid-FY19.  Activation is projected during early FY20.

Next Milestone:  Finalize MOA regarding Land Donation 1st Qtr FY19.

v/r

Carlos A. Santana | Community Liaison

Office of Senator Mazie K. Hirono

300 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 3-106

Honolulu, HI 96850 | Office (808) 522-8970

There is a definite difference today with the singing of THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Now you have a rock star, sexy women with revealing dresses, strange musical
variations…

This video was shot 13 + years ago.   Been quite a change since then, hasn’t there?

 

http://wallythekat.tripod.com/A_Pages/AA-Videos-YOU-Tube/NFL.html

The American Legion will TAKE ON HEP C and win​

The American Legion will TAKE ON HEP C and win​

Dear American Legion Family members and friends,

With your help, The American Legion will TAKE ON HEP C and win.

AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical company, and The American Legion are working together to help our nation’s veterans get tested for hepatitis C (hep C).

Such testing is critical for veterans. Did you know that one out of every 20 veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration has hep C? That’s more than three times the infection rate of the general U.S. population.

The disease affects the liver and is caused by the hep C virus. About 3.4 million Americans have chronic hep C, making it the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the nation. Hep C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.

Veterans are at a heightened risk if they received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. Or if they worked in health-care settings with potential blood-to-blood exposure. Hep C can also be spread when personal items such as razors or toothbrushes are shared with someone who has the virus, or from getting tattoos or body piercings in unregulated settings.

The American Legion and AbbVie have worked together to bring free testing to hundreds of our nation’s veterans during the past couple of months. The TAKE ON HEP C tour bus kicked off the campaign at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota in early August. The tour also made an appearance at The American Legion’s 100th National Convention in Minneapolis. In October, it will visit Biketobferest in Daytona, Fla.

Together, The American Legion and AbbVie have provided attendees with educational resources to help them learn about the disease, understand their risk factors and receive the tests.

This part education/part testing approach is important for all veterans. The testing can help alleviate the concerns of not only a veteran, but his or her family members. And for those who test positive, it helps get started on the road to recovery.

If you are a veteran, visit legion.org/hepC to learn more about the disease, exposure risks, symptoms and testing information. Learn the risk factors, get yourself tested and – if need be – consult with your doctor about treatment.

It’s that easy. Join the fight today to TAKE ON HEP C.

Brett Reistad
National Commander

Hirono Announces $637,000 in Federal Grants to Provide Job Training for Homeless Veterans

Hirono Announces $637,000 in Federal Grants to Provide Job Training for Homeless Veterans

 

Hirono Bill Prevented Grant Program from Lapsing in 2017

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that Hawaii’s U.S.VETS and Catholic Charities will receive a total of $637,258 in 2018 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) to provide on-the-job training, occupational skills training, apprenticeship opportunities, job placement, and follow-up assistance after placement. The program funding currently serves more than 300 homeless veterans in Hawaii.

 

“The staff at U.S.VETS – Barbers Point and Catholic Charities are working hard every day to end veteran homelessness in Hawaii, and this grant will help them continue this important mission,” Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee said. “I remain committed to fighting to protect critical federal programs like HVRP that help our veterans transition to civilian life, end homelessness, and secure jobs.”

 

“U.S.VETS is the nation’s largest homeless veteran service provider that commits itself to reintegrating homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in to the community,” Darryl Vincent, U.S.VETS’ Chief Operating Officer said. “It is our mission at U.S.VETS to work for the day that no veteran who has given their life to protect our freedoms suffer the indignity of homelessness. The grant from the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program helps bring us closer to the goal of ending veteran homelessness in Hawaii by supporting our efforts to provide comprehensive workforce development and reintegration services to the nearly 250 veterans we served last year in our transitional housing programs. We greatly appreciate Senator Hirono’s longstanding support and her leadership in securing HVRP’s reauthorization.”

 

“Catholic Charities Hawaii is grateful for Senator Hirono’s efforts in securing us federal funding for the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, which assists homeless and at-risk veterans in finding employment and rewarding careers,” Catholic Charities Hawaii President & CEO Terry Walsh said. “These brave men and women who have served our country deserve a place to call home and secure good jobs when they leave the service. The grant funds will help ensure 95 veterans will be served by our HVRP program.”

 

As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Hirono authored and passed the bipartisan Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act which prevented HVRP and other programs from expiring on September 30, 2017. The bill, enacted last year as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act (Public Law 115-62), reauthorizes HVRP and Department of Veterans Affairs programs that provide health care, housing and support services for homeless veterans and their families.

 

A link to the grant announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor can be found here.