Daniel Akaka News

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich urges US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take 'hybrid' approach to cruise ships in Alaskan waters. The senator is leading an effort with Hawaii’s senators urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adopt a phased-in approach for cruise ships forced to meet stricter standards for air emissions under the North American Emission Control Area, or ECA. Under the ECA, cruise ships will be required to burn more expensive, cleaner-burning fuel in specific geographic areas in the U.S., including all of Alaska’s Inside Passage through the Gulf of Alaska and up to the major cruise ports of Whittier and Seward.

Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn. terrorist threats that face the nation. proposal. security the focused leadership and resources it demands,” Lieberman said. · $500 million to secure air cargo, as well as trains and mass transit systems. president made in port security, bio-terror preparedness, and first responder programs. equipment, training, and other preparedness activities. than $1.8 billion since FY 2002. obtain interoperable communications equipment. reduction in tax cuts for those earning more than $1 million a year. homeland,” Lieberman said. Durbin, D-Ill., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Bob Graham, D-Fla.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Adm. Gary Roughead assumed command over the Navy’s largest area of responsibility as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, when he relieved Adm. Walter F. Doran July 8 in front of the USS Missouri Memorial on Ford Island. Military and civilian guests gathered not only to say goodbye to Doran but also to welcome Roughead. Speakers included Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark and Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Adm. William J. Fallon. Attending dignitaries included various flag and general officers currently serving in the Pacific region, in addition to former Pacific Command and Pacific Fleet commanders. Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, (D-Hawaii), and civilian and military dignitaries from several Asian and Pacific nations also were present.

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today voted unanimously to approve the “Ballast Water Management Act of 2005” (S. 363), introduced by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and co-sponsored by Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Paul Sarbanes (D-Maryland), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). The legislation would amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish a new, national approach to addressing invasive species in ballast water. Under the Manager’s Amendment approved today, the Coast Guard is authorized to direct $20 million annually, in fiscal years 2006 through 2010, toward invasive species mitigation.

The new Matson Navigation Co. containership MV Maunalei was christened at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. The christening, the traditional kind involving breaking a bottle of champagne, was undertaken by Millie Akaka, wife of Sen. Daniel Akaka. Also on hand were Hawaii Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Guam Rep. Madeleine Bordallo. The MV Maunalei is the fourth new containership built by the shipyard for Matson in the past four years, representing an investment of more than $500m by Matson's parent company, Alexander & Baldwin Inc. The Maunalei will enter service in September and be deployed in Hawaii, Guam and China service. It has the capacity for 2,500 TEUs, or 20-ft. equivalent units. Source: Biz Journal

Senate Republicans and Democrats together boosted funding for border and port security in the fiscal 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill by almost $1b, but were bitterly divided over how to restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Senators agreed to two amendments by Senate Appropriations ranking member Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., that would provide $350m extra for border security and $648m more for port and cargo security. But several senators clashed on the floor over restructuring FEMA. In the end, an amendment by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, and ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., to transform FEMA but keep it within the department was approved on an 87-11 vote. The amendment, which had strong backing from Sen.

Matson Navigation Company, Inc. announced that its newest containership, MV Maunalei, has been delivered to the company by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. The delivery of the Maunalei represents the completion of a historic four ship modernization and replacement strategy, following the delivery of the Manukai in 2003, the Maunawili in 2004, and the Manulani in 2005. "Having added only one new ship to the Matson fleet between 1983 and 2002, the four new vessels with a capital cost of over $500 million are essential to the current and future success of Matson," said W. Allen Doane, the Chairman of Matson and the Chairman and CEO of its parent company, Alexander & Baldwin. "The average age of Matson's ships was 25 years before the first ship was delivered in 2003.

On Friday, June 23, 2006, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME); Jack Reed (D-RI); Trent Lott (R-MS); Jim Talent (R-MO); Olympia Snowe (R-ME); Christopher Dodd (D-CT); Lincoln Chafee (R-RI); Mike Dewine (R-OH); Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Daniel Akaka (D-HI), David Vitter (R-LA); Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ); Bill Nelson (D-FL); Joe Leiberman (D-CT); Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and; Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumseld, asking him to increase the Navy’s top line budget for the purpose of increasing the ship procurement budget in fiscal year 2008. The request comes on the heels of a letter sent by members of the House of Representatives Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus urging support for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Michael C.