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Washington, DC -- The 2007 Defense Authorization bill passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives includes a provision by Congressman Neil Abercrombie requiring the Army to plan and prepare for military training after the Makua Valley Range is closed.
“The Army’s presence in Hawaii is undergoing tremendous change,” said Abercrombie. “Meeting these needs while safeguarding the public’s cultural and environmental concerns is essential, and the analysis will help Congress and the people of Hawaii better understand how to balance the two.”
A new Stryker Brigade is due to be activated this coming year, and thousands more troops will be transferred to Hawaii as part of the larger changes in the military’s Pacific region basing posture.
“In particular, this process will address the sensitive issue of the Army’s long-term future in the Makua Valley, which is owned by the people of Hawaii,” explained Abercrombie. “Eventually, the land must be returned, so the Army needs to look beyond its current use to the eventual return of this historic and environmentally sensitive treasure.”
The legislation requires the Army to report to Congress not later than March 1, 2007 on its future training range plans in Hawaii, including alternatives to the Makua Valley Range.
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