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President Biden requests $1 Billion in annual defense budget to help drain Red Hill

President Joe Biden is including a major request in the annual defense budget to help drain the fuel farm at Red Hill.

Hawaii US Sen. Brian Schatz announced this morning $1-Billion to help drain the Red Hill fuel tanks has been included in the President’s annual budget proposal.

According to a news release from the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the money would enable the department to “quickly and flexibly address the health, environmental, and national security needs of the Hawaii community and the Department.”

Scahtz says he worked very closely with senior Biden Administration staff to ensure the new funding was included in the proposal. The proposal will now be considered in congress, where Schatz will continue the effort to secure the funding.

Schatz released the following statement about the proposed funding:

“The president’s budget proposal signals the administration’s support of our efforts to safely defuel and shut down Red Hill. Ultimately, Congress holds the purse strings, so I look forward to working with the president as we move our budget and appropriations process forward this year.”