WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the House-Senate Conference approved $2 million to continue developing a national prototype space education curriculum to be jointly developed by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) and the Bishop Museum.

"This special curriculum, which will be distributed nationwide to science museums and elementary and secondary schools, is being designed to heighten student interest and involvement in science, technology and space programs by utilizing NASA's technology base and the nation's science museum and planetarium network," stated Senator Inouye.

The work of the second phase expands upon the first phase partnership with NASA, the Explorers Project, and uses additional media and techniques to reach wider audiences. The second phase will establish a Center for Space Education at Bishop Museum. It will interpret ongoing NASA and other space related research and development activities to student and family audiences in the Pacific Basin and the rest of the country. The Center will produce educational programs, exhibits, curriculum and other materials which will supplement existing educational methods not easily utilized by people in the Pacific Basin due to satellite positioning or economic limitations.

In Fiscal Year 1997, Senator Inouye obtained $2 million for the first phase of the Bishop Museum Planetarium initiative with NASA's Academic Programs. Of that amount, $1 million was provided to Bishop Museum to create two dynamic multi-media planetarium programs and associated educational materials around the theme of exploration. The "Journey by Starlight" program is an interactive simulation of navigating a Hawaiian canoe from Tahiti to Hawaii. The "Eyes on the Universe" program will focus on modern technology and human exploration of the universe from earth and space-based observatories. Using various distribution techniques including an interactive and evolving World Wide Web, video resources and an interactive CD-ROM, an estimated 800,000 students and 500,000 families across the nation will be able to experience these two programs. These premiere programs will be featured at the Bishop Museum's new planetarium that is scheduled to open in 1999.

In addition, Senator Inouye secured $1.5 million for an additional 5000 niches at the columbarium of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

"As of August 31, 1997, there were 2,390 niches available. It is estimated that these spaces will meet the demand for niche space for the next six years, through 2003. That year will begin the five years of greatest expected burial need, and they will be predominately for the veterans of World War II. The additional 5000 niches will accommodate the many veterans that reside in Hawaii who wish to select, as their final resting place, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific," stated Senator Inouye.

Senator Inouye also secured $1.25 million for the design of granular activated carbon (GAC) water treatment facilities in Central Oahu. These facilities will be used for the treatment of the water supply. Currently, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) provides water service to a majority of the Island of Oahu.

The House-Senate Conference included $500,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate the actions of federal, state, and local agencies to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce pollution, to implement the program, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program through innovative monitoring activities. The Ala Wai Canal serves as an important recreational and ecological resource, but it does not meet Clean Water Act standards with potentially unsafe levels of fecal coliforms, pesticides, metals and other water quality contaminants.

$100,000 was approved for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help address the unique environmental concerns of the American Pacific insular areas, and the need to develop and adopt sustainable agricultural practices for these fragile tropical ecosystems.

Upon final approval by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the Fiscal Year 1998 Veterans Affairs (VA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill will be transmitted to the White House to await President Clinton's signature.