WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the Senate approved $750,000 to continue part-time and temporary positions in the Honolulu District of the United States Customs Service, and approved $340,000 for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to continue gang prevention and gang resistance education and training in the State of Hawaii. The funding will be equally distributed among the No Hope in Dope Program, the Positive Alternative Gang Education (PAGE) Program, the School Attendance Program (SAP), and the Acquiring Knowledge, Awareness, Motivation, and Inspiration (AKAMAI) Program. These initiatives are included in the Fiscal Year 1999 Department of Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Bill.

"In Hawaii today, the need for U.S. customs personnel is ever more important and necessary to facilitate the movement of the thousands of passengers arriving and departing from Honolulu International Airport everyday. I wish to extend my appreciation to my colleagues in the Senate for their continued support of my efforts to this end," stated Senator Inouye.

In addition, $475,000 was provided for the planning and design of the Mauna Kea Astronomy Educational Center on the Island of Hawaii. Mauna Kea is known internationally as the best site for optical, infrared and millimeter/submillimeter astronomy. The center will include a planetarium, real time linkages to observatories, and conferencing and instructional facilities.

The Senate directs the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to maintain a problem resolution specialist position, current problem resolution positions assisting the problem resolution officer, and an appropriate number of tax examination personnel to assist the taxpayers in Hawaii and Alaska, recognizing the distances between these states and the U.S. mainland, the many tax compliance issues unique to these states, and the difficulty in receiving assistance through the IRS toll-free line.

The Senate also directed the U.S. Postal Service to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to combat plant and animal pests and disease in Hawaii. The concern is that recent introductions of plant and animal pests and diseases into Hawaii have occurred through the U.S. mail system. These introductions have severe consequences for U.S. agriculture, biodiversity, and public health and safety.

The Fiscal Year 1999 Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Bill will now face a joint House-Senate Conference and final House and Senate votes before its transmittal to the White House.