Two feet of snowfall with more on the way has the U.S. Capitol nearly closed down, but Neil came in to meet with representatives from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America to discuss their push for continued improvements in the VA healthcare system. As Chairman of a key House Armed Services Subcommittee, Neil has been in the forefront of the fight to expand and improve benefits for military veterans. (Photo/Dave Helfert, Communication Director)
Support for health reform still strong
A new Washington Post poll says independents and Democrats want health reform. more>
"Snowmageddon" closes federal offices
Neil's staff member, Gabriela Overdorff, trudged through the remnants of "Snowmageddon" to take some photos of the U.S. Capitol and nearby areas. see photos>
Check out Gabriela's video snippet of cross country skiers outside her D.C. home on "Snowmageddon Sunday." Go the photos tab on this page and click on the link that says "follow the Congressman on Flickr."
Rep. Murtha's support helped Hawaii troops
Neil says Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha, who passed away on Feb. 8, was a strong ally to Hawaii's troops. more>
Obama budget plan good for Hawaii
The President's new budget strikes a careful balance, says Neil. Details in the "Latest News."
Protecting endangered species
It's humpback whale-watching season in Hawaii, and Neil's work has helped to increase the population of this endangered species. more>
Also, see a video of Neil at a past whale-counting expedition. see video>
Action on deadly Afghanistan battle
The Secretary of the Army has directed the Army's commanding general to take "appropriate" action after reviewing an investigation into the battle of Wanat, Afghanistan. Neil has been supporting an effort to get a “full accounting” of the battle for the family of a soldier killed in the battle. more>
Neil's community television show
Neil's community cable television show, "Hawaii Now," has been scheduled for new time slots for the New Year. The new times will make it available on Olelo, Oahu's community television network, more often and available around the world via web-streaming on Olelo's Web site. The program is also available on Hawaii Island and Kauai. more>
Abercrombie: Hawaii troops benefited from Rep. Murtha's support more
Heftel's devotion to Hawaii was complete more
Statement on Death of Mayor Frank Fasi more
Abercrombie nominates 24 Hawaii students to U.S. service academies more
Follow the Congressman on FlickrWhy Construction on Guam Is Right for Americans more
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Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, left, and Neil, right, congratulate Landon Nakayama, one of the top graduates in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard's 2009 apprenticeship program. Neil has been a vital member of Hawaii's congressional delegation and has played a major role in strengthening the shipyard's capabilities in support of the U.S. Navy.
Throughout his time in Congress, Neil has worked to strengthen Hawaii's strategic role in the Pacific. He's been a strong advocate of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard’s readiness needs in Congress and continually sought to ensure that all available funding was directed toward critical ship repair requirements nationwide.
Neil's role was highly evident in 2005, at a critical time, when he assisted in protecting the shipyard from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. At that time, the BRAC commission raised discussions about a possible shut down of the the shipyard, which is Hawaii's largest industrial employer. Neil used his personal relations with BRAC commission members to educate them on the vital importance of the shipyard. He served as a liaison between the Navy, labor unions, and shipyard management and encouraged all parties to open lines of communication and to develop a harmonious working relationship to ensure the future success and survival of the shipyard.
On Kauai, Neil saw the need for developing the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Barking Sands, Kauai as the primary test range for the nation and worked with Hawaii's congressional delegation to ensure its development. He was tireless in his efforts to talk with the highest level Naval officials to receive their concurrence on the Navy’s use of PMRF as its primary test range. Also, he initiated a request for and secured $20 million to upgrade the facilities.
Neil worked to receive authorization for hundreds of millions of dollars of military construction projects during his 19-year tenure for projects such as: barracks, family housing, submarine berthing wharves, aircraft fuel storage tanks, dry-dock improvements, waste treatment plants, family services centers and other infrastructure requirements. He's the primary advocate of the renovation of Schofield Barracks’ historic quads and the Whole Barracks Renewal project, which included 11 phases spanning 20 years and infusing $779 million into the Hawaii economy.
White House meeting on job creation
Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this afternoon after a meeting at the White House today with President Obama
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Travel back to D.C. impacts floor activity
Due to inclement weather affecting travel back to Washington, D.C, House members are advised that no recorded votes will be
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Jobless rate drops to five-month low
The Department of Labor's January jobs report issued today show that the unemployment rate dropped from 10 percent to a
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