REPORT FROM LINDA LINGLE FOR US SENATE CAMPAIGN – U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono earlier this year voted against funding the Tsunami Warning Network that provides Hawaii with early tsunami detection and warnings. The high-tech buoy network faced $4.5 million in cuts in February, and Hirono opposed bipartisan House legislation to fully fund the critical system for FY2013 [1].
“Hirono voted against the best interest of our state – a state in a Tsunami high-risk zone – and against one of our most important life-saving tools, by voting against fully funding the Tsunami Warning Network,” said former Director of Hawaii Civil Defense and Linda Lingle Campaign Manager Bob Lee.
Despite Hirono’s disregard for her constituency, the House of Representatives voted to strengthen the Tsunami Warning Network by reinstating full funding for education and awareness programs of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, and DART buoy network maintenance for FY 2013 [2], according to Lee.
“Hirono continues to demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the critical issues facing Hawaii, putting the people of Hawaii at an unnecessary risk. When push comes to shove, Mazie Hirono does not stand up for what is best for Hawaii,” Lee added.
“Conversely, through Governor Lingle’s leadership, Hawaii vastly improved its state civil defense operations. In 2005, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to earn the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) National Weather Service StormReady and TsunamiReady designations. Through the StormReady and TsunamiReady programs, Hawaii became better prepared to protect the lives and property of its residents and visitors during severe weather events. This readiness was aptly demonstrated in the safe and timely evacuations for our coastline communities statewide during the Chile Tsunami of February 27, 2010 and during the Japan (Tohoku) tsunami of March 11, 2011,” Lee concluded.
Sourcing:
[1] Committee Report (available at: https://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cp2gpo.script/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt463/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt463.pdf). ; Text of Legislation (available at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr5326eh/pdf/BILLS-112hr5326eh.pdf).
[2] Roll Call Vote (available at: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll249.xml).