Word With Word – UH Cancer Center
April 29th, 2013
Representative Gene Ward, Ph.D. speaks with Director Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D. of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The UH Cancer Center’s consuming passion is to be a world leader in eliminating cancer through research, education and improved patient care.
Better Government with Reps. Ward and McDermott
April 28th, 2013
Representatives Ward and McDermott discuss the final days of the Regular Session of 2013.
Rep. Ward on the Mike Buck Show
April 23rd, 2013
Rep. Ward and Mike Buck discuss bills in conference committee, “gut and replace,” the “Great Lawn” debate, early education and more on the Mike Buck Show on AM690 KHNR. Monday, April 22, 2013.
Great Lawn Townhall Meeting – Video
March 25th, 2013
The townhall meeting concerning the proposed development of the “Great Lawn” took place on Thursday, March 21, 2013. The meeting was organized by Rep. Gene Ward and co-sponsored by Sens. Sam Slom and Laura H. Thielen, Rep. Mark J. Hashem, Councilmember Stanley Chang and the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board, the first time all East Honolulu elected officials hosted a joint meeting in recent years.
In case you missed the meeting, or just want to catch a recap, please watch the video below:
Rep. Ward Urges Jones Act Reform
March 20th, 2013
REPRESENTATIVE GENE WARD
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER EMERITUS
HAWAI‘I STATE CAPITOL – HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I
NEWS RELEASE
March 20, 2013
HONOLULU – Rep. Gene Ward (R, Hawai‘i Kai-Kalama Valley) introduced a resolution (HCR150/HR119) calling on Congress to enact Jones Act reform legislation extending Guam’s U.S. build exemption for large oceangoing ships to Hawai‘i, Alaska and Puerto Rico.
“The resolution asks Congress for a limited exemption from the U.S. build requirement of the Jones Act for large oceangoing ships in the noncontiguous domestic trades of Hawai‘i, Alaska and Puerto Rico,” Ward said.
The exemption is modeled on the Guam Exemption and the Hawai‘i Cruise Trade exemption. The historical Guam Exemption allows foreign-built vessels in the domestic Guam trade.
The Hawai‘i Cruise Trade Exemption was put in place 2003 by the efforts of late U.S. Senator Daniel K Inouye. With this exemption, Congress revitalized Hawai‘i’s cruise ship industry and boosted our tourist economy.
“This exemption from the U.S. built requirement will become very important in Governor Abercrombie’s plans to switch from petroleum based fuels to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for the purpose of electrical power generation,” Ward continued.
No U.S. shipyard has built LNG carriers since the 1970’s. With the shutdown of Tesoro’s Hawai‘i refinery in April 2013 — Hawai‘iGas loses its supplier of naphtha feed stock for the production of synthetic natural gas (SNG). Hawai‘iGas SNG customers will soon depend on recently-approved shipments of LNG carried in 40-foot refrigerated tank containers. LNG carriers are required if LNG is to fuel the much larger demands of electricity generation.
Changing air pollution rules are forcing Hawai‘i electric generators to switch to Natural gas. Likewise, ship owners are beginning to power their vessels with LNG to meet new air pollution requirements requiring reduced emissions within 250 miles of shore.
This proposed exemption would not change the other requirements of the Jones Act for U.S.-flag, crew and ownership, would not apply to the tug and barge industry, nor cause a loss of any maritime jobs in Hawai‘i or the other noncontiguous jurisdictions.
The high cost of new Jones Act ships is the main cost driver in the noncontiguous trades and by allowing foreign built oceangoing ships operating under U.S.-flag into these trades we can substantially lower the shipowners’ capital costs and meaningfully increase competition that will assist all of the residents. This exemption would also not affect Matson has some of its ship repairs done in Asia rather than U.S. ports. This will not alter current ship repair operations.
“We are looking forward to the Legislatures of Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico to join with us by passing complimentary resolutions supporting this important Jones Act exemption for all of us,” Ward concluded.
Word With Word – Great Lawn – Another Strip Mall in Hawaii Kai?
March 19th, 2013
Rep. Ward, Paige Altonn and Laura Buck discuss the possibility of a new strip mall on the “Great Lawn” in Hawaii Kai.