Washington, D.C. -- {The U.S. House today approved the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009, which contains three provisions important to Hawaii: authorization for a memorial to residents in Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai, authorization for annual operating funds for the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and reauthorization of the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park's Advisory Commission.

"Kalaupapa is certainly not the happiest chapter in Hawaii's long and unique history, but it shaped the lives of 8,000 people and their families,"said Rep. Neil Abercrombie. "The Kalaupapa Memorial will preserve their legacy and honor their lives. It's an important story that inspires us and teaches timeless lessons about sacrifice, and the strength and dignity of the human spirit."

The legislation also authorizes annual appropriations up to $500,000 for the operation and maintenance of the National Tropical Botanical Garden's five locations: three on Kauai, one on Maui and one in Florida. The garden system was chartered by Congress in 1964 as the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden and renamed the National Tropical Botanical Garden in 1988. It is an education and scientific center for research and study into the uses of tropical flora in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, medicine and other sciences, for the collection and propagation of tropical flora species threatened with extinction. Approximately 95% of the garden's budget comes from private sources.

The third Hawaii provision in the Omnibus Public Lands Act reauthorized the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park's Advisory Commission for ten years. This enables the National Park Service to solicit the advice and counsel of Hawaiian experts in Native Hawaiian language, history, and cultural arts while the park is engaged in the interpretation of traditional Native Hawaiian activities and culture. Kaloko-Honokohau National Park is on the west side of the Big Island.

"This is one of the most significant conservation bills to be passed by Congress in the last 15 years," said Abercrombie. "These measures are even more important in Hawaii, where we take very seriously the preservation of our unique culture, history and beauty of our land."

NOTE: For a video tour of the National Botanical Garden on Kauai with Representative Abercrombie, go to http://www.house.gov/abercrombie/video/080912_garden.wmv}

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