Hawai'i's congressional delegation is lining up to praise passage of the national farm bill.

The state's four Democrats in Congress all say it will strengthen agriculture in the Islands and establish the University of Hawai'i as a regional center for the study of bio-based energy development.

The bill adds macadamia nuts to a mandatory program that requires labels showing the country where they were grown.

It also authorizes $15 million to reimburse farmers and ranchers in Hawai'i, Alaska and the U.S. territories for additional transport costs because of their isolation.

The bill also adds Hawai'i to the list of states eligible for grants that help improve irrigation systems, plant trees, halt soil erosion, control pests and practice organic farming.

Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel Akaka and Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono all voted for the bill.

President Bush has said he will veto the legislation, but it passed both the House and Senate this week with veto-proof majorities.