Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 8, 1 August 1986 — Mai Wakinekona [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mai Wakinekona

OHA in Washington, D.C. By Larry Kamakawiwo'ole Federal Liaison Officer It has been a brief and exciting three months since Carol Ford and 1 were appointed as Office of Hawaiian Affairs representatives in Washington, D.C. Our immediate objectives have been to introduce ourselves to people in the legislative process and federal agencies, who affect native Hawaiians in the areas of federal legislation and federal grants. Generally, we have found that people in the nation's capital are not accustomed (ma'a) to a native Hawaiian agency with representatives living in Washington, D.C. Upon introductions, the first question that we are usually asked is, " When did you arrive?" However, people are quickly adjusting to OHA's precedent of appointing Washington, D.C. residents as its representatives. Upon first meetings with staff members of congressional offices, committees, and subcommittees, and federal agencies, Carol and 1 have informed people about OHA and the conditions of native Hawaiian people in Hawai'i. We have discovered that most people are unaware of the achievements and problems confronting native Hawaiians. In our subsequent meetings, we have provided and received information whieh may eventually be beneficial to OHA and our native Hawaiian people. Carol and 1 have established a good working relationship with our congressional offices. Staff members responsible for native Hawaiian issues and legislation have been very cooperative. We are grateful for their assistance and support. We look forward to their eontinued kokua. Finally, as OHA strengthens its position in Hawai'i as an instrument of poliheal, eeonomie and social change for our native Hawaiian people, that ean only strength-

en OHA's position in Washington, D.C. In that light of strength, Carol and I remain steadfast in the struggle of our native Hawaiian people. Update on federal legislation affecting native Hawaiians. The following bills are in committees: 1. S.803, a bill to include native Hawaiians in the Indian Education Act, is in the Select Committee on Indian Affairs. 2. S. 2515, a bill to maximize the employability, independence and integration of native Hawaiians with handicaps into the workplace and in the community, is in the Committee on Labor and Human Resources. 3. H.R. 4121,counterpart toS. 830, is in the Committee on Education and Labor. 4. H.R. 4282, a eompanion bill to S. 1988, was introduced by Congressman Patrick Williams of Montana. The bill was referred jointly to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and Energy and Commerce. The following bills are pending floor action: 1. S. 1622, a bill to create an independent agency to foster, promote and support the development of native American art, was introduced by Senator Melcher of Montana and co-sponsors included Senators Inouye and Matsunaga. S. 1622 was referred to the Select Committee on Indian Affairs. The House Committee on Education and Labor included a similar version of S. 1622 as an amendment to H.R. 3700, the Higher Education Amendments of 1985, whieh passed the House. 2. S. 1988, a bill to establish a program for the prevention and control of diabetes among native Americans. 3. S. 2243, the native Hawaiian health bill. The following bill and joint resolution passed one House and is currently in the other House: 1. S.2294, a bill to provide programs for native Hawaiian children with handicaps, passed the Senate

in June. S. 2294 had been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, whieh subsequently referred it to its Subcommittee on Select Education. 2. H.J. Res. 17, a joint resolution whieh includes reducing the blood quantum requirement for the surviving spouse and children of Hawaiian Homes' lessees from 50 percent to 25 percent Hawaiian, passed the House. The joint resoIution was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. A hearing before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has been tentatively scheduled for Aug. 13. A note on the legislative process. A eompanion bill is introduced simultaneously in both Houses. It is usually associated with executive branch bills in whieh the president sends to Congress special messages detailing proposals in specific areas of legislation, such as energy, welfare and health. Members of Congress are then asked to introduce these bills as eompanion bills in both Houses. A joint referral of a bill concurrently to two or more committees usually means one more hurdle; for a bill to overcome-rather than one committee, the bill has to pass two committees. This involves additional opportunities for delay, negotiation, compromise, and bargaining. A joint resolution is like a bill but not as frequently used. In fact, those two forms are often used indiscriminately. A joint resolution may originate either in the House or Senate but not jointly in both Houses. Finally, a bill may be referred by a committee to its subcommittee for further study and hearings. After a hearing, the subcommittee may approve the bill unaltered, amend it, rewrite it— or block in altogether. Subsequently, the bill is reported with recommendations to the full committee whieh may repeat the subcommittee's procedures, all or in part, or it may simply ratify the action of the subcommittee.