Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 4, Number 10, 1 October 1987 — Hawaiian Youth, Seniors [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Youth, Seniors

Title IV — Gifted and Talented Programs, the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Children and Youth Education Act of 1987. The Secretary of Education shall make grants to or contracts with State educational agencies, loeal educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or other public and private agencies and organizations, including native Hawaiian organizations whieh submit applications to assist in carrying out programs or projects that are designed to meet the educational needs of gifted and talented children and youth. There are authorized to be appropriated $25 million for fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for eaeh of the five subsequent fiscal years, for the purpose of carrying out this title. Title V — Drug Education, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986. The Secretary of Education shall make grants to or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with organizations primarily serving and representing native Hawaiians whieh are recognized by the Governor of the State of Hawai'i to plan, conduct and administer programs of drug abuse education and prevention. For the purpose of carrying out this title, there are authorized to be appropriated $200 million for fiscal year 1987, $250 million for fiscal year 1988, and such sums as may be necessary for eaeh of the fiscal years, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. From the sums appropriated, 0.2 percent shall be allocated to programs for native Hawaiians. . Title VIII — Indian and Native Hawaiian Education, the lndian Education Amendments of 1987. Title VIII calls for the following programs: a native Hawaiian model curriculum implementation project, native Hawaiian family based education centers, native Hawaiian higher education demonstration programs, a native Hawaiian special education program, and a native Hawaiian gifted and talented demonstration program. For eaeh of these programs and projects, the Secretary of Education shall make grants to certain organizations whieh include the University of Hawai'i, the Department of Education, the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate, native Hawaiian organizations, and the community eolleges. Funds authorized to be appropriated for the programs in Title VIII concerning native Hawaiian education exceed $32 million over a six-year period (1988-1993). It is important to note that S. 360, the native Hawaiian education bill, has similar provisions to Title VIII of H.R. 5, and H.R. 543, the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Children and Youth Education Act of 1987, has similar provisions to Title IV of H.R. 5. 2. S. 887/H.R. 1451, the 01der Americans Act Amendments of 1987, have passed their respective Houses of Congress and will be the subject of the eonference committee between the House and the Senate during the fall session. Senator Matsunaga introduced S. 887 with Senator Inouye among its cosponsors. S. 887 was reported out of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources and subsequently referred to the Select Committee on Indian Affairs, where it was further amended to include Title V — Native Amenean Programs, the Native American Programs Amendments Act of 1987. The purpose of this title is to promote the goal of eeonomie and social self-sufficiency for American Indians, native Hawaiians, native Amenean Pacific Islanders (including American Samoan natives), and native Alaskans. It further provides for the reauthorization of the Administration for Native American Programs of the Department of Health and Human Services whieh has provided community services to native Hawaiians and organizations such as Alu Like since 1974. In particular, Title V provides for the authorization of a Revolving Business Loan Program whieh is a 60month demonstration project to be targeted at the native Hawaiian community who are experiencing severe unemployment and Limited business opportunities. Funds authorized to be appropriated for this program is $3 million. There are other important amendments to S. 887. They include the establishment of an Office for Native American Programs in the Administration on Aging to improve service delivery, outreach, and particular problems facing older native Americans, including native Hawaiians; and Title VI — Grants for Native Americans, including native Hawaiians, that promote the delivery of supportive services, including nutrition services. H.R. 1451 passed the House and the Senate with amendments. Congressman Kildee introduced H.R.

1451 with Congressman Akaka among its cosponsors. The bill is presently back in the House and ready for conference. In conclusion, there are other important native Hawaiian legislation in the current Congress, including S. 136, the native Hawaiian health bill and S. 1441, the Public Health Service Act Infant Mortality Amendments of 1987. However, more about those bills and others in my next eolumn.