Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 5, 1 May 1995 — Impact of federal cuts on Native Hawaiian programs [ARTICLE]

Impact of federal cuts on Native Hawaiian programs

by Deborah L. Ward Meeting with leaders of Hawaiian agencies and organizations in his Honolulu office last month, Hawai'i's senior senator, Daniel Inouye, said he is optimistic that, through his efforts and those of Hawai'i's congressional delegation, Congress will restore milhons of dollars in funding for native Hawaiian programs in education, health, job training, substance abuse prevenhon, summer youth employment and eeonomie development that had been cut in the House. However, the final decision on funding for these programs wih be made by a joint House-Senate eommittee. Inouye wamed that the change in the new Congress' mood ffom one supporrive of minorities and indigenous people to one critical of affirmative aehon and special status programs, may eonhnue to affect such programs in years to eome. "Most Americans don't know anything about native Hawaiians, let alone Native Americans" he noted. Because of this changed political environment, he indicated he would seek another term to continue to provide support for Hawaiian programs, rather than retire after 40 years of legislative service. Inouye called upon Hawaiian agencies and organizations to work together more than ever before, to maximize their services and use of available funds to assure services to native Hawaiians will continue. Congress is now considering appropriations and authorizations on legislation that will affect native Hawaiians, said Inouye. These include: • House Bill 1 158, a rescision paekage whieh wiped out every Hawaiian program. The Senate has since restored most, if not all the funding for • Narive Hawaiian health care — the House cut $3.3 million, the Senate

restored $3.1 million, bringing funding back to 1994 levels for the native Hawaiian heahh care systems, native Hawaiian health care scholarships, and Papa Ola Oikahi. • Native Hawaiian Education Act — the House cut all $12 million for FY95; the Senate restored $11 million for: Family-based Education Centers, Special Education, Nā Pua No'eau Gifted and Talented Children program; and for eunieulum development, teacher training and recmitment, and community-based leaming centers. • Job Training and Placement Act/Summer Youth Employment Program — The House eliminated $15.8 milhon for Ameiiean Indian, Alaska Native and native Hawaiian programs. Native Hawaiians received $2.28 million in FY 1994. The Senate restored $867,070 for FY95, but concurred with the House on rescision for FY96. • JTPA Native American Job Training program — the House cut 10 percent, or $6.4 million for programs serving American Indians, Alaska Natives and native Hawaiian adults and youth. Alu Like ine. received $2.4 million in FY 94 from this program. The Senate restored the $6.4 million. • Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program — the House rescinded $471 million in FY 95. The Senate would restore all but $100 miliion to this program. Native Hawaiians receive a .2 percent setaside, or $914,000 to provide dmg and violence prevention programs to students, teachers and parents. • Public Library Construction — the House would cut $15.3 million. The Senate restored the full amount. Native Hawaiians receive a .5 percent set-aside, or $76,000. Inouye noted that increases in federal ftinding for native Hawaiian programs over the last decade have been possible so far because of the achievements the programs have been able to demonstrate. "Native

Hawaiian programs are among the finest in the land," he said. Inouye said the debate on funding cuts to such programs is important because it gives an early indication to Hawaiians of how Congress is likely to approach appropriations for FY 1996 (Oct. 1, 1995 to Sept. 30, 1 996) whieh are beginning to be eonsidered. Reauthorization of key federal programs In addition to appropriations, Inouye said several key reauthorizations of legislation affecting Hawaiian programs are under eonsideration. These are: • Carl Perkins Vocational and Apphed Technology Act Inouye said that the Hawai'i eongressional delegation met with President Clinton in March to stress the impoitance of continuing a native Hawaiian eligibihty for set-asides in federal educational programs. The result was restoration of $2.2 million in annual funding as a set-aside for Native Hawaiian vocational education programs, conducted by Alu Like. • Library Services and Constmction Act Native Hawaiians have received a .5 percent set-aside whieh has meant some $600,000 in annual funds for library services, construction, and interlibrary coordination for native Hawahans. • 01der Americans Act — the native Hawauan set-aside needs to be eontinued here as weh, said Inouye. Program consolidation Another area of eoneem for its potential impact on Hawaiian programs, said Inouye, is program eonsolidation. Block grants leave the decision on spending priority to states to assign, and native Hawauans currently receive few dohars through block grants to the State of Hawai'i, said Inouye. Congress has preferred set-asides for native Hawauans that assure specific funding. Native Hawaiian programs that

could be affected by program consolidation include Alu Like ine. (receives $2.2 milhon annuaUy under the Carl Perkins Indian and Hawauan Native set-asides for education and labor programs); the Native Hawaiian Community-based education leaming centers (whieh received $800,000 in FY 1995); and summer youth programs (Alu Like received $2.2 milhon in FY1994). Inouye noted there is no luxuiy any more for Hawauan agencies to operate in isolation. Rather, he said "You aU need to get together on how the

money is used for the best. With budget restraints, it might be a good opportunity for native Hawaiians to get together, especiaUy with the goal of sovereignty in mind." Inouye insisted that "Sovereignty is legal, rational and justified." He encouraged Hawaiians groups to "get your act together." He also encouraged Hawaiians to talk to their elected officials and impress upon them, particularly minority party officials in Hawai'i, that they want Hawaiian programs to continue to be supported.