Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 9, 1 September 2003 — Recognition bill update [ARTICLE]

Recognition bill update

Having passed with amendments out of the U.S. Senate's Indian Affairs Committee on June 27, the Native Hawaiian Recognition Act of 2003 — also known as S.344, or the "AkakaStevens Bill" — is now eligible for consideration by the full Senate. However, since an anonymous hold was placed on the measure by an unnamed Republican senator, the bill did not move forward prior to the August congressional recess. Hawai'i's congressional delegation has promised to push for passage of the bill when the Senate resumes work this month, but with federal budget deliberations and other top priorities increasingly filling up the legislative calendar, scheduling the measure for a full debate may heeome more difficult. To help with the effort, OHA's trustees have planned a trip to Washington this month to onee again lobby for the recognition Act. Observers agree that the support of the Bush administration — whieh has yet to weigh in with a clear position on recognition — is key to bill's chances of passage. Speaking in Honolulu recently, Rep. Ed Case said that "if the president supports federal recognition or is neutral to federal recognition, (passage of the bill) will occur, and it will occur probably this year." On July 23, Sen. Daniel Akaka, along with fellow Hawai'i eongressional delegates, met with Justice Department officials to clarify any concerns the department may have with the recognition legislation. Supporters of the measure have recently expressed eoneem at signs that Justice might possibly oppose the bill as a form of unconstitutional racial preference. "The meeting was useful and effective," Akaka said. "We helped the department to better understand the history of Hawai'i and the importance of this legislation to all people ofHawai'i." ■