Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 10, 1 October 2012 — U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE

1) What actions would you take to better the conditions of Native Hawaiians?

2) Given the partisan divide over the federal budget and the likelihood of cuts in federal spending over the next decade, what will you do to ensure that federal programs supporting Native Hawaiians continue to receive appropriate funding?

1) Native Hawaiians deserve equal recognition as Alaska Natives and American lndians. I am the Akaka bill's House sponsor; as senator, I will keep fightingforfederal recognition. I will work with Native Hawaiian leaders to address strategies to bring federal resources to Hawai'i. I introduced legislation thatcreates Native Hawaiian homeownership opportunities by expanding access to loan guarantees, as well as legislation to expand health-care opportunities for the Native Hawaiian eomm unity.

2) We need a unified congressional delegation and collaborative leadership. Our delegation has always collaborated to support these programs. In Congress, I worked with Don Young (R-AK) to restore funding for Native Hawaiian education programs, taking on mycaucus and earningtheir supportfor our amendment. As senator, I will educate colleagues about indigenous peoples' needs and advance initiatives that protect native peoples, as I did in getting all House freshman Democrats in 2007 to support the Akaka bill.

1) I will devote myself to assuring Native Hawaiian recognition byconvincing my Republican colleagues to do the right thing. Our laek of a Republican senator is a main reason the Akaka bill has not passed. Iwill appoint eomm unity-based advisorycommitteestoworkwith me in areas such as homeownership, education, health care, small-business development and governance. I will schedule Skype conferences with the eommunity so we ean stay in touch in real time when I am inWashington.

2) Here at home we see tangible benefits that make life better for people because of programs like the Native Hawaiian Education and Health Care acts. I will work vigorously in a bipartisan fashion to secure continued support for such programs. I will also work to close tax loopholes and take new approaches to address the critical issues of the debt and deficit, whieh is important to future generations.

1) I support housing assistance for Native Hawaiians, and while in Congress, actively worked with mycolleaguesto reauthorize the Hawaiian Homeownership OpportunityAct. lwould also advocate passage of the Akaka bill by ensuring that mainland Republicans understand the importance of the bill. With Republicans expected to retain control of the U.S. House, Hawai'i needs a representative who ean speak to the House majority. 2) The most effective means of assuring adequate funding for Native Hawaiian programs is with a bipartisan Hawai'i congressional delegation. Congresswoman Pat Saiki, a Republican, convinced President George H.W. Bush, a Republican,toend the bombingof Kaho'olawe. I will bring a similarapproach to ensure sufficient fundingof Native Hawaiian progra ms and to ensure that the concerns of Native Hawaiians are heard by the House majority. If elected, I will never forget that I work for the people of Hawai'i. *Denotes incumbent

1)As a former state senator that represented Wai'anae, I chaired the eommittee with jurisdiction over Hawaiian affairs. I am keenly aware of the challenges/issuesthatface Native Hawaiians. Born and raised inWai'anae, I count many Native Hawa iians as my lifelong friends. Consequently, I have dedicated my political career to championing Native Hawaiians' issues by facilitatingeconomic development/higher education in West O'ahu to provide job/educational opportunities, ensuringfunding is provided for HHL development, and supportingfederal legislation that promotes self-governance and the Native Hawaiian agenda. Moreover, I chose as my House Subcommittee on lndian and Alaskan Native Affairs assignment to ensure that I ean participate in Native Hawaiian issues. 2) I plan on remaining a memberof the Subcommittee on lndian and Alaskan Native Affairs so that I ean eonhnue to directly participate in congressional actions that affect Native Hawaiian programs.

1) I will work to continue federal programsfor Native Hawa iians. lalso believe the U.S. government through an act of Congress should more formally recognize the special legal/political status of Native Hawaiians. Pending reorganization of a Native Hawaiian Governing Entity, through the process commenced by Act 195 (2011) or a Native Hawaiian-driven process, lwould workwith the delegation to pass a bill or administrative regulation aeknowledging this status, without the government-building components that would bedifficulttopassatthistime. 2) I served as volunteer coordinator for Senator Akaka's re-election campaign, and lwasthen invitedtoworkwithhim inWashington,D.C.,where lassisted Senator Akaka with programs and legislation directly benefitting Native Hawaiians. The 2012 Republican platform recently expressly stated their support for federal programs aimed at preserving Native Hawaiian culture and language. I'll make sure that Republican members of Congress are reminded of thiscommitment.

As of press time, the following candidate did not respond: Kawika Crowley for U.S. House 2nd Congressional District.

CŪNGRESS

U.S. SENATE MAZIE HIRONO (D)

U.S. SENATE LINŪA LINGLE (R)

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (URBAN HONOLULU) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES DJOU (R)

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (URBAN HONOLULU) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE COLLEEN HANABUSA (D) *

2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (RURAL Q'AHU/NEIGHBOR ISLANDS) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TULSI GABBRAD (D)