Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 3, 1 March 1998 — The dance of legislation in D.C and Honolulu [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The dance of legislation in D.C and Honolulu

Ke aloha nui . . . e nā 'ōiwi o Hawai'i, nā pulapula o kēia 'āina makuahine. This is the 13th article in my series of 46. Census 2000 Update ^ ENSUS BUREAU Director Martha Ē "Mart)'" Famsworth Riche, a founding editor of American Demographics 1 magazine. appointed by President V* Clinton in 1 994. resigned from her position effective Jan. 30. According to a press release ffom the Census Bureau, "During her tenure she unveiled plans for the Census 2000 whieh included expanded partnerships with the private sector, reliance on state-of-the-art technologies and increased oppoitunities to respond. The most controversial aspect of the-2000 Census plan involves expanding the use of sampling and statistical techniques to eomplete the fmal 10 percent of the count and to comect undercounts and overcounts. Some members of the Congress strongly oppose these elements of the plan and have tried to prevent them through the legislative process." The House of Representatives has created a subcommittee on the census, chaired by Dan Miller (R-Rorida). The Congressional Record of Feb. 3, 1998, quoted him

as saying, "The Census Bureau has unilaterally decided to try a radical new approach to conducting the census. They know Congress disapproves, but they still plan to carry out this untested, risky method that in all likelihood will not even work. The Clinton administration has known for at least three years now, since they released the outlines of their unprecedented plan, that manv members of the House have serious reser-

vations. The House of Representatives will soon be filing suit as agreed by the majority in Congress last year, to prevent the unlawful use of the polling techniques at the heart of the Bureau's unprecedented plan. Hopefully, the court will resolve these issues. But no matter what they decide, the administration is wrong to try and ram down some new plan without poliīieal consensus." Update: 19th Legislature HB 235 1 . Relating to Traditional and Customary Rights, confirms and clarifies customary and traditional Native Hawaiian subsistence, cultural and rehgious rights

under the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i. Concems on the measure drafted by Rep. Ed Case were heard Jan. 24, and on Feb. 5 the Hawaiian Affairs Committee decided to hold the bill. HB 1536, Relatingto Native Hawaiian Cultural Impact Statements, requires environmental impact statements to include an assessment of the effects of the proposed action on native Hawaiian culture. Concems were heard Jan.24. and on Feb.

5, the Hawauan Affairs Committee decided to hold the bill drafted by Rep. Mina Morita. HB 2340. Relating to Native Hawahans, as proposed by Rep. Case, would create a Native Hawaiian Tmst Corporation to assume assets, liabihties, and responsibilities formerly held or otherwise to be held by the state on behalf of Hawaiians including those of OHA and DHFfL. It would repeal OHA and DHHL upon creation of a corporation administered by an elected board. Decisions on assets, liabilities and responsibilities transferred to the corporation would be made by the corporation on behalf of Hawaiians. The bill required

transfer of land or other assets in settlement of outstanding Hawaiian claims against the state to the corporation and otherwise provided for Hawaiian autonomy over Hawaiian assets and responsibilities and for claims resolution. A public hearing was held Jan. 31, and on Feb. 5 the House Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted to hold the bill. Various Hawaiian language immersion bills were heard on Feb. 7. OHA IVIeasures HB 2913 (SB 2668) Relating to Abandoned Property HB 2914 (SB 2669) Reianng to the Board of Land and Natural Resources HB 2915 (SB2670) Relatmg to Fees Collected by the Department of Heahh HB 29 1 6 (SB 267 1 ) Reiatmg to the Land Use Commission HB 2917 (SB 2672) Relanng to Procurement HB 2918 (SB 2938) Relating to Public Trast Lands HB 3291 (SB 2944) Relating to Hawaiian Fishponds On Feb. 12, the House held a hearing on OHA's legislative package Senate heanngs should fo!low. For more information eall the OHA Govemment Affairs Office at 594-1946. A hui hou i ka mahina a'e. ■

Vice-chairperson's m e s s a g e

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