Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 8, 1 August 2001 — Federal recognition bill -- [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Federal recognition bill --

Revised bill offers major, minor additions, cuts

Federal recognition legislation moved another step forward July 24 as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimousIy approved S. 746, clarifying the political relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government. A eompanion bill, H.R. 617, has already cleared the House

Committee on Resources. The committee successes set the stage for a floor vote within the next few months in both houses of Congress. However, the identical bill being voted on this year in both houses of Congress has changed

m both minor and signihcant ways when compared to the federal recognition bill before Congress last year. Earlier versions of the bill established qualifications for a membership roll of those adults who wished to participate in a Native Hawaiian Interim Governing Council and established a commission to certify membership. Both the eouneil and the process for a roll have been deleted. This year's legislation refers to a Native Hawaiian gov-

erning entity, whieh is to be developed and managed solely by Native Hawaiians. A rather significant change in the bill is a requirement that the Hawai'i State Legislature must, through act or resolution, support the recognition of the Native Hawaiian governing entity before the entity is recognized

by the United States. Whether this and other changes are included in the final bill, should it be passed, remains to be seen. Additionally, the bill expressly prohibits all forms of gaming and

assures that Nattve Hawaiians will not infringe on Native American domestic programs funded through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Native Hawaiians have their own domestic programs funded through other agencies. Other key changes include: ■ The Native Hawaiian Interagency Task Force has been renamed the Native Interagency Coordinating Group and membership of the Executive Office of the President has been deleted. The U.S.

Department of the Interior will chair the group, whose members will be appointed by the president and will represent any federal agencies that administer Native Hawaiian programs or establish or implement policies that affect Native Hawaiians. ■ The U.S. Office of Hawaiian Affairs has been renamed the U.S. Office for Native Hawaiian Relations and will be housed in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior. The office will be responsible for continuing the process of reconciliation with the Native Hawaiian people and will prepare an annual report to the Congress regarding reconciliation efforts. While the bill may not be in its final form, when the bill reaches the floor of both houses, members of the Hawai'i delegation or other members of Congress may suggest additions or deletions to the bill's current language to facilitate its passage. Need a copy of the bill? Go online to www.OHA.org and view or download a copy of the bill. Ka Wai Ola and OHA's website will contain the latest updates on the bill.

In other legislative news related to Hawaiian programs The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs approved without opposition the Native Hawaiian Heahh Care Improvement Act. This bill ushers in additional funding for heahh care programs and community-based and culturally based heahh initiatives. The bill also provides for scholarships to Native Hawaiian students working toward heahh professions. The same committee also passed the Native American Languages Act Amendments of 2001. This bill addresses the effects of past discrimination against Native Hawaiian, American lndian, and Alaska Native language speakers. The bill authorizes grant funding for three demonstration programs, one of whieh will be at the Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. ( Compiled by the OHA Public Information Office and Hawaiian Rights Division). ■

Sen. Akaka