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A federal bill that addresses the political status of native Hawaiians will have to wait until next year, U.S. Sens. Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye said today.
Hawaii's two senators say that
when Congress reconvenes this week,
they expect that lawmakers will
work only on spending billsBy Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinThe Hawaii senators said that when the U.S. Senate and House reconvene later this week it is expected that they will work only on fiscal year 2001 spending bills before adjournment.
They anticipate no further action on S.2899/H.R.4904, known as the Akaka bill, during this session. While disappointed, the two believe there is a strong foundation to advance the measure when the next Congress convenes, in 2001.
"Clearly, all of the attention on the post-election challenges and court contest in Florida, and our efforts to navigate a 50-50 split in the Senate in the next Congress, left precious little time for the Senate to act on the native Hawaiian recognition bill and many other important issues," Akaka said.
Said Inouye: "Naturally, I am disappointed, and I know that thousands of native people across the United States share our disappointment that this important measure, which was approved by the House of Representatives on Sept. 26, 2000, could not be acted upon before the Congress adjourned."
Hawaiian activist Kekuni Blaisdell of Ka Pakaukau said today that the delay gives opponents more time to raise sentiment against the proposal. He and others contend that the bill does not allow Hawaiians to seek sovereignty in the international arena, which many believe is the only venue for true self-determination.
"I doubt that very many people have read and understood the final bill as it was revised and submitted for passage. And if they did, they will oppose it," Blaisdell said.
Hawaii's Congressional delegation has lobbied hard since this summer for the bill's passage to address a Feb. 23 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the state's Hawaiians-only voting restriction for Office of Hawaiian Affairs elections. The justices ruled that native Hawaiians are a racial classification and not a tribe that has a political relationship with the United States.
Akaka said the delegation will continue to pursue the clarification of the relationship between native Hawaiians and the United States. He plans to reintroduce the measure in the next Congress.
Rowena Akana, trustee-elect of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said next year would not be the best of times to try to get the bill passed. "Of course, I'm disappointed and next year, you know, may not be the best of times to try this if we have a majority of Republicans," she said.
