[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2003

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to cosponsor legislation 
introduced by my friend and colleague from Hawaii, Mr. Abercrombie, 
which affirms the longstanding, political relationship between the 
indigenous people of my state and our federal government and extends 
the time-honored federal policy of self-determination for indigenous 
peoples under U.S. jurisdiction to Native Hawaiians. The bill provides 
for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians, establishes an Office for 
Native Hawaiian Relations in the Department of Interior, and creates a 
federal interagency group to better coordinate policies and programs 
that address Native Hawaiians.
  Most Americans are very familiar with the indigenous peoples of the 
continental United States and the State of Alaska--American Indians and 
Alaska Natives. But, because of Hawaii's geographical distance from the 
U.S. mainland and our unique history with the United States, most 
overlook the fact that an equally indigenous people of our great 
country--Native Hawaiians--originated and retains their base in today's 
Hawaii.
  U.S. interests in the Hawaiian Islands and contact with Native 
Hawaiians date back to the late 1700s. Throughout that period, the 
federal government has maintained a unique relationship with Native 
Hawaiians--a relationship that was reaffirmed when Hawaii became a 
territory in 1900 and a state in 1959, and has continued through today.
  Over those years, more than 160 federal statutes have enacted 
programs to address the conditions of Native Hawaiians in areas such as 
Hawaiian homelands, health, education, and economic development. And in 
Hawaii, efforts by the state and quasi-autonomous entities such as the 
Office of Hawaiian Affairs and private entities like the Kamehameha 
Schools have all been devoted to the same ends.

  In more recent years, the Congress and Executive Branch have 
undertaken further efforts to improve the conditions and clarify the 
political status of Native Hawaiians. Most notably, the enactment in 
1993 of the Apology Resolution (P.L. 103-150), which received bi-
partisan support in the House and Senate and was signed by President 
Bill Clinton, expressed a national commitment to reconciliation efforts 
between Native Hawaiians and the federal government.
  In 2000, the Departments of Interior and Justice issued a 
reconciliation report which was a culmination of efforts undertaken by 
the departments in their consultations with Native Hawaiians on a broad 
range of issues. In complementary efforts, Presidents Clinton and 
George W. Bush also addressed the needs of Native Hawaiians in the 
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 
established by executive orders to increase federal opportunities for 
and improve the quality of life in these communities.
  Federal recognition legislation was a top priority recommendation of 
these efforts. Its intent was and remains to confirm that a federal 
policy of self-determination toward Native Hawaiians is appropriate and 
should be further memorialized.
  As a result, federal recognition is Hawaii's singe highest priority 
in our federal efforts. Not only is it the natural next step in a long 
process of reconciliation for Native Hawaiians, but it is indispensable 
and necessary to the continuation of Hawaii as we know it.
  That Hawaii cannot exist without the survival and prosperity of our 
indigenous people and culture. Federal recognition is the only 
practical way to assure the long term viability of the current and 
future programs and entities which provide for that culture's survival. 
In both ways, then, we all have a huge stake in federal recognition.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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