Congresswoman Hirono Again Defends Native Hawaiian Program
Leads Successful Effort to Defeat Republican Amendment
That Would End Native Hawaiian Housing Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today to support an important Native Hawaiian housing program and more generally to defend various federal programs that provide assistance to Native Hawaiians.
As the House considered the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 2786), Congresswoman Hirono led opposition to an amendment – proposed by a Georgia Republican – which would allow the authorization for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Loan Guarantee programs to expire on September 30, 2007.
The amendment was defeated by a vote of 298 to 112.
The block grant helps provide affordable housing for Native Hawaiian families who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian Home Lands, which were established in trust by the United States in 1921 under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.
Congresswoman Hirono informed her House colleagues that Native Hawaiians experience significant housing problems related to affordability, overcrowding and structural inadequacy. Almost twenty four thousand individuals remain on a waiting list for leases.
Congresswoman Hirono said, "This block grant supports the dreams of homeownership for Native Hawaiians in our state – and even across the nation. In fact, more than 2700 Hawaiian home lands applicants currently reside outside the state of Hawai‘i, including 21 Native Hawaiians who currently live in Georgia, the home state of the Congressman who has now twice tried to eliminate the program."
Congresswoman Hirono helped defeat a previous Republican effort to eliminate funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program that was proposed in July as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill.
She cited similar Republican attempts in Congress this year, including a failed challenge to the previously uncontroversial Native Hawaiian Housing Act (H.R. 835) and an attempt to strike education funds for Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.
"I was shocked when the sponsor of the amendment stated that this program should be eliminated because Native Hawaiians did not have a sovereign form of government prior to the overthrow," said Congresswoman Hirono. "To say this is not only inaccurate but a total insult to Native Hawaiians."
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