January 2008 Newsletter

Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!

As we look forward to the challenges and promise that a new session of Congress brings, I'd like to take a quick look back at the highlights of my work in 2007.

Veterans' Affairs

Chairing the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs is an honor that I take very seriously. It has been deeply rewarding to hear from, and work with, veterans and their families. I was especially moved by the stories, told to me personally, during the field hearings and town hall meetings we held across Hawaii in August.

In 2007, we passed the largest funding increase in the history of the Department of Veterans Affairs, $3.7 billion more than requested by President Bush. Legislative highlights include passage of Wounded Warrior legislation for veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, new suicide prevention legislation, and Committee endorsement of broad legislation to improve veterans' health care and veterans' benefits. The Committee staff also stepped up oversight of VA operations by way of 95 days of site visits to VA and military facilities in 28 states, two U.S. territories, and Korea.

Work remains on two important bills affecting Filipino veterans of World War II. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, which would provide long overdue veterans' benefits to Filipinos who fought under the command of American forces, is being blocked by Republicans who want the amount of benefits to veterans living in the Philippines cut to reflect the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, which would exempt sons and daughters of naturalized Filipino World War II veterans from limits on immigrant visas, was part of the comprehensive immigration reform bill that was defeated in the Senate in June. I am working to move these bills through the Senate in 2008.

National Defense

As Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management, I held hearings on abusive practices in Department of Defense (DoD) contracting, overseas basing, and the readiness capabilities of our ground troops. I was also able to add provisions in the Defense Authorization and Appropriations bills creating a Deputy Chief Management Officer for the Department of Defense and ensuring competition in procurement procedures which will improve the lives of our military and the effectiveness of our armed services.

I helped secure an additional $365 million in military construction money to repair, replace and modernize DoD facilities and championed Armed Services legislation that provides $30 million for Pearl Harbor dry dock support services and requires a report on the potential environmental impact of the Brown Tree Snake.

The President has indicated that he will not sign the National Defense Authorization Act. However, I look forward to its future enactment as it contains provisions I've actively championed to restore the collective bargaining and full appeal rights for federal employees at the Department of Defense. I remain concerned about other aspects of the National Security Personnel System and plan to continue to monitor the program.

War in Iraq

I have consistently and vocally advocated and voted in favor of legislation that would require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive plan that will bring our troops home. I believe that one of the key elements of stabilizing the ongoing chaos is for the Iraqi government to begin to take more responsibility for ensuring their nation's own security. This can only be accomplished by withdrawing U.S. troops so that the Iraqi Security Forces can assume the primary combat role in protecting and defending their nation. It is time to put the future of Iraq in the hands of the Iraqi people and the elected leaders. We cannot continue indefinitely to squander our nation's resources and lives of soldiers.

Whistleblower Protections

In December, the Senate passed my bill, the Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act (S. 274), to restore protections for federal employees who disclose government waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill will reform the process to obtain protection for making whistleblower disclosures. It will also address several court decisions that have weakened the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). By restoring credibility to the WPA, I hope that we can encourage employees to come forward and disclose government wrongdoing and save taxpayers money.

Akaka Bill

On January 17, 2007, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2007 (S. 310/H.R. 505) was introduced in the Senate and the House. The bill authorizes a process to extend federal recognition to Hawaii's indigenous people for the purposes of a government to government relationship with the United States.

In May 2007, I chaired a hearing focused on the legal aspects of the bill. Testimony provided by witnesses, including Hawaii State Attorney General Mark Bennett, spoke to the heart of the legal concerns raised, and enhanced Member understanding of the issue. S. 310 was favorably reported out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and awaits action on the Senate floor. In October, I was pleased to see the House companion bill, H.R. 505, pass overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives in October, with support from members on both sides of the aisle.

Energy

As a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I am pleased to report the passage of H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which raised fuel economy standards for cars, trucks, and SUVs for the first time since 1975. The bill also substantially increases the renewable fuel standard, and sets high marks and incentives to encourage the switch from fossil fuels to renewables. Another major accomplishment is the enactment of national efficiency standards for buildings, appliances, and lightbulbs. All of these changes will promote national security in the increasingly expensive and uncertain world energy market.

National Parks

My work as chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks has allowed me to work on many exciting initiatives to preserve land and natural resources in Hawaii and across our country. One bill I introduced shortly before the close of 2007 is S. 2502, the Kalaupapa Memorial Act of 2007. I look forward to getting this bill passed as soon as possible, so the remaining surviving Kalaupapa patients and family members will live to see this honor. In addition to memorializing the 8,000 patients forcibly exiled on the peninsula, I hope this monument will provide closure and a sense of belonging to the many family members who have no knowledge of their ancestors' whereabouts. The monument will allow the world to recognize and learn from the tragedy that took place on Kalaupapa, where mothers were taken from their children, husbands from their wives, and children from their parents. It is a part of history that should never be forgotten.

Mahalo for taking the time to read about my work in the Senate.

If my report did not cover an issue that you are particularly interested in, please visit my website for the latest information. Or, you can write me.

Aloha pumehana,

Daniel K. Akaka
U.S Senator for Hawaii