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Aloha, and thank you for being with us today as we consider two very important pieces of legislation. Both of these bills are of great importance to me, my colleagues, and to Native peoples.
The first bill we will consider is S. 675, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2011.
As you know, I have been working on this legislation for well over a decade and I thank my colleagues for working with me on this important measure. Over the years, we have had extensive hearings on this issue-all stakeholders have had an opportunity to present their views, and we have strengthened our bill with their input. Now is the time to move this legislation forward.
This legislation is so important because it will bring parity to federal policy as it relates to the Native Hawaiian people. I have committed to my constituents that I will see this legislation through during my time in Congress, and today is the first step in that process.
With the support of my colleagues, we will mark this bill up today and report it out of Committee.
The second bill we will consider is S. 676, the Carcieri fix. This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for all Indian tribes.
It is important to remember why the Secretary was granted this authority in the Indian Reorganization Act. The failed federal policies of allotment led to land losses of more than 100 million acres of tribal homelands.
The Indian Reorganization Act was intended to help tribes rebuild their homelands which are essential for the economic advancement and self-sufficiency of Indian communities.
I want to be clear that this legislation does not grant any new authorities to the Secretary. It merely reaffirms the intent of the Indian Reorganization Act as it has been carried out for the past 75 years.
I want to say mahalo - thank you to my cosponsors on this bill, many of whom are colleagues on this Committee. We all understand how important this bill is to Indian Country and I am happy to hold this mark-up on the bill so we can move forward with this legislation.
Again, mahalo - thank you to my colleagues for their support on these two bills which are so instrumental to improving the lives of Native peoples.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Business Meeting
Statement of Chairman Daniel K. Akaka
Thu, April 7, 2011
Aloha, and thank you for being with us today as we consider two very important pieces of legislation. Both of these bills are of great importance to me, my colleagues, and to Native peoples.
The first bill we will consider is S. 675, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2011.
As you know, I have been working on this legislation for well over a decade and I thank my colleagues for working with me on this important measure. Over the years, we have had extensive hearings on this issue-all stakeholders have had an opportunity to present their views, and we have strengthened our bill with their input. Now is the time to move this legislation forward.
This legislation is so important because it will bring parity to federal policy as it relates to the Native Hawaiian people. I have committed to my constituents that I will see this legislation through during my time in Congress, and today is the first step in that process.
With the support of my colleagues, we will mark this bill up today and report it out of Committee.
The second bill we will consider is S. 676, the Carcieri fix. This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for all Indian tribes.
It is important to remember why the Secretary was granted this authority in the Indian Reorganization Act. The failed federal policies of allotment led to land losses of more than 100 million acres of tribal homelands.
The Indian Reorganization Act was intended to help tribes rebuild their homelands which are essential for the economic advancement and self-sufficiency of Indian communities.
I want to be clear that this legislation does not grant any new authorities to the Secretary. It merely reaffirms the intent of the Indian Reorganization Act as it has been carried out for the past 75 years.
I want to say mahalo - thank you to my cosponsors on this bill, many of whom are colleagues on this Committee. We all understand how important this bill is to Indian Country and I am happy to hold this mark-up on the bill so we can move forward with this legislation.
Again, mahalo - thank you to my colleagues for their support on these two bills which are so instrumental to improving the lives of Native peoples.
