H.R. 2314 would express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.
Detailed Summary
Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009 - Establishes the U.S. Office for Native Hawaiian Relations within the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
Establishes the Native Hawaiian Interagency Coordinating Group.
Recognizes the right of the Native Hawaiian people to reorganize the single Native Hawaiian governing entity to provide for their common welfare and to adopt appropriate organic governing documents.
Establishes a Commission to: (1) prepare and maintain a roll of the adult members of the Native Hawaiian community who elect to participate in such reorganization; and (2) certify that the adult members of the Native Hawaiian community proposed for inclusion on the roll meet the definition of Native Hawaiian.
Outlines the process for the reorganization, which includes forming a Native Hawaiian Interim Governing Council.
Reaffirms the special political and legal relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian governing entity upon certification required by the Secretary regarding the organic governing documents and the election of the entity's officers. Extends federal recognition to the governing entity as the representative governing body of the Native Hawaiian people.
Authorizes the United States, upon the reaffirmation of such political and legal relationship, together with the state of Hawaii, to enter into negotiations with the governing entity to lead to an agreement addressing specified matters, including the transfer of lands, natural resources, and other assets,the exercise of governmental authority, the exercise of civil and criminal jurisdiction,the delegation of governmental powers to the new Hawaiian government,and the right to assert grievances for historical wrongs committed against native Hawaiians by the U.S. and the State.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 6/11/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.
Points in Favor
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)
Points Against
(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)
Visitor Comments
tom macdonald: Aloha4All
August 1, 2009, 3:49pm (report abuse)Both the U.S. Department of justice
and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights have published strong objection to the formation of a new Hawaiian government within the State of Hawaii, whose citizenship would be solely based on ancestry and race, in clear violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution. Formation of such a government would violate 14th Amendment requirements for equal protection of the law and lead to ethnic friction. It would reverse 40 years of progress in eliminating racial discrimination in the U.S.
tom macdonaldAloha4All
August 1, 2009, 3:57pm (report abuse)H.R. 2314, known in Hawaii as the Akaka Bill, is a "Pandora's Box."
It is carefully worded in broad generalities, so that its consequences can not be known until after it becomes law. Those consequences will include the establishment of two sets of citizens within the State of Hawaii who will be subject to different civil, criminal and tax laws, depending on their ancestry.
This will cause civil chaos, since native Hawaiians are dispersed all over the State, living on all islands and in virtually every neighborhood. Next door neighbors will be subject to different laws depending on their race !