Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Date of Announcement:	August 2005
Public Policy Topic:	Federal Recognition of Native Hawaiians
Bill or Resolution Number:	S. 147 & H.R. 309 (Previously S. 344 and H.R. 4282 in the 108th Congress)
Legislative Title:	To 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.
Current Status:	A vote on a motion for cloture to close debate on a motion to proceed to consideration of S. 147 is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2005. If the motion for cloture passes, the Senate will proceed to debate and a vote on S. 147. H.R. 309 awaits action by the House Committee on Resources and a report of the Committee back to the House before becoming eligible for House floor consideration.

The above referenced public policy issue is covered in this BillTracker announcement as a service of the CNHA Information & Government Affairs Division.

Sponsors: S. 147 is sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). H.R. 309 is sponsored by Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii).

Co-sponsors: S. 147 currently has 9 co-sponsors: Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota), Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) and Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). H.R. 309 has 7 co-sponsors: Representative Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Representative Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), Representative James Moran (D-Virginia), Representative Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia) and Representative Don Young (R-Alaska).

01/04/05	Congress convenes the First Session of the 109th Congress.
01/25/05	Legislation is introduced in the Senate (S. 147) and House (H.R. 309). Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), James Moran (D-Virginia) and Don Young (R-Alaska) join as co-sponsors of H.R. 309. The bills are referred to their respective committees of jurisdiction: Senate: Committee on Indian Affairs House: Committee on Resources
02/01/05	Representative Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia) joins as a co-sponsor of H.R. 309.
02/16/05	Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
02/18/05	Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
03/01/05	Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on S. 147 held in Washington, DC. State of Hawaii officials and other concerned parties testify in person as follows: Congressional Representatives State of Hawaii Rep. Ed Case – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle Rep. Eni Faleomavaega – American Samoa Haunani Apoliona, OHA Chair Native Organizations Tex Hall, President, National Congress of Indian Americans Jade Danner, Dir. Gov’t Affairs & Community Consultation, CNHA Representatives of various Native Hawaiian organizations and American Indian and Alaska Native entities attended the hearing. The record was kept open until March 15, 2005, for the Committee to receive additional input and testimony. Streaming video of the hearing, along with copies of written statements, are available at www.indian.senate.gov. Click on the link for “Past Hearings.”
03/08/05	Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joins as a co-sponsor of S.147.
03/09/05	Senate Committee on Indian Affairs voted to favorably report S. 147. The Committee approved S. 147, accepting an amendment offered by Senator John McCain jointly with Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, which clarifies that the bill does not authorize eligibility of Native Hawaiians for Indian programs and services.
03/10/05	Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
04/04/05	Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
04/05/05	Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
05/11/05	Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
05/16/05	Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, files the Committee’s report and an amendment to S. 147 in the nature of a substitute bill. The Committee’s report is assigned Senate Report No. 109-68.
05/16/05	S. 147 is placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 101, making it eligible for Senate floor consideration.
07/27/05	Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut) joins as a co-sponsor of S. 147.
07/29/05	Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) makes a motion to proceed to consideration of S. 147.
07/29/05	Senator Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), Senator Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Senator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-Rhode Island), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington), Senator Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin) file a motion for cloture to end debate on a motion to proceed to consideration of S. 147. The vote on the motion for cloture is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2005, at 5:30 p.m.
07/29/05	Senator Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) withdraws his motion to proceed to consideration of S. 147.