Providing for Consideration of HR 835, Hawaiian Home Ownership Opportunity Act of 2007

Floor Speech

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 835, HAWAIIAN HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2007

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Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 269 provides for consideration of H.R. 835, the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2007, a closed rule providing 1 hour of general debate in the House, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services.

The rule waives all points of order against the bill and against its consideration except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the bill shall be considered as read. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to speak very long about this legislation other than to express my sincere hope that this body will move forward expeditiously with its passage.

As my colleagues know, the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act was placed on the Suspension Calendar last week after being unanimously voted out of the Committee on Financial Services by a voice vote. It was our hope, and the hope of so many Native Hawaiians, that the House would support it with as much enthusiasm as did the committee of jurisdiction.

Unfortunately, as we all now know, there are some in this body who believe that it is in their best interest to create a partisan divide where no such division should exist. They have in my opinion falsely accused my friends and representatives from Hawaii of ulterior motives, and in doing so, have delayed justice and fairness to some of our most loyal citizens.

Contrary to the false accusation made by its opponents, this bill is not a bill aimed at achieving Native American status for Native Hawaiians, no matter how important that issue may be.

This bill provides low-income Native Hawaiians access to the American Dream. They, just like all of us in this body, have had at one point in our lives a dream to own a home. This bill brings them one step closer to realizing that dream.

Shame on those who continue to paint this bill as anything other than what it is.

I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation which is so critically needed.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time.

I appreciate very much my friend's attitude with reference to this matter and his suggestion that he would accept the representation of our two colleagues from Hawaii as well as me and other members of the Rules Committee.

I would also urge that your concerns, albeit, I believe, likely to be taken care of on another day, have been addressed by the committee that reported this out unanimously, meaning the Republicans and the Democrats on the relevant committee voted this matter out.

I would also urge that the Hawaiian State legislature has indicated that there are no intentions at all to seek any special status; and the Governor of Hawaii, who is a Republican also, has made it clear that no special status is sought.

Toward that end, it would seem to me that this matter, having been supported, had the enjoyment of the support of 262 Members last week, and that is a total that I hope we will reach today, because this legislation is desperately needed. This is an issue of fairness and access.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this appropriate rule and the underlying legislation and to clearly understand that it has nothing to do with citizenship and everything to do with housing.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

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