Akaka Bill Wins House Committee Approval

Press Release

The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources today approved the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, known as the Akaka Bill, introduced by Rep. Neil Abercrombie.

"I am pleased that the Natural Resources Committee has voted to approve the Akaka Bill. The next step in the House will be to bring this legislation to the floor, where we won passage for it in 2000 and 2007," said Abercrombie. "The bill approved by the committee today was as I introduced it earlier this year, without change or amendment. We will be working with the State of Hawaii and the Obama Administration to determine the best way to proceed."

"The House Committee's approval is an important step towards our goal of passing this legislation into law in 2010," said Senator Daniel K. Akaka, who is scheduled to bring the bill to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs tomorrow. "I thank Congressman Abercrombie for his work to bring the bill before the Committee today, and for his advocacy for Native Hawaiian recognition over the years."

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