honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 15, 2001

Education bill aids Native Hawaiians

 •  Schools face tough tests in Senate education bill

By Susan Roth
Advertiser Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The massive education bill that passed the Senate yesterday included some Hawai'i-specific programs, including $35 million for Native Hawaiian education.

Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, was out of town and was the only senator who did not vote on the bill. Sen. Daniel Akaka voted in favor of it.

Inouye had the Native Hawaiian provision included in the bill, which authorizes a total of $33 billion for elementary and secondary education in 2002. The provision was not included in the House version, which authorizes $24 billion.

Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, the new chairman of the House Education Committee, argued over the Native Hawaiian issue with Rep. Patsy Mink, D-Hawai'i, a member of the committee. Boehner ultimately refused to allow the Hawaiian money and authorization in the House bill. He has long opposed federal financing for Native Hawaiian education programs, saying that the wealthy Bishop Estate/Kamehameha Schools should provide all the necessary services.

But Boehner has said he would not fight the provision when the Senate version is reconciled with the House bill in a conference committee.

The five-year Native Hawaiian Education Act, which authorizes the money, was set to expire this year. Last year, Congress appropriated $28 million under the measure.

The Senate bill allows some of the money to be spent on construction of public schools that would serve Native Hawaiians. It also authorizes another $2 million for the Bishop Museum to continue an educational and cultural exchange with the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Peabody-Essex Museum in Massachusetts. Last year, the Bishop Museum received $1.25 million for the program.