Douglas Alexander: “today the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka, reintroduced the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, a bill that would create…”

“today the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka, reintroduced the Native Hawaiian Reorganization Act, a bill that would create a new, race-based government within the borders of the United States. I strongly oppose this bill. This legislation was considered and rejected by the Senate last year; we ought not waste one moment of the Senate's time on it this year. Instead, we should consider legislation that unites us all as Americans. Our Nation must remain ``one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all''--``not many Nations, divided by race, with special privileges for some.'' Here are four reasons this bill should be stopped in its tracks: 1. It would create a new, sovereign government within our borders. 2. As noted by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, the bill ``would discriminate on the basis of race or national origin.'' 3. The bill is really about transferring control over ``land'' and ``other assets'' to this new, race-based government. 4. Native Hawaiians are not just ``another Indian tribe'' since they do not meet the requirements under current law of being sovereign for the last 100 years, living as a separate and distinct community, and having a preexisting political organization. I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing this dangerous piece of legislation.”