Daniel Akaka: “with Senator Inouye as a cosponsor, I am introducing legislation to give the State of Hawaii a greater say over…”

“with Senator Inouye as a cosponsor, I am introducing legislation to give the State of Hawaii a greater say over proposals to develop seven U.S. possessions in the Pacific which are currently not affiliated with any U.S. State or territory. These islands are Baker Island, Jarvis Island, Howland Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, and Palmyra Atoll. My legislation would transfer jurisdiction, but not title, of these areas to the State of Hawaii. Proposals to consolidate these Pacific islands into the State of Hawaii's jurisdiction have surfaced before. Last year, Congressman Elton Gallegly introduced a nearly identical bill in the House and a hearing was held on the measure by the Subcommittee on Native American and Insular Affairs on January 31, 1995. The Clinton Administration supported the proposal, as did Hawaii's State Senate. At the time of its introduction, however, there were many people in the State of Hawaii who wanted to know more about the potential benefits and liabilities that would accrue to the State should jurisdiction be transferred under the Gallegly bill. As a consequence, Hawaii's Gov. Benjamin Cayetano convened a task force headed by the Office of State Planning and the Pacific Basin Development Council to review the implications of the proposal. My reason for reviving this legislation is that recent proposals to develop these islands have greatly alarmed the people of Hawaii and the Pacific.”