Daniel Akaka: “Thank you very much, Senator Udall. And I want to thank our first panel.”

I want to say aloha and thank you so much for being here today for the Committee's oversight hearing on Reclaiming Our Image and Identity for the Next Seven Generations.

That is why I have worked hard during my time in Congress to educate, protect, and empower consumers.

We must also reaffirm and acknowledge the Department of Education's Federal trust responsibility for American Indian and Alaska Native students.

Last Congress, bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senator Daniel Akaka (S. 998) and Representative George Miller (H.R. 1867) to address this problem and assure that all pilots are provided fair benefits.