Daniel Akaka: “I think you know what our country is going through at this time and we must be ready to come up with the kind of help…”

Thank you, Chairman Brown. Thank you very much for holding this hearing today and for all of your work on consumer protection issues.

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

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

The month of November provides Native peoples opportunity to educate by sharing their history and culture with a larger audience.