Congress retains some jurisdiction because of the creation of the Hawaiian Homes Commissions Act.

Native Hawaiians, like American Indians and Alaska Natives, have an inherent sovereignty based on their status as indigenous native people.

Clearly, I supported the 1978 constitutional convention, which proposed the creation of OHA, which was ratified by the majority of the people of Hawaii.

Those of us who have addressed this issue, who have thought about it, who have read the various opinions, we have never viewed this as a race-based issue.

I would say that any kind of an argument that says that, that Native Hawaiians are not an indigenous people, is in my view very wrong.

There is nothing in the language of this bill that would lead me to conclude that.

That is not an accurate reflection of the support that this legislation of the Native Hawaiians have in Hawaii.

They are still members of the United States. They are still citizens of the United States with all the rights and privileges of citizens of the United States.

Native Hawaiians were not constituted as tribes as most of us I think understand tribes, but they were a separate nation.

the Native Hawaiian people are an indigenous people this is not race-based legislation.

I particularly appreciate the comments made by my colleagues, Abercrombie of course, Bordallo and Faleomavaega.