Washington, D.C. - Pledges were made this afternoon on the Senate floor by Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Pete Domenici (R-NM) that the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act will be considered by the Senate for a debate and roll call vote no later than August 7, 2005. Letters from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Democratic Leader Thomas Daschle (D-SD) stated that best efforts would be made to ensure that the bill would be considered no later than August 7, 2005.

In a Senate colloquy this afternoon, Senators Kyl and Domenici joined Hawaii Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) in laying out the terms of an agreement that guarantee an opportunity for the Senate to debate and vote on the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act during the 1st session of the 109th Congress. The agreement cleared the way for Senate passage of 32 bills packaged by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"I have always said that a bill of this importance deserves the full attention of the United States Senate. While I am disappointed that we could not reach agreement for consideration of S. 344 prior to the adjournment of the 108th Congress, I feel good about the commitment made today that we will no longer endure the procedural shenanigans that have prevented the Senate's consideration of this bill for the past five years," Senator Akaka said. "We will reintroduce the bill at the opening of the 109th Congress and work with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to expedite the committee's consideration of the legislation so that we can get to the Senate floor as soon as possible. I am confident in the leadership's commitment." The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs favorably reported the legislation four times in the past five years.

Senator Inouye, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, added: "I am pleased by the agreement we have reached, and I look forward to a full and robust debate in the United States Senate on this important bill, which, I believe, has much support from my colleagues in the 108th Congress.

"As a result of this agreement, there is no longer the need to have the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act attached to a Senate appropriations measure, which I had publicly promised to do to advance the measure this session."

The Act was attached to a funding bill that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a month ago, and advanced to the full Senate.