Washington, D.C. - Exercising his right as Majority Leader to first recognition on the Senate floor, Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) utilized a tactic called "filling the amendment tree" which essentially stacks amendments on a piece of legislation and procedurally precludes other amendments, including an amendment filed by U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) that included the text of S. 344, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2004, from being offered to S. 2062, the Class Action bill.

The Hawaii Senators filed their amendment today (SA 3547) and were on the Senate floor prepared to debate their amendment when the Majority Leader blocked the consideration of all amendments. S. 2062 is one of the last remaining pieces of authorizing legislation to be considered by the Senate during the 108th Congress. Senators Akaka and Inouye agreed to offer S. 344 as an amendment to S. 2062 following discussions and consultation with the Senate Democratic Leader and after having received the support of the Democratic Caucus. The prospects for further legislative action on S. 2062 are uncertain.

S. 344 expresses the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and provides a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Senator Akaka voiced his disappointment with the Majority Leader's actions in speech on the Senate floor. His statement follows:

"Mr. President, I rise today to express my extreme disappointment with the actions of the Majority Leader in preventing the consideration of amendments including Senate Amendment 3547, the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2004. Senator Inouye and I filed this amendment in an effort to have our legislation considered by the Senate.

"We have been working to enact this legislation for the past five years. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has favorably reported this bill for the past three Congresses. Our legislation enjoys widespread support in Hawaii. Our Governor supports it, our State Legislature supports it, and a majority of our constituents support it. For five years we have worked to enact this bill which has effectively been blocked from Senate consideration by a handful of Senators who refuse to acknowledge Native Hawaiians as indigenous peoples.

"Mr. President, we have the votes to pass this legislation. In fact, I am confident that we have the votes to succeed on a motion to proceed to S. 344. This is why we sought to have our legislation considered today - because we knew we could debate it quickly and pass it. I join my other colleagues in expressing my disappointment with the procedural maneuvering that has occurred today."