Washington, DC -- The Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act of 2007, which reauthorizes housing block grants and loan guarantees for home purchase in the designated Hawaiian Homelands failed to pass the House today due to Republican opposition.

Representatives Abercrombie and Hirono had been hopeful that the Republican minority would not make the bill a partisan issue.  However, Minority Leader John Boehner's Office put out a "GOP Leader Alert" to House Republicans telling them to oppose the legislation.  The bill still received a strong majority vote - 262 to 162.  It needed two-thirds approval to pass under a suspension of regular House rules, which allows legislation to be considered more quickly.

"Unfortunately, the Republicans made this a partisan vote on a bill that was non-controversial in previous Congresses," said Abercrombie and Hirono.  "They killed it."

"We will bring the Hawaiian Homeownership Opportunity Act back under regular order, when only a simple majority is required.  This bill will pass.  We invite the Republicans to join us," the Hawaii Representatives said.

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