Hirono: We Must Stand Together, Fight Back Against Attacks on Native Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) continued to oppose efforts to exclude Native Hawaiians from the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), which provides affordable housing to the Native Hawaiian and other Native communities. In remarks to the American Indian Housing Council, Senator Hirono pledged to continue to fight to pass a NAHASDA reauthorization that includes Native Hawaiians, and to fully fund other critical Native Hawaiian programs.

From Senator Hirono’s remarks:

“I strongly oppose ongoing efforts to pass a narrow reauthorization of NAHASDA that excludes Native Hawaiians. These efforts seek to pit indigenous communities against one another.

“Asking us to choose which communities we value over others is a cynical and false choice. We need to stand together and fight back against efforts that demand such a choice. I know we agree on this.”

Last September, Senator Hirono joined all Democratic members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to introduce S. 1895 to reauthorize the NAHASDA in a way that preserves funding for Native Hawaiian housing programs.

Last June, Senator Hirono fought back against efforts to eliminate federal Native Hawaiian housing programs during testimony before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.