UPDATE:     Jan 10, 2018

This afternoon, the OHA Board of Trustees, meeting as the BAE Committee, narrowly approved the measure to oppose HB 3744, the Tribal Recognition Act.  As a result, the matter will be voted on at the Thursday Board of Trustees meeting at 10 a.m.  (See next update)

The vote count was as follows. 

• 1 NO: Keli''i Akina
• 3 YES: Bob Lindsey, John Waihee, Rowena Akana.  
• 2 ABSTAIN: Hulu Lindsey, Lei Ahu Isa
• 3 Absent: Apo, Ahuna, Machado

As you can see, there was no unanimity.  Communication with trustees and live testimony could make a difference.  

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Update on OHA Position on H.R. 3744 - Federal Recognition Act

Dear Friends,    January 11, 2018

There had been some confusion yesterday as to the bifurcated motion to approve OHA Administration’s recommendation with regards to the Congressional bill H.R. 3744. Chair Machado today in BOT announced a correction, clarifying the result of the vote in BAE yesterday.

The vote was on Administration’s recommended position of OPPOSITION to H.R. 3744, the Tribal Recognition Act of 2017 which would remove the Executive Branch's authority to acknowledge American Indian peoples who request a government-to-government relationship with the United States, and require an Act of Congress for any further acknowledgment of Indigenous people.   

The 3 affirmative votes, 2 abstentions and Trustee Akina's sole no vote DEFEATED the motion to adopt Administration’s recommended position of OPPOSITION to H.R. 3744.  Four affirmative votes were required for the motion to pass.

Therefore, as of now, the Board has declined to oppose the measure.  However, as the Board has not officially adopted any position on the bill, it is possible that the matter will come back around so that the matter could resurface at the OHA board in the future.

Sincerely,

OHA Trustee Keli'i Akina

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FreeHawaii.Blogspot.com:  "Your Voice Counts -- You Won!"  

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ALERT! - TELL OHA YOU SUPPORT HR.3744 - The Tribal Recognition Act

From FreeHawaii.Blogspot.com, January 9, 2017

If passed in the US Congress, HR 3744 would remove both the Executive Branch and by extension the US Department of Interior's authority to recognize and therefore create a Native Hawaiian Tribe.

HR 3744, if passed, would require AN ACT OF THE ENTIRE US CONGRESS for any acknowledgement of a tribe should Robin Danner of the SCHHA and Michelle Kauhane of the CNHA attempt a government-to-government relationship with the US.

The administration of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is recommending to the OHA trustees they vote to officially OPPOSE HR 3744.

HR 3744 will be on the agenda as "115th Congress Legislative Positioning Matrix 1" at the Wednesday January 10 OHA BAE Committee meeting at 1 PM at OHA headquarters.

If approved a vote of ratification will occur Thursday, January 11th at the regular 10 AM BOT meeting at OHA headquarters.

DEMAND THAT  OHA VOTES IN SUPPORT OF HR 3744.

Please attend Wednesday's BAE meeting at 1 PM at OHA headquarters to testify in support of HR 3744.

Please attend Thursday's 10AM BOT meeting to ensure the OHA trustees vote to ratify support for HR 3744.

If you cannot attend, please contact OHA trustees to demand they vote to support HR 3744.

Please contact OHA today -
Collette Machado - colettem@oha.org - (808) 594-1837
Bob Lindsey - robertl@oha.org - (808) 594-1855
Peter Apo - petera@oha.org - (808) 594-1854
John Waihe`e Jr. - crayna@oha.org (808) 594-1876
Rowena Akana - rowenaa@oha.org (808) 594-1860
Keli`i Akina - TrusteeAkina@oha.org (808) 594-1976
Carmen Hulu Lindsey - hulul@oha.org (808) 594-1858
Dan Ahuna - dana@oha.org (808) 594-1751
Lei Ahu Isa - leia@oha.org (808) 594-1857
Kamana'opono Crabbe - kamanaoc@oha.org
OHA Headquarters - (808) 594-1835

Mahalo.

Link: H.R.3744 - Tribal Recognition Act of 2017

2016 Version:  HR3764 is on the Move—Bill Blocks Recognition of Indian Tribes Without Congressional Vote