Native Hawaiian Education Act

Floor Speech

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, in the coming days, we will soon be taking up H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, which is a long overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I'm rising today to speak about the need to include in this reauthorization the Native Hawaiian Education Act. I've introduced H.R. 2287, which does just this. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure its passage.

Last week, when I was in Hawaii, I had the chance to meet with parents and educators in the Native Hawaiian Education community on the islands of Kauai, Maui, and Molokai. I heard from them about the firsthand successes of this program, which has been in place since 1988.

Education is, by far, the best investment that we can make in our economy and in our future. We are empowering and educating the next generation in communities that have largely been underserved, while at the same time preserving rich and unique culture, language, and values of our native people. The Native Hawaiian Education Act has been serving our kids for the last 25 years. It's critical that these innovative programs continue.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the NHEA and other programs that can enable and empower our underserved communities to thrive.

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