Reps. Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Garfield, Whitmer, Zelenko, Gleason and Lipsey offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 49.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act.

            Whereas, The relationship between the federal government and the native people of our country is an important challenge for the Congress of the United States.  Our country's political and legal responsibility to promote the well-being, self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency of native people is based upon the appropriateness of federal recognition of these indigenous people; and

            Whereas, Legislation is pending in Congress to bring resolution to the issue of the identity of the Native Hawaiian people.  This legislation, which has been debated in earlier sessions and which seems long overdue, would address matters that are very similar to issues of sovereignty among Native American tribes; and

            Whereas, The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act would reaffirm the rights of Native Hawaiians as indigenous people and grant federal recognition to the Native Hawaiian governing entity.  The legislation provides protections for Native Hawaiians that encourage self-determination.  These protections acknowledge the importance of health care, education, and environmental initiatives to the future of the Native Hawaiian people; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.