Sponsors (2)
Introduced February 19, 2025 by Brian Emanuel Schatz · Last progress February 19, 2025
The resolution symbolically affirms historic harms and supports Native Hawaiian language revitalization while linking to existing federal programs, but it does not create enforceable rights or funding—raising expectations that could lead to future fiscal or policy demands.
Native Hawaiian individuals and communities receive formal federal recognition of historic harms and revitalization efforts, which affirms cultural identity and supports preservation efforts.
Native Hawaiian language revitalization is explicitly linked to existing federal indigenous language programs, which may improve access to technical support, partnerships, and program models for schools and universities serving Native Hawaiian students.
Children and youth in Native Hawaiian communities and the public gain increased awareness of historic language decline (e.g., very few fluent speakers under 18 by the 1980s), which can build public and institutional support for revitalization and social programs.
Native Hawaiian communities may have raised expectations because the resolution's findings are preambular and do not create new legal rights or guarantee funding or services.
Highlighting historic grievances could prompt political pressure for future policy changes or dedicated funding, potentially increasing federal spending or requiring reallocations that affect taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes nonbinding congressional findings recognizing the historic suppression and near extinction of the Hawaiian language and the Native Hawaiian-led revitalization movement, and notes related federal language policy developments.
Recognizes and records historical findings about the Hawaiian language, stating that an 1896 law effectively banned ʻŌlelo Hawai‘i in schools, contributing to its near extinction by the 1980s, and that Native Hawaiians led a grassroots revitalization beginning in the 1960s which helped drive broader language policy reform. The resolution also notes the enactment of the Native American Language Resource Center Act of 2022 (20 U.S.C. 7457) in 2023. It contains only preambulatory statements and does not create new legal requirements, funding, or programs.