Schatz Leads Bipartisan Legislation To Promote Native Arts & Culture, Unlock Federal Funds For Native Hawaiian Organizations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced legislation to promote Native arts and culture and unlock federal funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs). The bipartisan Native Arts & Culture Promotion Act provides a technical fix to the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts grant program to ensure NHOs can access funding from the program.

"Our bill provides a common-sense fix so that Native Hawaiian Organizations can access millions of dollars in federal funding to deliver vital cultural and educational programs to communities across Hawai'i," said Senator Schatz, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Established in 1994, the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts program awards grants for scholarly study and instruction in Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native contemporary culture and arts. However, outdated and restrictive language in the statute has limited the ability of NHOs to qualify for grant awards. The bill clarifies that NHOs with a governing board that includes Native Hawaiians or individuals widely recognized in the field of Native Hawaiian arts and culture are eligible for funding.

"Allowing the National Park Service to award more grants to a greater variety of Native Hawaiian organizations provides a more easily accessible and streamlined process for Native Hawaiian Organizations who are often understaffed and under-resourced to readily submit proposals for their unique initiatives which perpetuate the storytelling and expression of Native Hawaiian arts and cultural practices," said Janet Bullard, Acting Director of Government Relations for Bishop Museum.

Schatz's bill is supported by the University of Hawai'i, Bishop Museum, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai'i Council for the Humanities, Hawai'i Community Foundation, and Hawaiian Council. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai'i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai'i).

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