Sen. Akaka, Indian Affairs chairman, announces retirement plan

Thursday, March 3, 2011  

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the new chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, won't seek re-election in 2012.

Akaka just became chairman of the committee. He told tribal leaders yesterday that he wants to focus on the budget, education, economic development and health care.

"It will be an honor to continue the important work of this Committee," Akaka said at the National Congress of American Indians winter session in Washington, D.C., according to his prepared remarks. "I look forward to working with you all to ensure that the United States fulfills its trust obligations to our nation’s first peoples."

Akaka has been a major champion of a bill to extend the policy of self-determination to Native Hawaiians. The bill has passed the House more than once but has been blocked repeatedly in the Senate.

Akaka will complete the remainder of his term during the 112th Congress.

Get the Story:
Hawaii's Akaka won't seek reelection (The Washington Post 3/3)