Making sure American troops pull out from Iraq by next July will be among his top priorities if re-elected, said U.S Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i. Akaka, who is up for a six-year term, will also focus on pushing through his
Making sure American troops pull out from Iraq by next July will be among his top priorities if re-elected, said U.S Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i.
Akaka, who is up for a six-year term, will also focus on pushing through his Akaka Bill, and funding No Child Left Behind, healthcare programs and ethanol projects.
Akaka said he will stand by his troop pullout deadline in spite of the critics, including President Bush. Bush Saturday renewed his criticism of Democrats’ desire to entirely withdraw from Iraq while campaigning in Indiana on behalf of GOP House candidates. Akaka said the deadline will encourage the Iraqi government to speed up the training of security forces to take over the country as American troops pull out.
Otherwise “things will just creep along,” Akaka said, and more Americans will die. The 82-year-old senator promised to rally support for the pullout during the congressional session in January after his June visit to Iraq convinced him a summer 2007 deadline is feasible.
“I met with the minister of defense and the national security advisor of Iraq, and collectively I learned they want to govern themselves as soon as possible,” Akaka said.
He says the Iraqi government has the support of prominent citizens to build a country founded on democracy. Once the troops pull out, the Iraqi government wants America to help in another way — putting money into the Iraqi economy to create jobs for young Iraqis with ambivalence about the U.S. role in Iraq.
Republican challenger state Rep. Cynthia Thielen has said setting a deadline will encourage insurgents to create chaos after America’s departure.
Although Thielen would like to debate this issue and others, Akaka, who engaged in only one televised debate before the primary election, said he won’t debate her before the Nov. 7 general election.
“I don’t feel we need to debate, as she is doing the same thing I am doing — meeting the people,” Akaka said.
A World War II veteran, Akaka says America has a debt to pay to returning veterans, and to that end, he will strive to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs’ healthcare system to allow a smooth transition of the veteran benefits between the VA and the Department of Defense.
“The problem has been that when people leave active duty, there is a break in benefits,” he said. “So I would set up program to maintain most of the benefits they had while they were on active duty.”
Because Hawai‘i is a vital military outpost, Akaka said he will continue to support the Pacific Command in Hawai‘i with funding legislation.
Akaka’s other priorities will be to repeal a law requiring people to have birth certificates or passports to be eligible for Medicaid as a way to help low-income residents.
Close to issues important to Hawai‘i, Akaka said he will rally support in Congress for the passage of the Akaka Bill to give Native Hawaiians federal recognition. Although the legislation failed to reach the congressional floor for consideration by four votes, Akaka said he will continue the fight.
Along those lines, Akaka has long had his finger on the state’s pulse, even personally calling FEMA management to ensure Hawai‘i’s well-being after the Oct. 15 earthquakes.
For Kaua‘i, Akaka points to funds he has fought for, including $125,000 to dredge Nawiliwili Harbor, $14.5 million to dredge of Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor and $200,000 for a visitor center for Kaua‘i’s children and artists.
Akaka said he also secured $36 million for Mainland and Hawai‘i projects to convert sugar for ethanol production, which could benefit Gay & Robinson, the last sugar plantation on Kaua‘i.
Akaka said his partnership with fellow Hawai‘i Democrat Sen. Daniel Inouye has brought in millions, creating a valuable funding pipeline for the state.
Akaka, who has served in Congress for 30 years, said one of his biggest achievements came when he served in the House, supporting legislation that provided individual payments of $20,000 in restitution to surviving Japanese Americans interned during World War II. He is equally proud of his role in the awarding of the Medal of Honor to 21 members of the World War II-era 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat and 100th Battalion, the most decorated American military unit for its size.
For more information, visit akaka2006.org.
