{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-and-sen-hirono-lead-hawaii-and-alaska-delegations-introducing-bill", "Rep. Tokuda and Sen. Hirono Lead Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska Delegations in Introducing Bill to Expand Opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Alaska Natives in Agriculture", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) led the Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska delegations in introducing the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Ed Case and Mary Peltola are also original co-sponsors of the bill.\n\nThe bill would reauthorize the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program for another five years and increase the authorized funding level of the program from $10 million to $15 million. The bill would also ensure grant awards could be used over multiple years to reduce administrative burdens on institutions.\n\nThe program promotes the ability of institutions like the University of Hawai\u2018i and University of Alaska to improve and expand their capacity to provide supplemental educational services to Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. Grant funds can be used to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs and to address educational needs within food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Priority is given to projects that enhance educational equity for underrepresented students; strengthen institutional educational capacities; prepare students for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems; and maximize the development and use of resources to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.\n\n\u201cI am proud to introduce this legislation to support our Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native students in food, agriculture, and ecosystem stewardship education and research,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThis is especially important for rural and remote areas like Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska where food costs are higher and fresh produce and food are hard to access. By increasing educational equity and investing in our students, we are promoting indigenous and traditional farming techniques and systems and providing economic opportunities for the next generation.\n\n\u201cAt a time when people in Hawaii and across the country lack access to healthy and affordable food and produce, it is important that we invest in institutions that are working to address these issues,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis grant program provides essential funding for institutions that support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students pursuing these issues. By investing in our students, we are also investing in the future of our communities and economies\u2014helping to strengthen long-term food sustainability.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe potential of Alaska\u2019s agriculture industry continues to grow \u2014and it\u2019s critical we ensure young Alaska Natives take an active role in its growth. This bill will invest in Alaska Native students, preparing them for future careers that will strengthen food security and feed communities in the state. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in the Alaska and Hawai\u2019i Delegations on this effort that will not only support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students in the agriculture field, but also enhance traditional Indigenous farming practices that will feed communities for generations to come,\u201d said Senator Lisa Murkowski.\n\n\u201cOur bill is about investing in Hawaii agriculture and our next generation of farmers. This federal program will give students the chance to learn more about indigenous farming practices and food production, engage Native Hawaiian perspectives, and will help grow Hawaii\u2019s agricultural economy,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-and-sen-hirono-lead-hawaii-and-alaska-delegations-introducing-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3555281329900026, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}