Daniel Akaka

Daniel Akaka
U.S. Senator from Hawaii From: May 16, 1990-present
Predecessor	Spark Matsunaga
Successor	Incumbent (no successor)
U.S. Representative from Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District From: January 3, 1977 – May 15, 1990
Predecessor	Spark Matsunaga
Successor	Patsy Mink
Information
Party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Mary Mildred Chong
Religion	United Church of Christ

Daniel Akaka, born September 11, 1924 (age 102), a Democrat, is United States Senator from Hawaii. He was elected to the House of Representatives from the Second Congressional District of Hawaii in 1971, and was reelected until 1988. Akaka was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat left empty by the death of former United States Senator Spark M. Matsunaga. In April 2006, he was selected by Time Magazine as one of "America's Five Worst Senators." The article criticized him for mainly authoring minor legislation, calling him "master of the minor resolution and the bill that dies in committee." During his 2006 Senate reelection campaign, Akaka faced a primary challenge by Congressman Ed Case. Akaka won the Democratic primary by eight percentage points and went on to win the general election by twenty-six points.

Daniel Akaka votes with the Democrats 96.1% of the time. In February 2009, he voted for President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "This vital legislation will create jobs."

Committee Membership

As of 2009, Akaka serves on the following Senate committees:

• Armed Services
• Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Indian Affairs
• Veterans' Affairs
• Congressional Task Force on Native Hawaiian Issues

He previously served on the Select Committee on Ethics.

External Links

• Official Site
• Akaka On the Issues
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress