Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits, and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur. “Right now, our laws are allowing some of the worst employers to get away with...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) introduced the Debt-Free College Act, legislation that will reverse the growing student debt crisis in the United States. The bill restores a path to affordable college by providing states incentives through matching grants to increase investments in public higher education and provide students with debt-free college. “Solving the student loan debt crisis means focusing on the full cost of college –...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are leading 20 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years – and more detained – and none have received accountability or justice...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) today urged for the approval of Governor Josh Green’s requests for Presidential Major Disaster Declarations for communities across the state impacted by Hurricanes Lowell and Lala. President Donald Trump’s approval of the requests would help ensure that affected communities can access critical federal funding and resources needed to support...

Schatz’s Efforts To Press Museums, Institutions Has Resulted In Over 400% Increase In Notices Of Intent To Repatriate Items HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion on the status of repatriating Native Hawaiian ancestral remains and cultural items under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and ways to improve the law’s implementation in Hawai‘i. “We’ve seen a significant...

HONOLULU – Following an agreement between U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the U.S Department of Education finalized an extension to fully fund the Native Hawaiian Education Program for another year and today awarded $29.7 million of that funding, which is set to go to Hawai‘i providers by Friday. The remaining funding from the extension agreement is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Federal funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Program...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion with local leaders about innovations and partnerships that are helping to expand housing access for Native Hawaiians. “Hawai‘i’s housing crisis affects everyone, including Native Hawaiians,” said Vice Chair Schatz. “We simply have to make it easier to build housing. I appreciated hearing directly from leaders who are working every day to get more housing built about...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s approval of an emergency declaration that will bring significant relief to communities impacted by Hurricane Lala. Last week, Schatz and the Hawai‘i congressional delegation urged the president to quickly approve Governor Green’s emergency declaration request. “This emergency declaration will bring critical federal resources to communities impacted by Hurricane Lala and help with...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement of support after Governor Josh Green requested an emergency declaration from the president following Hurricane Lala. “An emergency declaration is critical to ensuring Hawai‘i has the federal resources it needs to continue recovering from Hurricane Lala. On Hawai‘i Island, communities are still...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approved an initial $6 million in Emergency Relief “quick release” funds to help Hawai?i repair transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Lala. The approval follows a call from Schatz to DOT Secretary Sean Duffy on Sunday, urging quick approval of the federal funding. “This will help Hawai‘i move quickly from emergency response to recovery and get our communities back on...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy today about providing federal support as Hawai‘i recovers from Tropical Storm Lala. Schatz urged Secretary Duffy to approve a forthcoming request from the state for emergency funding to help clear debris and repair roads and highways that have been damaged by the storm. “I had a constructive conversation with Secretary Duffy, and he offered to help with Hawai‘i’s recovery from...

KAHULUI – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) met with students, small business owners, and law enforcement officers and personnel across Maui. Schatz listened to their priorities and concerns, provided updates on his work in the Senate, and took questions on rising costs, federal funding for Maui, disaster recovery, housing, and education, among other topics. “I always appreciate the chance to hear directly from people across Maui about their priorities and concerns. Mahalo to everyone who...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement congratulating Pearl City Little League on winning the 2026 Senior League World Series. “Congratulations to Pearl City Little League on an incredible win! These young athletes represented Hawai?i with heart and determination. Hawai?i is proud of you. Congratulations, champions!” ###

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today led a group of 14 senators in introducing the Protecting Pentagon Press Access Act. The new legislation would restore press access at the Department of Defense, reversing attempts by Secretary Pete Hegseth to suppress independent reporting at the Pentagon. In addition to Schatz, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.),...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor today about how President Donald Trump and Republicans are raising prices for Americans on purpose. “The price of everything is up and that's on purpose,” said Senator Schatz. “The President of the United States has decided that Americans should pay more for everything. And so, while he's busy lining his pockets with crypto schemes and insider information subscription programs, regular people can't afford their...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly on Governor Josh Green’s request for a presidential disaster declaration for areas impacted by a recent 6.0 earthquake on Hawai‘i Island. The declaration will help ensure that the affected communities can access important federal funding and resources to recover. “We ask that you consider...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a group of 8 senators in introducing the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, legislation to expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave. In addition to Schatz, the bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). “Right...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, released the following statement after Secretary of State Marco Rubio took steps to provide $600 million in funding provided by Congress for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The funding will support Gavi's work to protect millions of children from preventable diseases, safeguard Americans from infectious disease threats, and ensure critical vaccine stockpiles –...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations subcommittee, criticized the Trump State Department for not providing global health funding appropriated by Congress to entities like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schatz condemned the State Department for not following the law, endangering lives, and spending money on projects that are not core to U.S. national security...

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on a supplemental budget request, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Trump administration’s failure to meet the goals it set out at the beginning of the war in Iran, including regime change and destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “I go back to the original five objectives. And none of them have been met. Some of them have changed, but none of them have been met,” said Senator...