Schatz Appointed To Banking, Housing, And Urban Affairs Committee

HONOLULU – Today, the Senate Democratic Steering Committee ratified committee assignments for the 115th Congress and announced that U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) will join the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Schatz will also continue to serve on the Senate committees on Appropriations; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Indian Affairs; and Ethics.

“This post is an important one because the Committee oversees federal housing and transit agencies, putting me in a better position to leverage federal resources to support Hawai‘i’s unique housing needs and advocate for local transit strategies in Honolulu and across the state.

“Combining this new role with my position on the Appropriations Committee will allow me to help create domestic policies and annual spending plans for each of the critical federal housing, transportation, and finance programs.

“This Committee also has broad jurisdiction over banks and the financial system and oversees international economic sanctions and export controls, which play an important role in U.S. foreign policy.  As a member, I plan to focus on improving policies that protect consumers from predatory financial products and services, and will work to make sure we provide effective oversight over the banking industry and prevent another financial crisis.

“This assignment is an honor, and I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee in the next Congress.”