Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) today released the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it is seeking public comment on updated rules for contracts with automatically recurring fees, including a proposed “click-to-cancel” provision and annual notification reminders that would help customers more easily get out of unwanted subscriptions. “Free trials should be free, but instead some companies have used that model...

WASHINGTON – As Congress begins working on the sweeping agricultural and food policy legislation known as the Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today led a roundtable discussion with Native leaders from Hawai‘i and across the country to hear about the issues critical to their communities and discuss how the federal government can help. Mahina Paishon-Duarte, co-founder of ?Aina Aloha Economic Futures, joined the discussion with...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act, legislation to promote the use of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, through a refundable consumer tax credit. E-Bikes are increasingly being used as a cheaper, more environmentally-friendly transportation option for short trips and daily commutes that can help break the cycle of fossil fuel use. “Transitioning to a clean energy economy...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced new legislation to help states support law enforcement, keep communities safe, and reduce gun violence. The State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act would establish a new grant program for states to develop or improve firearm dealer licensing programs. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). “One of the best things we can do...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) announced the formation of a Federal Judicial Selection Commission to make recommendations on candidates to fill potential vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i. The Commission consists of three members with one member appointed by each senator and a chair jointly agreed on. Senator Schatz appointed Emily Kawashima and Senator Hirono appointed Lynne...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today led a group of 19 senators in reintroducing legislation to protect people’s personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users’ data. “Websites and apps that collect data from their users need to be protecting this data, not using it to harm them,” said Senator Schatz, a...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today convened a meeting with senior officials from the Department of Defense, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Treasury Department to call for an exemption to unfair tax burdens incurred on reimbursements made to some residents impacted by the Red Hill fuel leak crisis. “My message to the IRS and DoD was clear: these taxes are unfair, and we need to fix this,” said Senator Schatz. “While we still have more...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) reintroduced legislation to protect federal workers and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would enable government employees and contractors to postpone payment obligations during a shutdown or debt default and for 30 days afterward. “Federal workers are dedicated public servants...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced new legislation to help stop illegal child labor. Schatz’s Child Labor Prevention Act would increase maximum fines for violations and establish new criminal penalties to deter child labor and hold employers accountable. “Right now, our laws are allowing some of the worst employers get away with exploiting kids for labor with nothing more than weak fines,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole will receive $1.2 million to replace and upgrade its fire alarm system. “This new fire alarm system will help ensure that Kona International Airport meets current safety standards, and help keep people safe,” said Senator Schatz, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. This new...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent announcement on improving safety and accountability in the rail industry. “USDOT’s new announcement is a key step forward to improving safety and holding rail companies accountable, but we still have more work to do. Congress must...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today reintroduced the Internet Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency (Internet PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation which updates the Communications Act of 1934 by requiring social media companies to establish clear content moderation policies and holding them accountable for content that violates their own policies or is illegal. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, announced that U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) will remain Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development for the 118th Congress. “Last Congress, we delivered record federal funding to where people need it most – affordable housing, infrastructure, climate resiliency, and public...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement in response to the president’s annual State of the Union address. “Tonight, President Biden reflected on the historic progress we made last year. Amid tough economic and political odds, we accomplished more than anyone imagined. We grew jobs at a record pace, cut the cost of prescription drugs, enacted the biggest climate action in history, passed the first gun safety bill in a generation,...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) today reintroduced the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, bipartisan legislation to expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave. Schatz’s Senate bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that it will increase Hawai‘i’s reimbursement rate for federal child nutrition programs by an additional 13 percent beginning this summer. The new rate will apply to all child meal programs in the state, including the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, and it is expected to bring in an additional estimated...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of the Navy, and the Defense Logistics Agency to strengthen its proposed consent order on the closure of Red Hill to include more input from Hawai‘i residents. “Given the magnitude of the catastrophe and its environmental and community impacts, the order should always allow input from all Hawai‘i citizens. The public’s right to review...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that two Hawai‘i County organizations will receive $2.9 million in new federal funding to build new homes and provide services for homeless individuals. “This new federal money will go directly to Hawai‘i Island and help take people off the streets and into homes,” said Senator Schatz, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development. The new money will go to...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration today announced that $63.8 million helped secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) in last month’s appropriations bill for the Honolulu Rail Project is heading to Hawai‘i. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Schatz worked with congressional leaders to secure the funding in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration today announced that $62.3 million helped secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) in last month’s appropriations bill for public transit is heading to Hawai‘i. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Schatz worked with congressional leaders to secure the funding for Hawai‘i. “Investing in public...