Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Education announced that 1,690 borrowers in Hawai‘i are eligible for automatic loan relief under fixes to Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans implemented by the Biden-Harris Administration. The new action from the administration would eliminate a total of $90.2 million dollars of debt from eligible borrowers across Hawai‘i. “Thanks to the Biden Administration, nearly 1,700 people across Hawai‘i will see thousands of dollars in...

WASHINGTON – A United States Senate delegation has concluded its mission to Iceland. Led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), the bipartisan delegation included U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.). The senators were briefed by U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carrin F. Patman and U.S. embassy officials, met with host nation President Gudni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Gudlaugur...

REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) have embarked on a congressional delegation mission to Iceland. The delegation will meet with host nation government officials and U.S. diplomats to discuss the importance of maintaining and strengthening U.S.-Iceland ties and the NATO Alliance. The senators will also meet with researchers and business leaders to discuss global cooperation to...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Michael A. Dahilig will serve as Senior Policy Counsel and will be based in his Hawai‘i office. Dahilig has more than a decade of experience in public policy, planning, law, and government affairs. He currently serves as Managing Director for the County of Kaua‘i, where he leads Mayor Derek Kawakami’s policy agenda and manages 14 departments and a more than $300 million operating budget. Dahilig...

HONOLULU – Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Hawai‘i will receive $149.5 million in new federal funding to expand high-speed internet access across the state. The new funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program will be used to help build and improve broadband infrastructure across Hawai‘i. “Everyone in Hawai‘i should have access to high-speed internet,” said Senator Schatz, a...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced a $37.4 million grant award to Hawaiian Telcom. The funding, part of the Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, provides funding for the construction, improvement, or acquisition of middle mile infrastructure. “Everyone in Hawai‘i should have access to high-speed internet,” said Senator...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) led a bipartisan group of 60 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today reintroduced legislation to expand health care to veterans living in the freely associated states (FAS), three sovereign nations that have a special and unique relationship with the United States, and whose citizens serve in the U.S. military at some of the highest volunteer rates per capita. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and John Boozman...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) reintroduced 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...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after voting on a deal to raise the debt ceiling and avoid a catastrophic default. “I voted for the deal to avoid a catastrophic default, but it should have never come to this. We have to repeal the debt ceiling. This is not the way to run the country, and this should never happen again.” In April, Schatz reintroduced legislation to avoid default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the passing of former State Senator Sam Slom. “An economist and longtime legislator, Senator Slom was a strong and consistent conservative voice who earned the respect of many. He will be remembered for his devotion to public service and to Hawai‘i.  My condolences and aloha go to Senator Slom’s ohana.” ###

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act to shed light on discriminatory land zoning policies, encourage localities to cut burdensome regulations, and bring a new level of transparency to the community development process. Instead of adopting inclusive land use policies that allow citizens of all income levels, backgrounds, and identities to live, work, and flourish in their city or town, some...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today reintroduced legislation to help communities recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) reintroduced the Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act. The bipartisan legislation would improve veterans’ access to information about higher education and allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore benefits that veterans use at schools subject to civil enforcement. “The G.I. Bill benefit has helped open the doors to higher education for many veterans who otherwise would...

WASHINGTON – At a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing this morning, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on defueling Red Hill, COFA negotiations coordination, and on the defense of Hawai‘i. “Can you reassure the people of Hawai‘i that Red Hill will never be used for fuel storage or fuel operations once it is emptied?” Senator Schatz asked Secretary Austin. Secretary Austin responded, “Yes....

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today reintroduced legislation that would provide for fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Hawai‘i and Alaska. The bipartisan Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) introduced new legislation to help protect children from the harmful impacts of social media. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media apps and would require parental consent for 13 through 17 year-olds.  The bill would also prevent social media companies from feeding content using algorithms to users under...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced legislation to allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans in the states and territories that have established medical marijuana programs. “In 41 states and territories and Washington, D.C., doctors and their patients can use medical marijuana to manage pain or treat a wide-range of diseases and disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced legislation to avoid default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit set by Congress on the amount of funding that the United States Treasury may borrow. “Defaulting on our debt would be an economic catastrophe for everyone – families, veterans, seniors. Congress has the chance to debate federal spending, and it’s well before the bill comes due,” said Senator Schatz....

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a group of 14 senators in introducing a resolution designating April 2023 as “Preserving and Protecting Local News Month.” The resolution recognizes local news as a public good that serves an essential function in the democracy of the United States. “People across the country rely on local news to stay informed, fight disinformation, and strengthen their communities,” said Senator Schatz. “As the...