Press Releases

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, helped secure $70 million for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. The new federal funding will help the City and County of Honolulu pay for a portion of its share of the cost of the project, making up for the loss in tax revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our goal here was to help the City pay for part of its share by...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) will receive a $13,862,820 grant to repair and renovate public housing in Hawai‘i. "Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. This federal funding will help us repair and maintain homes for thousands of Hawai’i families living in public housing,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced today the names of 46 students nominated to attend one of our nation’s service academies. The four service academies are: the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. “The students who attend our country’s service academies represent our nation’s best,” said Senator Schatz. “I look...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today was named Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee. “We need to rethink the way we invest in our communities. I’m committed to making sure we are putting money where people need it most. That means more support for affordable housing, climate resiliency, and safer and more efficient transportation systems,” said Senator Schatz. “We...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement today after voting to convict former President Donald Trump for the incitement of an insurrection on January 6, 2021. “The House Managers presented a convincing case that laid out what we all witnessed. Former President Trump lied repeatedly about the results of a free and fair election and attempted to cheat by pressuring election officials. He incited an insurrection that resulted in a violent...

  WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) announced today that they will reintroduce a bipartisan bill to extend two key statutory deadlines for the 2020 Census. This bill would set the deadline for the apportionment data to April 30, 2021, as well as extend the deadline to deliver redistricting data to the states to September 30, 2021 from March 31, 2021.   These extensions would allow the Census Bureau to...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will install 23 weather cameras across the state. These cameras will improve safety by providing pilots with near-real time video of weather conditions at their destinations and along their flight routes. After the program was a proven success in Alaska and Colorado, Schatz worked within the Senate Appropriations Committee to direct the FAA to expand the program into...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) agreement to reimburse up to $175 million to the State of Hawai‘i for certain vaccine distribution expenses. FEMA announced today it has already reimbursed half of the approved amount to the state, providing more than $87 million. Reimbursable expenses cover emergency protective measures, including supplies and personnel needed to safely...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive $1,033,100 to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic among Pacific Islanders. This grant will support community outreach programs in Pacific Islander languages to help families navigate health resources. The new funding will also be used to purchase more personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies for Pacific Islander communities....

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced today the introduction of new legislation to promote press freedom and the protection of journalists worldwide. The Global Press Freedom Act would direct the U.S. State Department to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for press freedom and train Foreign Service Officers on how to help promote media independence and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House today to discuss COVID-19 relief for Native communities in Hawai‘i and across the country. The meeting comes one day after Senate Democratic leaders announced Senator Schatz’s elevation to Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Schatz was joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and nine other Senate...

WASHINGTON – The United States Senate Democratic leadership today announced the selection of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “As we work to confront the global climate crisis and reinforce Hawai‘i’s key role in rebuilding our relationships in the Asia Pacific region, this will put me in a better position to serve Hawai‘i and the nation and represent our values on the global stage,” said Senator...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i K-12 schools will receive a projected $56,517,953 in new federal funding for the 2021-2022 school year to support teacher professional development, additional educators, new technology, and other academic programs at public schools serving low income students. These funds will be given directly to Title I schools – where a disproportionate number of students live in poverty – and will...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced new legislation to help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes cut ties with their abusers and separate from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk, or control victims. “Giving domestic violence abusers control over their victims’ cell phones is a terrifying reality...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Hawai‘i Department of Human Services will receive $1,188,723.75 in federal funding to cover the cost of meals provided to individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, those who have been exposed but do not require hospitalization, and high risk individuals over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions. “This federal funding will help pay back the cost of the meals provided to the most...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement on new executive actions announced by President Joe Biden to address the climate crisis. “President Biden’s announcement today shows the commitment, urgency, and scope of action we need to fight the climate crisis. Together, these steps put the nation on a path to cut emissions, grow our economy, create jobs, and prioritize environmental justice. I am particularly encouraged to see...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the passing of former Hawai‘i County Mayor Billy Kenoi. “Billy Kenoi was one of Hawai‘i’s most talented political leaders. His understanding of, and empathy for Hawai‘i and its people drove his meteoric rise and motivated his public service. His love for Hawai‘i Island, his intellect, and his heart will leave a mark in our collective consciousness and in...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on a new executive order issued by President Joe Biden that will provide more Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps, to the most needy families, including nearly 33,000 people in Hawai‘i. The order also includes a 15 percent increase in benefits for families of the more than 93,500 Hawai‘i students who qualify for free or reduced-priced...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the County of Hawai‘i will receive $2,251,163 in new federal funding to help Puna recover from the 2018 Kilauea eruption and improve resiliency for future natural disasters. This grant will go toward rebuilding the area's wastewater collection and treatment system, which was damaged in 2018. By funding the creation of a new, centralized system — instead of repairing the previous cesspool...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after President Joe Biden took executive action to authorize an extension and fully reimburse Hawai‘i and states across the country for the use of the National Guard to support COVID-19 response operations. “This will save Hawai‘i millions of dollars and allow soldiers and airmen who are performing essential missions that will help us safely reopen our economy, including...