Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced that their Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act was included as part of the must-pass government funding deal and is set to become law. The AI in Government Act will ensure that the use of AI across the federal government is effective, ethical, and accountable by providing resources and guidance to...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chair of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, today commended the inclusion of legislation to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the annual spending deal. Commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners, HFCs are especially potent greenhouse gases, trapping thousands of times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. “This bill is a huge win in our fight against climate change. Specifically, the...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive at least $1.7 billion in estimated funding from a new $900 billion COVID-19 relief package. The bipartisan deal – the second largest emergency relief package in American history – includes funding for unemployment assistance, and aid for small businesses, schools, vaccine distribution, hospitals, and health care workers. “Help is on the way. This relief package will...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Banking Committee and Chair of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, today released the following statement on the Federal Reserve's announcement that it has joined the Network for Greening the Financial System as a full member. “The Fed joining the NGFS as a full member is a necessary step forward. Now that they have joined this international effort, I will expect them to take further concrete...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act, legislation that would establish a new housing assistance program. The new program would be automatically triggered and help ensure that families and individuals who have been forced from their home or are at risk of losing their home as a result of a natural or economic disaster have immediate access to adequate...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today issued the following the statement on the Food and Drug Administration’s issuance of an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. “Today is a day of great hope and promise. The emergency use authorization of the first vaccine to prevent COVID-19 means that our frontline health care workers and vulnerable populations in Hawai‘i and across the country will start receiving the vaccine...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including key reforms to the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, which authorizes the federal transfer of military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. The adoption of the provision follows legislation and calls from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to stop police militarization and reform the 1033 program. Schatz first introduced bipartisan legislation to reform...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act. The bipartisan legislation, authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), will ensure more people receive relevant emergency alerts on their mobile phones, televisions, and radios, explore new ways of alerting the public through online video and audio streaming services, track and study false alerts when they...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) will receive a $1,811,639 grant to help low income families on Oahu access high quality, comprehensive health care. The funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, will help WCCHC operate seven sites on the west side of the island and make sure local families can receive primary care,...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the State of Hawai‘i will receive $9.3 million in new federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover administrative expenses following the Kilauea eruption in 2018. “While HI-EMA has been asked to do much more this year with a lot less revenue, this new funding will give the state more resources to continue their critical work and protect Hawai‘i residents from...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a bipartisan group of 49 lawmakers in calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act that have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, as well as more types of health care providers to provide telehealth, were included in previous COVID-19...

HONOLULU – Following a letter sent by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation, President Trump approved authorization and funding to extend the use of the Hawai‘i National Guard in a federal status, known as Title 32, in support of the state’s COVID-19 response operations. “This extension means our soldiers and airmen who are performing essential missions, including contact tracing and food and medical supply...

WASHINGTON – Bipartisan congressional negotiators released details of the annual must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Thune (R-S.D.), will ensure more people receive relevant emergency alerts on their mobile phones, televisions, and radios, explore new ways of alerting the public through online...

WASHINGTON – Bipartisan congressional leaders today announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes key reforms to the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, which authorizes the federal transfer of military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. The adoption of the provision follows legislation and calls from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to stop police militarization and reform the 1033 program. Schatz first introduced bipartisan...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today called on Governor David Ige to maintain Hawai‘i’s expanded COVID-19 contact tracing program. With some federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act set to expire at the end of the year, Schatz urged Ige to utilize other sources of funding to ensure the contact tracing program remains fully operational. “I am alarmed that there does not seem to be a plan yet for how to...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai‘i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) today called on President Trump to approve Governor David Ige’s request to extend authorization and funding for Hawai‘i National Guard’s COVID-19 response operations. “These brave soldiers and airmen are performing essential missions, such as contact tracing, operating mobile swab teams,...

HONOLULU — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that Hawai‘i County will receive $2,246,668.50 in new federal funding to repair Old Mamalahoa Highway after severe flood damage from Hurricane Lane in 2018. “This new grant will help us build guard rails and other improvements on Old Mamalahoa Highway after damage from Hurricane Lane. That way, we can keep the road open even after heavy storms and help Big Island families travel safely,” said...

HONOLULU — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Kauai County Housing Agency will receive $352,924 in federal funding to support the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. These funds will help support rental assistance programs for current voucher holders who lost their job or saw a significant reduction in income due to the pandemic. “This federal grant will help those who have lost their job or had their hours cut make rent,” said Senator...

HONOLULU — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the county of Honolulu will receive $1,766,053.50 to repair damage to the Wailupe Stream Boulder Basin resulting from severe flooding and landslides in April 2018.  “We need to do everything we can to protect our families and our homes from devastating floods. These new federal funds will help by restoring the Wailupe Stream Boulder Basin to full strength," said Senator Schatz, a member...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Manoa will receive $958,613 from the National Institutes of Health to increase the reach, access and uptake of COVID-19 testing among Pacific Islander communities in Hawai‘i and Guam. This grant will fund the Puipuia le Ola project, which improves testing outreach to Pacific Islanders through culturally and linguistically...