Press Releases

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the lead Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, released the following statement on today’s test of the national wireless emergency alert systems.“In order to make sure our national alert system works the way it should, we need to test it. This test is mandated by law, and it’s the right thing to do. We have strong laws and federal rules to ensure any use of these kinds of...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed sweeping legislation to address the nation’s opioid crisis, including measures authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i). Schatz’s provisions would fund new research on non-addictive, non-opioid alternatives to treat and prevent pain and expand the use of telehealth to treat opioid addiction.“Opioid addiction is a national epidemic, and we need a comprehensive approach to address it,” said Senator Schatz....

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to boost relief funding to help communities recover from major disasters across the country, including Hurricane Lane and the ongoing volcanic eruptions on Hawai‘i Island. The $1.7 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding will help state and local governments rebuild impacted communities, especially in low- and moderate-income areas, and provide resources to help businesses recover....

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) introduced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act, legislation that would improve the use of AI across the federal government by providing resources and directing federal agencies to include AI in data-related planning.“The United States won’t have the global competitive edge in AI if our own government isn’t making the...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation to expand the AMBER Alert system to include all U.S. territories. The national AMBER Alert network distributes alerts on highway billboards, TVs, radio, and cellular phones to mobilize the public when a child is missing or abducted. It has helped rescue more than 900 children to date.“AMBER Alerts have helped save hundreds of children. There’s no good reason for...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act, new legislation that would encourage colleges and universities to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admissions applications and give more Americans a chance to earn a higher education.“Everyone deserves a fair chance to go to college and succeed,” Senator Schatz said. “This bill is...

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would set aside $5 million for U.S. Senate offices to pay their interns. The funding, included in a spending deal passed by the Senate yesterday, will give Senate offices the resources to pay interns, who provide administrative support to nearly every Senate office year round. Senate internships are largely...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan spending package that will provide $72.5 billion to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to strengthen delivery of health care for veterans. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), lead Democrat on the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, worked to secure $1.25 billion more than the president’s request for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Services and Medical...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) will award Hawai‘i a total of $7,502,520 to fund Native Hawaiian education programs.“Over the past few decades, the Native Hawaiian community has developed innovative ways to revitalize the Hawaiian language and integrate culture with education,” said Senator Schatz. “This investment will give us more...

WASHINGTON – Today, Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly on Governor David Ige’s request for a presidential disaster declaration for areas across the state impacted by Hurricane Lane. The declaration will help ensure that the affected communities can access important federal funding and resources to recover.“We request your quick action on Governor David Ige’s request for federal aid to help Hawai‘i recover from...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) introduced legislation this week to allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans in the 31 states that have established medical marijuana programs.In addition to creating a temporary, five-year safe harbor protection for veterans who use medical marijuana, the bill would also direct the VA to research how medical marijuana could help veterans better...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced today that he will be opposing the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be a justice on the United States Supreme Court.“I’ve seen enough. As long as the Republicans refuse to release 96 percent of the Kavanaugh records, this process is illegitimate. Every other Supreme Court nominee has turned over nearly everything, and I am now convinced they are hiding something. I will vote no.”  ###

WASHINGTON – Today, the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to be ready to work with the state to address  immediate recovery needs, assess the damage caused by Hurricane Lane, and swiftly approve any request for federal funding to help Hawai‘i recover and rebuild. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long, the delegation thanked FEMA for its efforts to date, and requested that the federal agency stand ready to approve...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain.“We lost a hero at a time when we need them. We lost a statesman when there are so few around. His was a life of service and a life well lived. May his memory be a blessing.” ###

WASHINGTON – Today, Hawai‘i’s Congressional Delegation urged President Donald Trump to act swiftly on Governor David Ige’s request for a presidential disaster declaration for the emergency response to Hurricane Lane. The declaration will help ensure that communities across the state can access important federal funding and resources for emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety.“Hurricane Lane has the capacity to wreak...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has activated the Secretary’s Operation Center and staff and is standing by to support requests for public health and medical assistance, if needed, as the storm makes landfall.“Our federal agencies are mobilizing and are ready to help,” said Senator Schatz. “As the situation becomes more serious, the federal government will continue...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement slamming President Trump’s proposal to roll back the Clean Power Plan. “President Trump’s proposal is full-fledged climate denial. It gives coal companies the green light to pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink. This proposal flies in the face of scientific fact, morality, and America’s leadership,” said Senator Schatz. “The good news is...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a formal complaint against Facebook. In its complaint, HUD alleges Facebook allowed homeowners and tenants to discriminate against potential buyers and tenants through targeted ads that allowed them limit ads for homes to certain people, violating the Fair Housing...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution, introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), affirming Congress’ support of the First Amendment and condemning attacks on the free press, which undermine the credibility of journalists and the press as a national institution. The move comes as more than 300 newspapers across the country ran editorials on the...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced and called for the immediate passage of a new resolution affirming Congress’ support of the First Amendment and condemning attacks on the free press, which undermine the credibility of journalists and the press as a national institution. The Senate resolution comes as President Trump and White House officials continue to attack journalists and news...