Press Releases

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), co-chair of the Senate Tourism Caucus, and John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.  The bipartisan NATIVE Act will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Automatic Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the federal government to provide disabled veterans with an automatic COLA in years when there is an increase in benefits payable under title II of the Social Security Act, which sets the requirements for disability insurance benefits. “While I wish it...

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, legislation that will provide key funding for programs to support Native Hawaiian housing and address homelessness.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, worked to ensure more homeless assistance funds...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) today urged the Department of Commerce to take steps to leverage the connecting of technologies known as the Internet of Things (IoT) for the benefit of consumers, businesses, and the government.  In a joint letter to the Department of Commerce, the senators expressed their concern that U.S. agencies may not be taking a holistic view of how to...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today voted 85-12 to pass the Energy Policy Modernization Act, a comprehensive and bipartisan bill that will modernize the nation’s aging pipeline and power infrastructure and boost energy efficiency in federal buildings.  The bill also includes an amendment introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will authorize increased funding for energy science and technology research.  The amendment will expand funding for the...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, voted to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016, legislation that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and approves funding to improve airport safety and infrastructure and maintain air service for underserved areas in Hawai‘i and across the country.  The sweeping legislation also includes a provision introduced by Senator Schatz that...

WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senator Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and other Senate Democrats announced a new letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran calling for immediate passage of President Obama’s emergency supplemental funding request of $1.9 billion for prevention and treatment of the Zika virus outbreak. Specifically, the new letter...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) commended the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to approve Clare Connors to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i. Senator Schatz recommended Connors’ nomination to President Obama in June of last year. “This is an important step forward, and I congratulate the Senate Judiciary Committee for recognizing Clare Connors as a strong candidate for the U.S. District...

WASHINGTON – In response to suggestions that President Obama should utilize his authorities under the Antiquities Act to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM), U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, recently wrote to the White House and urged that the administration send representatives to Hawai‘i to meet with key leaders and stakeholders before making any...

ATLANTA —As the outbreaks of Zika and dengue continue to threaten communities in the United States and around the world, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters and met with top officials to discuss the CDC’s response to outbreaks in Hawai‘i.  During the meetings, Senator Schatz called for stronger vector-control programs to fight the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. Zika and dengue are transmitted by the same mosquito...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today cosponsored a bill to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to collaborate with experts and consumer advocates to mandate minimum seat size standards consistent with airline passengers’ health and safety needs. The bill would direct the FAA to set standards for minimum seat width, legroom, padding, and aisle width on all commercial passenger planes. “In Hawai‘i, air travel is central to our visitor...

HONOLULU – Earlier today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) met with Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i (BGCH) members, honored this year’s Youth of the Year, and delivered a keynote address. In his keynote address, Senator Schatz recognized the critical work the Boys & Girls Club does and challenged its young members to pursue a life of public service.“Public service takes many forms, and you can find a way to serve that makes sense to you.  But it is up to you to seek out those...

WASHINGTON —As the outbreak of mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika and dengue continue to threaten communities in the United States and around the world, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led eight senators in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding for mosquito-control programs. “Increased support for vector-control programs at the CDC can help to control the populations of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit viruses such as Zika, dengue, West Nile,...

HONOLULU – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) approved a petition for federal aid that will provide millions of dollars in federal funding for displaced workers at the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S), making it the first time ever that Hawai‘i sugar plantation workers displaced by foreign trade will receive these funds. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who worked closely with USDOL Secretary Tom Perez to identify the federal funding and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.)‎, and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, a bill that would provide federal employees with a 5.3 percent pay increase in 2017. The bill is a response to federal employees having lost more than a billion dollars in wages due to sequestration and a three-year freeze on federal pay.   “Federal workers in Hawai‘i and...

WASHINGTON – Today on the front steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Senate Democrats called on Senate Republicans to do their job and give the president’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, a fair confirmation process.  The senators were joined by working Americans who discussed what would happen if they didn’t do their job the way most Senate Republicans are today by refusing to even commit to meeting with...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s nomination of Merrick B. Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court: “Chief Judge Merrick B. Garland has the legal expertise, independent mind, and extensive experience as a former top official in the Justice Department and as the current Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that would make him an excellent addition to the Supreme Court. ...

WASHINGTON –Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced the Safe Treatments and Opportunities to Prevent (STOP) Pain Act, bipartisan legislation that would strengthen research for treatment of chronic pain and find alternatives to opioids, which can be dangerous when abused. The STOP Pain Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.). “Our bill helps...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that displaced Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S) employees are eligible to receive federal funding through a worker aid program, making it the first time ever that Hawai‘i sugar plantation workers displaced by foreign trade have qualified for these funds.  The millions of dollars in federal money will provide compensation to help replace lost...

WASHINGTON – During an appropriations hearing today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Julian Castro, to recognize the need for resources to support homeless families in Hawai‘i and address the housing shortage.  In response, Secretary Castro pledged that Hawai‘i would receive its “fair share” of federal resources...