Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) applauded the Obama Administration’s efforts to act on climate change and limit methane pollution from oil and natural gas production. “Today's announcement that EPA is planning to reduce methane emissions from existing sources in the oil and gas sector is key to meeting our commitment to cut carbon emissions and critical to our fight against climate change,” said Senator Schatz.  “These standards...

WASHINGTON – Today, the White House announced that Hawai‘i has been selected to participate in the TechHire Initiative, a competitive multi-sector program that provides students and workers with skills needed to grow our nation’s high-tech workforce. The High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), a state agency tasked to develop Hawai‘i’s technology industry and provide resources to help train and retain a high-tech local workforce, will lead a statewide...

WASHINGTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced approximately $4.5 million in grants to help communities reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change. The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program will receive $1,317,745 in funding to protect vulnerable coasts including $845,160 from NOAA and $472,585 in matching funds. “We know that climate change is taking place and having an impact on coastlines around the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement in response to a new Media Matters report detailing how broadcast networks covered climate change in 2015: “In a year when nearly 200 countries around the world collectively recognized the threat of climate change and the United States made historic commitments to cut carbon pollution, major networks actually cut their media coverage of climate change.  In 2015, the network Sunday...

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously voted to pass an amendment introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act.  The Schatz-Moran amendment would help boost unlicensed spectrum which is commonly used for technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. “For the first...

WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) introduced bipartisan legislation addressing the future impact of new technology known as the “Internet of Things.” The bill, known as the Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act builds upon the senators’ resolution, which called for a national strategy on the Internet of Things. This resolution passed...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in the Senate and House today in introducing legislation to establish an independent National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges. The digital security Commission will bring together all stakeholders, including tech leaders, law enforcement, the intelligence...

WASHINGTON – Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that Hawai‘i will receive federal assistance through the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program to help address homelessness in the state.  U.S Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, called the federal assistance a victory for Hawai‘i. “It is a real victory for the State of Hawai‘i to...

WASHINGTON —Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) on Wednesday was named a recipient of a U.S. Travel Association Distinguished Travel Champion Award. The association recognized Schatz for his exceptional leadership in advancing policies that strengthen travel to and within America, particularly his role in the bipartisan push to build support for the Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act of 2015, and his leadership on the bill reauthorizing Brand USA. "Sen. Schatz truly knows the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) received a nearly perfect score today on the League of Conservation Voters’ 2015 National Environmental Scorecard. The LCV is one of the country’s leading environmental advocacy groups and awarded Senator Schatz a 96 percent rating for his work to protect the environment and promote clean energy policy.  “For decades the League of Conservation Voters has been a moral compass helping to lead Congress toward...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement on the passing of former state legislator and Hawai‘i Government Employees Association leader David K. Trask Jr.: “As a state legislator and a labor leader, David Trask was a fierce advocate for the working people of Hawai‘i.  He made his mark uniquely, fighting for economic equality and social justice throughout his life.”

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) welcomed the agreement announced today between the U.S. and Japan to add more flights between the U.S. and Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.  “Secretary Foxx and Secretary Kerry have worked diligently with their counterparts in Japan to find a way to provide business and leisure travelers more options to conveniently fly between Tokyo and the U.S.,” said Senator Schatz.  “Adding more options into Haneda...

WASHINGTON – Today, Dr. Thomas Frieden, the Director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) discussed efforts to combat dengue fever on Hawai‘i Island and the threat of Zika.  “Dengue is a public health emergency on Hawai‘i Island.  With the emerging threat of a possible Zika crisis, we need to act fast,” said Senator Schatz. “There is no doubt we need additional funding, but we...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the Airplane Kids In Transition Safety (KITS) Act of 2016, legislation which would urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update its regulations regarding the medications and equipment required to be carried in airplane medical kits in order to better serve children in-flight. “Every year, airplane medical kits help save lives, but today these kits aren’t...

WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee began the process of developing legislation to fund the federal government for 2017.  At a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this morning, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) underscored the important role the Air Force plays in our national security and our strategic rebalance to the Asia Pacific. “This is the beginning of our process of securing federal funding for Hawai‘i,” said Senator...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement after today’s Supreme Court decision to temporarily block President Obama’s proposed regulations to curb carbon emissions from power plants. “This is a step in exactly the wrong direction. If we are going to protect our planet for future generations, we must significantly reduce our carbon emissions and that is exactly what the president’s plan would do. Not surprisingly, the...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, commended the administration’s proposal of $1.8 billion to fight the Zika virus. “I’m pleased that the administration is aggressively responding to the Zika outbreaks and is working to protect Americans from this devastating virus,” said Senator Schatz.  “We should quickly approve these funds, which will give our communities, states, and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) joined 45 Senate Democrats today and released a new letter to President Obama urging a coordinated interagency response plan to address the spread of the Zika virus both at home and abroad. “As the dengue outbreak continues to impact communities on Hawai‘i Island, we need more aggressive action to contain it and to stop the threat of Zika, another mosquito-borne virus that is devastating dozens of countries around...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand telehealth services through Medicare, improve care outcomes, make it easier for patients to connect with their health care providers, and help cut costs for...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) offered an amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act that would balance tax preferences for the clean energy and fossil fuel industries. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Schatz amendment today. Senator Schatz said, “If we are phasing out tax credits for clean energy – something I oppose– then why are we still committing to permanently support the fossil fuel industries with tax preferences they...