Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) begins a process to examine the effects of new technologies like LTE Unlicensed, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for more oversight on the potential interference LTE-U could have on Wi-Fi. “As unlicensed spectrum usage increases,...

Washington, D.C. – Today, in honor of the fifth anniversary of Dodd-Frank, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced the Stop Errors in Credit Use and Reporting (SECURE) Act, legislation that would make it easier for consumers to identify and correct errors in their credit reports and hold credit reporting agencies accountable.  The SECURE Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to increase funding by $1 million for agricultural inspection stations like those at neighbor island airports, making it easier for travelers to move through the agricultural inspections process. “Without agricultural inspection stations at our neighbor...

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, which included a bipartisan amendment, introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that will improve the safety of our nation’s roads and expand access for bikers and pedestrians.  The amendment directs the Department of Transportation, in coordination with...

Washington, D.C. – Today, two amendments introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) were adopted by the U.S. Senate as part of the Every Child Achieves Act, which is the reauthorization bill for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The first amendment promotes Native Hawaiian language education and the second amendment addresses school facilities. “Native languages have the power to strengthen the connection between students, their communities and their...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) today introduced the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, legislation that will help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned.   “From the repeal of ‘Don’t...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced legislation, S.1755, to extend the Residential Energy Efficient Property Tax Credit (25D) by five years.  The legislation would extend a successful tax credit that helps families pay for residential clean energy equipment, such as solar photovoltaics, solar hot water...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the announcement of a nuclear agreement with Iran: “The accord announced in Vienna today marks a watershed moment in our pursuit to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.  I will review the final deal to ensure that it effectively prevents Iran from acquiring the material it would need to develop a nuclear bomb, has sufficient limits on Iran’s nuclear weapons-related...

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Army today announced plans to reduce its end-strength by 40,000 soldiers over the next two years.  According to the plans released by the Army, Schofield Barracks will shrink by 1,214 soldiers—from 15,687 soldiers to 14,473 soldiers—and Fort Shafter will shrink by 229 soldiers—from 2,233 soldiers to 2,004 soldiers—by the end of fiscal year 2017.  The Army had assessed potentially eliminating two Brigade Combat Teams and the 25th...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Committee approved $16.7 million in federal funding for the East-West Center.  Senator Schatz worked to ensure continued federal funding levels for the East-West Center, which directly supports the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue with countries in the region, and to increase funding $5.9 million...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark decision that states must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a big win for gay rights, for civil rights, and for human rights. Every committed couple, whether they are gay or straight, deserves to be treated equally under the law. With this historic ruling, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed what...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act may provide federal tax credits for eligible Americans in federal and state exchanges.“This decision is a victory for all Americans across the country.  Because of the Affordable Care Act, more people have access to quality health care, the number of uninsured is falling, and health care costs are growing at the slowest...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today voted for the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The NDAA will authorize provisions important to Hawai‘i’s economy and military community, and strengthens our national defense.  The bill passed by a 71-25 vote with large bipartisan support. “The defense authorization bill includes many provisions that strengthen our national defense, reinforce the need to rebalance to the Asia...

Washington, D.C. – Following the loss of six U.S. Marines who were serving on a humanitarian mission in Nepal, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) filed legislation to ensure families of fallen service members serving on non-combat missions receive the same travel benefits as those serving in combat areas.  Senator Schatz’s amendment was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016. “When our men and women in uniform are deployed anywhere...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor to call for bipartisan solutions to climate change.“One solution to climate change is putting a fair price on carbon pollution,” said Senator Schatz.  “Last week, Senator Whitehouse and I introduced a bill – S. 1548 – to do just that and return all of the revenue to American families and businesses. A price on carbon is a market based solution that can appeal...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Senator Brian Schatz announced their recommendation to the White House of three Hawaii residents for consideration to fill the open U.S. District Court Judgeship for the District of Hawaii following Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway’s transition to a senior judge on November 6, 2015. The candidates, Clare Connors, David Louie, and Jill Otake, who are listed in alphabetical order in the letter, were among those recommended by the Federal...

Washington, D.C. – 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, today introduced S.1579, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States.  U.S. Senators...

Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, issued the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a petition to delay implementation of the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules. “The D.C. Circuit’s decision to allow the FCC’s net neutrality rules to fully go into effect is good news for...

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) today announced the introduction of legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino Veterans of World War II. They were joined in this effort by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Congressman Joe Heck (R-NV), Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), Congressman Mark Takai (D-HI), Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), and...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.), and Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-Penn.)  introduced the American Export Promotion Act to help small- and medium-sized firms grow their export capacity, and better access and compete in global markets through grant and technical assistance.  As Congress debates global trade policy and the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, set to expire at the end of June, Schatz,...