Press Releases

WASHINGTON – On Sunday, the president signed a bipartisan government funding bill which included a provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will strengthen protections for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by starting the process to designate it as a National Marine Sanctuary. “A new sanctuary designation means more resources and stronger protections for Papahanaumokuakea,” said Senator Schatz. “This will give us more...

HONOLULU – Last night, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will expand access to mental health care was signed into law as part of the annual appropriations bill. The provision, which was originally part of Schatz’s CONNECT for Health Act, will allow Medicare beneficiaries across the country to permanently use telehealth to receive mental health services remotely, including in their homes. “This will make it easier for more people in every...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after President Trump signed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package into law. The package includes at least $1.7 billion in funding for Hawai‘i. “Help is on the way. With this bill now signed into law, at least $1.7 billion will now flow to Hawai‘i to help those who’ve lost their job or can’t make rent. It will provide more money for businesses, and give our state,...

HONOLULU — Last night, the bipartisan Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, which wasauthored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), passed the Senate. This bill directs federal funding and technical assistance to states, territories, and local communities for the restoration and management of coral reef ecosystems. It also reauthorizes and modernizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of...

WASHINGTON – Last night, the U.S. Senate passed an appropriations deal, which includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will extend the deadline for a $250 million funding grant for the Honolulu Rail Transit project. The federal grant, which was secured by Senator Schatz in FY2015, was set to expire at the end of the year if left unspent. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schatz worked with congressional leaders to include the...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last night voted to pass a bipartisan spending deal that will increase federal funding for critical programs that benefit Hawai‘i for fiscal year 2021. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, successfully advanced state priorities, which are now included in the final deal. A separate COVID-19 relief package was attached to the annual appropriations bill and both were approved by Congress. “This...

WASHINGTON – Today, the Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act, bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals, was included in the annual omnibus spending bill and will be passed by Congress. Schatz’s bipartisan bill will cut the cycle of recidivism, save taxpayer money, and improve safety. The REAL Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Dick Durbin...

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...