Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a group of 13 senators in calling on the Department of Defense to stop providing any funds or resources to support immigration detention. The call comes after President Donald Trump laid out plans that his administration would build “massive cities of tents.”“There is currently no justification for the use of military funds or resources for immigration detention,” the senators wrote in a letter to Defense...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), the top Democrat on the Senate Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Subcommittee, led a group of 15 senators in introducing new legislation to protect people’s personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users’ data.“People have a basic expectation that...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reimburses veterans for missed or underpaid Forever GI Bill housing benefits.“Secretary Wilkie may be saying the right things, but until the VA has a plan and invests money to address the ongoing staffing...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), lead Democrat on the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and John Boozman (R-Ark.), Chairman of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, led a group of lawmakers in calling for a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General investigation into allegations that the VA would not reimburse veterans for missed or underpaid benefits....

WASHINGTON – Today, following a new report that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not reimburse veterans who were paid less than they were owed due to technical errors, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), top Democrat on the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, are demanding that the VA pay back the estimated 360,000...

WASHINGTON – Following new reports about Department of Justice (DOJ) officials discussing the possibility of violating the confidentiality of information collected during the decennial census, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) called on the DOJ to follow the law and protect the confidentiality of responses collected through the census.“We urge you to clarify immediately your understanding of existing law and reiterate your...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA) confirmed plans to construct a new $20.4 million interpretive center for visitors to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.“This new center will give visitors a better understanding of World War II in the Pacific, Hawai‘i’s role, and the sacrifices that so many made for our country, including those...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) called on the Department of Justice to investigate numerous reports of possible voter suppression in the gubernatorial election in Georgia.“The Department of Justice still has the authority and the obligation to enforce the Voting Rights Act and protect the right to vote,” the senators wrote. “In the case of Georgia’s election, the DOJ should ensure that all votes are counted...

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass legislation to improve water resources and infrastructure in Hawai‘i and across the country. The sweeping bipartisan bill includes more than $212 million to improve the Ala Wai canal and watershed, reduce flood risks in the area, and strengthen flood warning systems. “This major investment will make sure the Army Corps has the funding it needs to strengthen the canal and protect residents against...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to keep seats and legroom space on airplanes from shrinking. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who voted to pass the legislation, has been a vocal advocate for consumers against increased attempts by airlines to cut the size of seats.“Hawai‘i travelers are tired of getting less and less space for their hard-earned money. This bill, which will soon be law, gives the FAA the authority step in and say enough is...

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...