Press Releases

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) voted to advance key legislation to provide workplace protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and expand federal equal rights to LGBT individuals.  The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), co-sponsored by Schatz, would expand existing protections against employment discrimination to apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. Current law protects employees from discrimination based on...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz highlighted the important role after-school programs play in Hawai‘i at a meeting with former Governor Schwarzenegger and Leader Harry Reid.  Senator Schatz also spoke today at the launch of the DC After-School All-Stars chapter, a sister chapter of Hawai‘i’s After School All-Stars program. “I have seen first-hand the difference after-school programs make for our children and their families,” said U.S....

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz introduced two bills that will create high-quality jobs in Hawai‘i and promote American manufacturing as part of a collaborative “Make it in America” initiative with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and other Senate colleagues. The SelectUSA Authorization Act would help businesses tap into the investment needed to expand and create jobs, spur economic growth and promote American competitiveness. A companion bill in the House...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz joined a bipartisan group in voting for a deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, preventing our nation from defaulting on its loans. “This shutdown caused terrible, unnecessary pain for Hawaii families, and we are all relieved that it is nearly over,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “It’s time for Congress to get back to work, and focus on helping the middle class. “We’ve got lots...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz took to the Senate floor to denounce so-called “conservatives” for their willingness to put our economy and middle-class families at risk by shutting down the government and threatening to allow America to default. To view the speech, click here. Below is text of the speech. Thank you, Madame President.  Yesterday, Senate Republicans rejected a cloture motion, on a strictly party line basis, for a simple measure to prevent...

Washington, DC—On Saturday, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz took to the Senate floor to call out House Republicans for their unprecedented and reckless refusal to vote on a Continuing Resolution without unrelated amendments. Because of their “temper tantrum,” people in Hawai‘i are suffering. Senator Schatz highlighted some of those people and their situations in his floor speech. View the speech here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Hp5m0af-A Download the speech here: HD...

Washington, DC – The Department of Defense announced that a majority of the 2,600 civilian employees furloughed at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility should expect to return to work as early as next week, even if the government remains shutdown.  Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel made the announcement Saturday, stating that, “employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service...

Washington, DC—Despite knowing that a government shutdown would hurt seniors, veterans, families, and dedicated public servants, as well as put our economic well-being at risk, House Republicans have stubbornly refused to agree to fund the federal government. Due to their recklessness, the United States government has been forced to shutdown.   Senator Schatz will continue to work to fund the government. However, Senate legal counsel has informed our office that some of our functions...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement in response to the House’s unwillingness to pass a clean Continuing Resolution, resulting in a government shutdown. “Despite knowing that a government shutdown would hurt seniors, veterans, families, and dedicated public servants, as well as put our economic well-being at risk, House Republicans have stubbornly refused to agree to fund the federal government,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz....

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement on House Republicans’ latest political game-playing. “The latest stunt by House Republicans unfortunately demonstrates that they aren’t yet serious about reopening the government. The government shutdown is causing real economic pain for middle class families in Hawai‘i, and there’s a simple way to fix this. All that Speaker Boehner would need to do is to allow the House of...

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Brian Schatz joined his Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring the Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy Act of 2013 (STORAGE). This bipartisan bill promotes the deployment of energy storage technologies, which will accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. “The STORAGE 2013 Act is a smart piece of bipartisan legislation that would allow more renewable energy to be integrated onto the grid, increasing reliability while continuing to expand our...

Washington, DC--Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced $1.56 million from the Department of Health and Human Services for Native Hawaiian programs aimed at developing sustainable agriculture, creating stronger families, and expanding job opportunities by funding community-based projects. “The grants announced today will provide job and educational opportunities that will help Native Hawaiian families ensure greater economic self-sufficiency, and better lives for their children,”...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz joined his Senate colleagues in voting to get us closer to a deal that will keep the government from shutting down. “A government shutdown would harm the people of Hawai‘i, and it is irresponsible for unbending and intransigent Tea Party Republicans to continue to hold our economy hostage so that they can get their way,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “Enough is enough. While the Continuing Resolution is not perfect,...

Washington, DC--Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced the Department of Health & Human Services’ (DHHS) Administration for Children and Families will award $157,142 for the Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC) in Honolulu. Schatz wrote a letter in support of this grant to DHHS in August highlighting the valuable protections and services that DVAC provides. The DVAC currently serves the Island of Oahu, including 315,000 people on the Leeward Coast, and assists large communities...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement on the elimination of what is known as the “Monsanto Protection Act” from the Senate version of the short-term appropriations bill, the Continuing Resolution. “The Monsanto Protection Act is bad policy for the country and the State of Hawai‘i,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “The Senate version of the Continuing Resolution does not include this provision, effectively...

Washignton, DC – Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it will award a grant in the amount of $1,092,739 to improve the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao. “The VA grant will ensure that the groundskeepers and cemetery officials have access to the resources they need to improve the Maui Veterans Cemetery and honor the final resting place of those veterans that are interred there,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “I am committed to ensuring that our...

Washington, DC--Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz announced the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will receive $3,023,387 from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to create a Hawai‘i Data Center that will support the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance rate review and increase transparency in health care pricing. “Greater oversight of insurance rates will help to ensure Hawai‘i's families receive quality, affordable health...

Washington, DC—Today, Senator Brian Schatz announced that he will be co-sponsoring a number of bills to unlock Hawai‘i students’ full potential by expanding early education, providing more counseling and after school opportunities, fostering excellent educators, and modernizing schools. “In order to build a better future for Hawai‘i, we must begin with our students,” said Senator Brian Schatz. “We know so much about how to help students achieve their...

Today, Senator Brian Schatz announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture will award a total of $1,383,302 in Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grants to two Hawai‘i organizations. These grants offered through the Office of Rural Development provide assistance in recruitment, screening, loan packaging, and related activities for prospective self-help housing applicants. “One of the greatest challenges for families in rural Hawai‘i is the high cost of housing.  This...

Washington, DC—Today, Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement in response to the House Republicans’ vote to defund Obamacare and shut down the federal government: “This latest attempt to defund Obamacare will never pass the Senate or be signed by the President. House Republicans again voted against the interests of the American people, risking our economic stability just to prove a point.  There have been times in history when both parties are equally to...