Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) today reintroduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act. The bipartisan legislation seeks to address America’s housing shortage by incentivizing local governments to build more housing near federally funded transit projects. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-Calif.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Ore.). “The clearest way out of our national...

WASHINGTON – With a vote of 82-15, the U.S. Senate today passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill. The government funding bill provides nearly $100 billion in discretionary funding. “Our bill directly addresses America’s housing crisis by protecting affordable housing and homeless assistance programs that will help more than 10 million people. It also includes record level of investment in Native housing, and maintains...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that Hawai‘i will receive $23.5 million to improve Kawaihae Harbor on Hawai‘i Island. The funding, from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, follows Schatz-authored legislation signed into law last year that made it easier for Hawai‘i to compete for grant funding through this program. Schatz’s office also worked closely with the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on a new executive action announced by President Joe Biden on managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI), including labeling. The announcement follows bipartisan legislation authored by Schatz to ensure people know when they are viewing AI-made content or interacting with an AI chatbot by requiring clear labels and disclosures. “People deserve to know whether or not the videos, photos, and content they...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led 20 of their Senate colleagues in releasing the following statement on the need for fuel deliveries to hospitals and water treatment centers in Gaza. “We condemn Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, for which Israel must hold Hamas accountable. In the course of that endeavor, every effort must be made to protect innocent civilians....

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor about the need for content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) to be labeled in an effort to prevent rampant misinformation and fraud as use of the technology increases. Schatz introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) that would require clear labels and disclosures on AI-made content and AI chatbots. “Content made by AI should be clearly labeled as such so people know what they’re...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide more transparency on content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The new bill would help ensure people know when they are viewing AI-made content or interacting with an AI chatbot by requiring clear labels and disclosures. “People deserve to know whether or not the videos, photos, and content they see and read online is real or not,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill is...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) this week introduced new legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits, and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur. “Right now, our laws are allowing some of the worst employers to...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), released the following joint statement: “We are appalled by the unfathomable violence against Israeli civilians and unequivocally condemn Hamas and its brutal actions. We mourn for those who were ruthlessly murdered and injured, as well as for their loved ones and communities who are living through a nightmare. We must do everything possible to rescue the hostages who remain in the hands of...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $17.3 million in funding to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health for emergency behavioral health support in the aftermath of the Maui fires. “The people of Maui have experienced so much loss, trauma, and grief, and addressing the mental health toll is just as important as dealing with the physical damage,” said Senator Schatz....

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today helped introduce Micah Smith and Judge Shanlyn Park to the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing to consider their nominations to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai‘i. “They have the legal acumen as well as the character and temperament required to fulfill the duties of U.S. District Court judges. It’s for these reasons that I’m proud to support their nominations to the federal bench,” said Senator Schatz. Video of...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that eight Native Hawaiian organizations working to preserve and share Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with visitors will receive $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior to implement the NATIVE Act, 2016 legislation authored by Senator Schatz to help empower Native communities through cultural tourism. “These grants are making sure Native Hawaiian organizations have federal resources to integrate...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that because of the short-term government spending deal, which contained an additional $16 billion in new funding and was signed into law over the weekend, the agency would end its pause on funding for some long-term disaster recovery efforts outside of Maui. FEMA had delayed delivery of nearly $3 billion in disaster relief grants as its funding began...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today voted to pass a bipartisan government funding deal that will avert a catastrophic shutdown and provide $16 billion in new disaster relief funding for Maui and other communities impacted by natural disasters. The bill will keep the government funded through November 17. “We are keeping the government open and providing $16 billion in new disaster relief funding for Maui and other communities recovering from natural disasters across the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). “Senator Feinstein was a trailblazer in every sense of the word,” said Senator Schatz. “For more than 50 years, she forged many firsts, in California and in Washington. As the longest-serving female U.S. Senator, she fought to make our country safer and more fair: taking guns off our streets, enshrining marriage equality, and protecting women and...

WASHINGTON – Just two days away from the deadline to fund the federal government, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today called on colleagues in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to pass the Senate’s bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open and avert a disastrous shutdown. “No one wins in a shutdown,” said Senator Schatz. “Not Republicans, not Democrats, and certainly not the people of Hawai‘i and Americans across the country. Anyone that’s serious about...

WASHINGTON – Following calls from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) for additional disaster relief funding for Maui and other communities impacted by disasters, Senate leaders released a bipartisan short-term spending bill that includes $6 billion in supplemental funding to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund. The bill would avert a government shutdown and keep the government funded through November 17. “This bill is an important first step in bringing more federal...

WASHINGTON – Following a request from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), President Joe Biden today announced that the federal government will cover the full cost of debris removal for six months. The 100 percent federal cost share could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars and may be extended at the President’s direction. “This is a significant amount of money. By covering the full cost of debris removal for at least six months, the federal government will help the state and county...

WASHINGTON – With just nine days to go until the September 30 deadline to fund the federal government, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today spoke on the Senate Floor to call on lawmakers in Congress to pass additional disaster relief funding as part of an appropriations bill. Schatz’s remarks come as federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are facing depleting funds for disaster relief even as they continue recovery work on Maui and other states...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a new federal grant totaling more than $7.3 million to aid with the ongoing recovery effort from the Maui fires. “This federal funding will help cover the full costs of initial damage assessments, staffing, and the expenses the state and county have paid for as the recovery process continues to move forward. More funding will be required, and we’re...