Press Releases

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,...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, worked to include funding for defense programs important to Hawai‘i. “The funding for defense programs that the Appropriations Committee passed today is a key investment in our national security and is further indication of the important role...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would prevent the United States from sending American ground troops to engage in the fight against ISIL in Iraq or Syria.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) is an original cosponsor of the amendment along with...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today released new, forward-looking foreign policy principles to guide America’s role as a global leader in the 21st Century. The principles, as laid out in an op-ed published today in Foreign Affairs, provide a clear alternative to the limited perspectives that often dominate American foreign policy conversations in the United States...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, introduced the School Building Fairness Act of 2015, legislation that would provide federal grants to states and local school districts to help them build, repair, and renovate school facilities. “When students are in a safe, well-maintained school environment, it improves their ability to learn and gives them a...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Hawai’i Congressional Delegation announced that the Honolulu International Airport will receive $16.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. “When we invest in airport infrastructure, we grow our tourism industry, connect families and businesses, and make our transportation system operate more safely and efficiently for everyone,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), a member of the Senate Appropriations...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i‘) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Hawai‘i announcement of a proposed agreement with the U.S. Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency requiring the military to take action to minimize the threat of future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. “The proposed agreement between the EPA, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health, and...

Honolulu, HI – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced their intent to expand air preclearance operations to Narita, Japan and nine new foreign airports which would boost tourism and help the government achieve its goal of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2021.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Co-Chair of the Senate Tourism Caucus, held hearings on the state of the tourism and travel industry last year, and worked with the U.S. Department of...

Honolulu, HI – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) have introduced a bill to preserve endangered Native languages.  The Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act creates a new grant initiative to establish or expand Native language immersion programs.  The grants will support the revitalization and maintenance of indigenous languages while increasing educational...

Washington, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution acknowledging and honoring the brave young men from Hawai‘i, the majority of whom were Native Hawaiian, who ensured the success of the Equatorial Pacific colonization project.  This once-secret initiative began in the 1930’s to enable the United States to claim jurisdiction over this hotly disputed area of the Pacific in the years leading up to World War II.  The earliest colonists were new...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, worked to include $444 million for military construction projects across Hawai‘i. “The $444 million in funding for military construction projects that the Senate Appropriations...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced a resolution condemning China’s construction of artificial land formations on the Spratly Islands and calling for a peaceful and multilateral resolution to the South China Sea territorial dispute. In recent years, China has aggressively...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Rand Paul (R-KY) today introduced the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation will establish limitations and create greater transparency on the transfer of surplus military-grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies. The bill will prohibit the federal transfer of militarized equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies including, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles,...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved several bills, including a group of international fisheries bills championed by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).  These include S. 1334, the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act; S. 1335, the North Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act; and S. 1336, the South Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act. “I thank Senator...

Washington, D.C – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor to oppose the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), legislation that would restrict Congress from amending future trade agreements for the next six years and would allow foreign investors to challenge governments for enforcing their own laws, potentially undermining public health, safety, or environmental policies. “I oppose the procedures contained in this bill, and I am seriously concerned...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program, has awarded $2,831,809 in grants to support local programs that provide housing assistance and supportive services for low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. “Programs like the Gregory House and the Maui AIDS Foundation are making a real difference...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (CT-4) announced the introduction of their College Affordability and Innovation Act – legislation that will make college more affordable for students across the United States by prioritizing innovation and tying federal funding for colleges to their ability to meet affordability and student outcomes goals. By encouraging colleges to innovate and by...