Press Releases

Washington, DC—Today, the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded $8,610,632 in federal grants to support Native Hawaiian education. The grants, which include funding for every county in Hawai'i, will support eleven education projects to improve academic achievement, strengthen early childhood literacy and readiness programs, assist homeless families, and foster mentorship and academic support programs. “These funds will help...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) introduced the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (FEPPLA), legislation that would provide federal employees with six weeks of paid leave, under the Family and Medical Leave Act, for the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. “While private companies are beginning to see the benefits of providing paid family leave, America is still the only industrial nation in the world...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. “There is no alternative to this agreement—certainly no military option—that eliminates 98 percent of Iran’s fissile material or 2/3 of its operating centrifuges,” said Senator Schatz. On August 10th, Senator Schatz announced his support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. To view video of Senator...

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced the nomination of Clare Connors to the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.  Ms. Connors was among those recommended by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and the Federal Judicial Selection Commission. The Federal Judicial Selection Commission, which included seven members, three appointed by each Senator and a chair jointly agreed upon, reviewed more than 30 applications for the...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced a $20 million cooperative agreement between the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and the Hawai‘i Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies (HCATT) to develop a microgrid demonstration project at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam that will strengthen energy resiliency for the 154th Wing of the Hawai‘i Air National...

Honolulu, HI – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement in response to former Florida governor Jeb Bush’s statements regarding Asian-American children. “Jeb Bush's comments regarding the children of Asian immigrants are derogatory and offensive.  He should immediately retract his statements and apologize to the Asian community for his insensitive behavior.” ###

Honolulu, HI – Last week, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act, legislation to expand Social Security for seniors and families in Hawai‘i and across the country.  The bill would increase benefits by about $65 per month, ensure the cost of living adjustments adequately reflect the living expenses of retirees, extend the life of the trust fund, and remove the wage cap to make sure all Americans...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: “After multiple readings, numerous briefings with officials, discussions with experts outside of government, consultations with my constituents and my colleagues, I am satisfied that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best approach to deny Iran a nuclear weapon and place its nuclear program under strict international...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Subcommittee, commended the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) for working to address concerns with LTE-U.  Last week, Senator Schatz led a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to call for more oversight on the potential interference LTE-U could have on Wi-Fi.  Following...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement on President Obama’s Clean Power Plan: “Regulating carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act is morally and legally the right thing to do.  Climate change impacts the health and welfare of all Americans.  Severe weather events like droughts and wildfires have increased significantly, and coastal states including Hawai‘i face direct threats from the impact of...

Honolulu, HI – Last week, ahead of the Administration’s Clean Power Plan announcement, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor to address questions about the Clean Power Plan and to urge Congress to act on climate change. To view video of Senator Schatz’s floor speech, click here.The full text of Senator Schatz’s floor speech follows:Mr. President, I'd like to talk a little bit about the particulars of the Clean Power Plan and address some of the questions that have been...

Washington, D.C. – The expansive six year transportation bill passed today by the Senate includes two provisions introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i).  The first provision supports investment in transit-oriented development and the second promotes safer streets and communities. “My transit-oriented development provision will give cities like Honolulu more tools to finance the development of more walkable, bikeable communities near public transit...

Washington, D.C. –  Today, the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded $14,252,365 in various grants to support the development of affordable workforce housing for low and moderate-income persons, address homelessness, and provide housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families. “Homelessness is one of the most serious and urgent...

Washington, D.C. – As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) begins a process to examine the effects of new technologies like LTE Unlicensed, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler calling for more oversight on the potential interference LTE-U could have on Wi-Fi. “As unlicensed spectrum usage increases,...

Washington, D.C. – Today, in honor of the fifth anniversary of Dodd-Frank, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) introduced the Stop Errors in Credit Use and Reporting (SECURE) Act, legislation that would make it easier for consumers to identify and correct errors in their credit reports and hold credit reporting agencies accountable.  The SECURE Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),...

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the agriculture appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to increase funding by $1 million for agricultural inspection stations like those at neighbor island airports, making it easier for travelers to move through the agricultural inspections process. “Without agricultural inspection stations at our neighbor...

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, which included a bipartisan amendment, introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that will improve the safety of our nation’s roads and expand access for bikers and pedestrians.  The amendment directs the Department of Transportation, in coordination with...

Washington, D.C. – Today, two amendments introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) were adopted by the U.S. Senate as part of the Every Child Achieves Act, which is the reauthorization bill for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  The first amendment promotes Native Hawaiian language education and the second amendment addresses school facilities. “Native languages have the power to strengthen the connection between students, their communities and their...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) and Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) today introduced the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, legislation that will help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned.   “From the repeal of ‘Don’t...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced legislation, S.1755, to extend the Residential Energy Efficient Property Tax Credit (25D) by five years.  The legislation would extend a successful tax credit that helps families pay for residential clean energy equipment, such as solar photovoltaics, solar hot water...