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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced he would not seek reelection: “Democratic Leader Harry Reid is one of the smartest and toughest people I know. As our Democratic Leader, Harry never backed down from a challenge—working to protect Social Security and Medicare, pushing for immigration reform, passing the landmark Affordable Care Act,...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the passage of the Schatz-Murray-Shaheen Amendment #1063 which would establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund for legislation to ensure all legally married spouses have access to the Social Security and VA benefits their family has earned, including all same-sex couples. “Gay couples legally married in any state should be entitled to veterans and Social Security benefits...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the PREPARE Act — Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act — legislation that would help states modernize U.S. energy systems to make them cleaner, more efficient, cost-effective, reliable, and resilient. “In Hawai‘i, we were able to work collaboratively with the Department of Energy and...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), introduced the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act, legislation that would provide additional tools for cities to finance the development of more walkable, bikeable communities near public transit stations. The legislation would make a broader array of projects eligible for loans, loan guarantees, and lines of credit through the U.S. DOT...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and U.S. Representatives Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), and Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) introduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available (Police CAMERA) Act of 2015. This legislation would create a pilot grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies develop safe and effective body-worn camera...
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Washington, D.C. – The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today introduced resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives acknowledging and honoring the brave young men from Hawaii, the majority of whom were Native Hawaiian, who participated in the Equatorial Pacific colonization project. The efforts of these young men, also known as the Hui Panalaau colonists, helped secure and establish jurisdiction of the United States over equatorial islands in the Pacific Ocean during the...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the Hawaii Congressional Delegation announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will allocate almost $3.3 million to Hawaii for programs that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests, diseases, and pathogens, including the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and other invasive species. “Hawai‘i is home to many unique plants and animals found nowhere else in the world,” said Senator Schatz (D-Hawai’i). “The...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced the formation of a Federal Judicial Selection Commission to make recommendations on candidates to fill a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii following Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway’s retirement from active service on November 6, 2015. The Commission consists of seven members with three members appointed by each senator and a chair jointly agreed on. ...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) congratulated Dr. Jackie Young on her appointment to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) and Lance Holter on his appointment to the Forestry Research Advisory Council. Senator Schatz wrote letters in strong support of Dr. Young and Mr. Holter’s nominations as part of the selection process. Senator Schatz has made it a priority to identify and encourage individuals...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would give federal agencies greater ability to reduce energy use and save taxpayer dollars. The Utility Energy Service Contracts Improvement Act of 2015 would allow federal agencies to enter into long-term contracts with utilities for energy saving services, giving agencies more options to conserve...
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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-(D-Hawai‘i), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation today that would exempt Hawai‘i, Alaska, and communities that rely on essential air service as subsidized by the U.S. Department of Transportation, from the increase in air travel fees included in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2013. This exemption would protect interisland flights in Hawai‘i and...
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Washington, D.C. – The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will allocate over $47 million in Title I, Part A Grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui counties for school year (SY) 2015-2016. “Investing in our children’s education is one of the best ways to help them reach their full potential. But too often, schools in underserved communities lack the necessary resources to...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama nominated Patricia M. Loui of Honolulu to serve a second term on the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Ms. Loui has been a member of the board since 2011. “Pat Loui has done an outstanding job as a member of the board of the Export-Import Bank, and deservedly is being nominated to serve another term by President Obama,” said U.S. Senator Brian...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement honoring the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery civil rights march on March 7, 1965, also known as “Bloody Sunday”: “Today is about remembering those brave marchers who on “Bloody Sunday” 50 years ago faced deep prejudice and perilous danger for the sake of a cornerstone of freedom – the right to vote – without which there is no...
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Washington, D.C. – The Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation announced today that Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children will receive $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The HRSA grant is made possible through the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program. The HRSA grant will help fund medical education training for residents at Kapi‘olani.“Investing...
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Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced she would not seek reelection: “During her career in Congress, Senator Barbara Mikulski has been one of the most accomplished legislators: passionate about policy, always working to help others, and never backing down from a challenge. From demanding equal...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to advance the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015, H.R. 34. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) offered an amendment, adopted with bipartisan support, which would improve tsunami research by including key historical data and strengthen preparedness programs in coastal communities. “As an island state with over 700 miles of coastline, a reliable tsunami warning system is critical to...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, issued the following statement following the Federal Communications Commission vote to adopt open internet rules: “I congratulate Chairman Wheeler and the FCC on a deliberative process which has led to the adoption of open Internet rules tailored for the 21st century. While I do not yet know all the details...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) sent a letter to National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell, urging the NFL to clearly spell out how it will penalize teams that do not proactively move to prevent domestic and sexual assaults by league employees. In their letter to NFL Commissioner Goodell, Senator Schatz and Congresswoman Speier wrote, “We urge you to create accountability at all...
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Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement on the tentative settlement agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association: "It is very positive news for the country that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association have reached a tentative five-year agreement on a labor contract. Our economy and the welfare of all Americans depends on...
