Press Releases

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Washington, D.C. –The Hawaii Congressional Delegation today announced that the Hawaii Department of Health will receive $9.43 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support programs for pregnant mothers and families with young children. “A child’s development is more critical in the first few years of life than at any other time,” said Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) praised President Obama’s announcement that he intends to designate the Honouliuli Internment Camp as a National Historic Monument.  This designation will put Honouliuli under the management of the National Park Service (NPS) and help preserve the history of the site where hundreds of Japanese-Americans were wrongly interned during World War II. “Honouliuli represents a dark period in our history when...

Washington, D.C. –Today, Hawai‘i’s congressional delegation announced the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) will receive a $9,036,788 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of its Capital Fund Program for Public Housing Agencies. “Safe, affordable housing is a basic necessity that every person deserves,” said Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i). “This important investment by HUD will make sure the...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Sequestration Relief Act of 2015 which would restore funding for critical domestic and defense programs.  Senator Schatz serves on five key Appropriations subcommittees: Defense; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and Legislative Branch.  Senator Durbin...

Washington, D.C – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor and called for cooperation in moving forward bipartisan energy policies that address climate change and advance American energy security. “American energy policy is not defined by one project, or one piece of infrastructure, however contentious it may be,” said Senator Schatz. “There are a few areas where we are going to fight - there is no avoiding it, and...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statement in response to reports that President Obama plans to send to Congress a proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL): “While I have not seen the President’s proposal for an Authorization of the Use of Military Force to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, sending an AUMF to...

Washington, DC – 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 on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Wheeler’s net neutrality proposal: “I congratulate Chairman Wheeler for his leadership in putting forth a proposal to establish net neutrality rules tailored for the 21st century.  A free and open Internet is critical to...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) will serve on five key Senate Appropriations Subcommittees: Defense; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and Legislative Branch. “I am grateful to Chairman Cochran and Vice Chairwoman Mikulski for the opportunity to help shape the Department of Defense’s priorities, especially as it relates to the Asia-Pacific...

Washington, D.C. – 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 on the Federal Communications Commission’s AWS-3 spectrum auction which raised $44.9 billion: “Today marks a key milestone in U.S. spectrum policy.  The success of the AWS-3 auction has ensured funding for our critically important public safety network, so that our first...