Press Releases

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) called for improvements in the safety of roads in Hawai‘i and across the country following a new report out today, Dangerous by Design 2014, by the National Complete Streets Coalition that found more than 200 people were killed while walking in Hawai‘i from 2003 to 2012, accounting for more than 20 percent of traffic deaths in the state.  The report also found that Hawai‘i had the highest pedestrian death...

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) co-sponsored the Social Security and Marriage Equality (SAME) Act of 2014 to make sure all legal marriages are treated equally by the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The bill would ensure that same-sex spouses receive the same spousal benefits afforded to married, heterosexual couples.  Because the Social Security Administration uses an individual’s current place of residence to determine benefits, many legally...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) stood with students and the Young Invincibles today and sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education urging it to put in place stronger protections for students in career education programs—particularly those at for-profit colleges—who take on significant debt to attend but are frequently left with meager job prospects.  Schatz sent the letter together with Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin...

    Washington, D.C. – In advance of the release of the bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA), U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Water and Power announced key provisions included in the bill that would improve Hawai‘i harbors and provide resources for flood control, water supply, and wastewater infrastructure projects.  The bill is scheduled to be released...

    Washington, DC –  The expansive Senate transportation bill announced last night by Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairman Barbara Boxer (D- Calif.) includes U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s (D-Hawai‘i)  Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act.  Schatz’s legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), would help finance the development of...

    Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) applauded President Obama and his administration following an announcement from the White House that he will be making more than 300 private and public sector commitments to create jobs and cut carbon pollution by advancing solar deployment and energy efficiency.  The President announced executive actions that will lead to $2 billion in energy efficiency investments in Federal buildings; smarter...

      Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hilo International Airport will receive a $3.1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.  This grant will provide funding to rehabilitate the airport’s runway by improving the structural integrity of the pavement and minimizing debris on the airstrip. “These funds for the Hilo International Airport are an important investment for Hawai‘i...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) announced the National Park Service (NPS) has taken an important step towards designating the Honouliuli Internment Camp as a National Historic Site with the release of the final draft of a special resource study on the site.  Following the release of the draft study on the Honouliuli Internment Camp, Senator Schatz called Director Jarvis to discuss ways to expedite the designation process.  Inclusion in the...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and the United States Senate voted to confirm Pamela Hamamoto as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva.  The United Nations Office at Geneva serves as a connection between research institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions.  Hamamoto will have the rank of Ambassador and report directly to U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power.  “Pamela...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) said that the Third National Climate Assessment Report out today by the U.S. Global Change Research Program shows an urgent need for Congress to renew energy efficiency and renewable energy legislation and for the Environmental Protection Agency to be able to curb carbon.  The report detailed potentially devastating impacts around the country, including in Hawai‘i and the Pacific, where coastal flooding, decreasing...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced today with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and colleagues the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, legislation that would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. Over the last 30 years, the cost of college has increased by 300 percent.  Student loan debt is now the highest form of personal debt in the nation,...

Washington, DC –  Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced legislation with Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, that will help finance the development of better walkable, bikeable communities near transit stations.  The Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act (S. 2275) would support community development that integrates housing,...

Honolulu, HI – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) recognized this year’s U.S. Service Academy appointees during a reception held in his Honolulu office. “The U.S. Service Academies have educated some of our Nation’s finest leaders, men and women who secure our daily liberties,” said Senator Schatz, “This year’s appointees represent Hawai‘i’s best and brightest students with the dedication to serve our country as commissioned officers...

Washington, DC —U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) congratulated Debra S. Wada on being nominated as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense. “President Obama has recognized a tremendous candidate for this important post in Debra Wada,”  said Senator Schatz.  “Debra’s experience handling military-personnel issues as well as her time in the House and Senate make her an ideal candidate for Assistant...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) called on Republicans in Congress to pass legislation to raise the national minimum wage. Schatz cosponsored the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 and increase earnings for more than 28 million workers across the country, while helping grow our economy.  Last week, the Hawai‘i legislature passed legislation raising the state’s minimum wage to...

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Tourism, Competitiveness, and Innovation, helped introduce the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act, legislation to reauthorize Brand USA, a successful travel promotion program aimed at boosting international tourism to the United States. Schatz joined 24 other Senators in introducing the legislation that promotes Hawai‘i and other states and U.S. territories as premier destinations...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced S.2224, the Stop Errors in Credit Use and Reporting (SECURE) Act of 2014, legislation that would make it easier for consumers to identify and dispute errors in their credit reports and build on a proposal from Senator Sanders to provide consumers with free credit scores.  The senators’...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) supported the announcement that President Obama will be taking two new executive actions to help combat pay discrimination and strengthen enforcement of equal pay laws.  The executive actions apply the standards of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which Senator Schatz is a co-sponsor of and the Senate is considering this week, to federal contractors. The Paycheck Fairness Act improves the remedies available to victims fo...

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to renew unemployment insurance for five months and give immediate relief to millions of Americans, including more than 200,000 veterans, who lost unemployment insurance starting on December 28, 2013.  The bill will allow for retroactive payments to eligible beneficiaries going back to December 28th. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) has been a vocal advocate of the need to restore unemployment insurance,...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) commended Major General Darryll D.M. Wong, the Adjutant General for the State of Hawai‘i, for receiving the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Director’s Community Leadership Award.  This award recognizes exceptional efforts to combat crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in communities near each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.  Senator Schatz joined Major General Wong at an awards ceremony...