Press Releases

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced he will rejoin his team, who have remained on the ground in Puna, on Tuesday to assist with the recovery efforts, specifically focusing on federal funds, the mitigation of albizia trees, and disaster recovery. Schatz will meet with state and county officials and continue his collaboration with community members from Puna. “I said on Friday night that my commitment to Puna's recovery...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will receive an $802,500 grant from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration to rebuild the last 2.3 miles of the 18-mile long Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) Road, which suffers from deterioration due to the high altitude and harsh conditions.  Prior 2012 funding allowed for 8 miles of the road to be rebuilt, but left...

Honolulu, HI – Today Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) announced an agreement on legislation to improve accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and give veterans the flexibility to seek care in their community should the VA be unable to provide care in a timely manner.   U.S. Senator Brian Schatz  (D-Hawai‘i), who has repeatedly called for...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that state and local preparedness programs in Hawai‘i will receive $8,902,185 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The grants will provide funding for various activities throughout the state for disaster management and preparedness, port security, and terrorism prevention planning, organization, training, exercise, and equipment. “As...

Washington, DC - Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted unanimously to advance the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act (S. 2250), legislation to reauthorize Brand USA, a successful travel promotion program aimed at boosting international tourism to the United States.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Tourism, Competitiveness, and Innovation, and 24 other Senators introduced the...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that Honolulu’s aerial advertising ordinance remains valid.  The mainland-based company Aerial Banners North has been flying aerial banners over Oahu in violation of Honolulu’s ordinance banning aerial advertising, while ignoring citations from the Honolulu Police Department.  The company has argued that its FAA certificate of...

Washington, DC – Today, President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order protecting federal contract workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) sent a letter in March with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and the House LGBT Equality Caucus leadership urging President Obama to issue this executive order, which bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual...

Honolulu, HI ­- Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced Cellana, a leading biofuel company based in Kailua-Kona, will receive a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an integrated, high-yield algae biofuel feedstock production system at their Kona Demonstration Facility.  Cellana’s research efforts have created a successful business model using algae to produce various products including low-cost animal feed, high-quality nutritional...

Honolulu, HI ­- U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) announced today that United Airlines and IAMAW members have come to an agreement that will keep hundreds of neighbor island jobs at Lihue, Kahului, and Kona airports. “On behalf of the IAMAW Union members of United Airlines in the Hawaiian Islands we would like to sincerely thank Senator Schatz for his help and support in the fight against...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) cosponsored the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, legislation introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) that would protect families from corporate interference and make sure that employers cannot deny women essential health benefits mandated by federal law, including birth control coverage. “Corporations aren’t people and they should not be given...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the University of Hawai‘i (UH) will receive a $349,472 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will provide funding for the UH School of Nursing’s project, Achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing: A Veteran’s Initiative. Kapiolani Community College, Kaua‘i Community College, and Maui College will also participate in the project. “Nursing is...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that  the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa will receive five grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen climate and hazards research, further scientific understanding of past, current, and future climate change, and facilitate national and international collaboration. “These grants demonstrate that the University...

Honolulu, HI – In a divided decision, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby that closely-held private corporations can impose their religious beliefs on women by denying them birth control coverage as part of their health insurance.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the ruling. “Employers should never have the right to make personal health decisions for women,” Senator Schatz said.  “I am...

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced Esther Kia‘aina’s Senate confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior. “President Obama recognized a tremendous individual for this important post in Esther Kia‘aina,” Senator Schatz said. “Her confirmation is a testament to her distinguished career and expertise on Native Hawaiian issues and land management. Esther is an...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Tourism, Innovation, and Competitiveness held a hearing on the state of U.S. tourism and travel industry today and announced plans to work with the U.S. Department of State on legislation to make it easier for low-risk international travelers to visit the United States, boosting tourism and helping the government achieve its goal of attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2021. ...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive two grants totaling $1,752,905 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to help unemployed individuals train for and transition to new employment.  Hawai‘i will receive $897,420 through the Job-Driven National Emergency Grant program to train unemployed workers for jobs in high-demand industries and $855,485 through the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA)...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced the University of Hawai‘i will receive a $86,462 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve monitoring of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. “Kilauea’s spectacular volcanic eruptions have attracted much attention over the last three decades. More than 5000 travelers visit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park each day,” Senator Schatz said. “And...

Washington, DC – Today, the United States Senate passed the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), legislation that improves workforce development programs to prepare American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass the legislation and worked with Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to make sure funding for youth, adult, dislocated, and Native Hawaiian workforce...

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the City and County of Honolulu will receive a $5 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to maintain Honolulu’s bus system. “Investing in Honolulu’s bus system means that the many residents who depend on it to get to school or work every day will continue to have an affordable way to get around,” Senator Schatz said.  “This funding will maintain Honolulu’s buses,...

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the City and County of Honolulu will receive $250 million from the Department of Transportation next week to fund continued construction of the Honolulu Rail Transit project.  The $250 million grant was made possible through appropriations provided in the Fiscal Year 2014 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill as part of the Federal Transit...