Press Releases

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, issued the following statement regarding the State Department’s final supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL pipeline permit application: “I am certain that encouraging the production of Canadian tar sands – some of the dirtiest oil in the world – is not in America’s national interest.  As...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement and video celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming the Year of the Horse. “The Lunar New Year is a special time for us to celebrate the vibrant customs of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. In Hawai‘i and around the world, as families gather to celebrate the Year of the Horse and look towards the future, we are reminded of the diversity that enriches our state. “From cuisine to commerce...

Washington, DC—Today, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (S. 1926), which U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) co-sponsored. This bill will prevent aggressive flood insurance rate hikes until the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) examines how it can ensure affordable flood insurance for families and businesses. It will also require that FEMA implement more accurate flood maps, reimburse homeowners for successful map appeals,...

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced 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.  Schatz and Gillibrand’s legislation is co-sponsored by Senators...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) introduced the College Affordability and Innovation Act of 2014, new legislation to make college more affordable for students across the United States. Over the last 30 years, the cost of college has increased by a whopping 300 percent, forcing some students to take on crushing student loan burdens or putting a degree entirely out of reach for...

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement following President Obama’s annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress. “Tonight, we heard a real commitment from President Obama to reversing income inequality.  Helping those who are stretched thin is even more important in Hawai‘i, where so many of our families struggle with the high cost of living. People who work hard and play by the rules...

Honolulu, HI - The University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) announced today that former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will present a free public lecture at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (UHM) campus on April 15, 2014. The seminar is the capstone of the day-long summit, Ascent, organized by UH and Senator Schatz, which will welcome notable dignitaries from around the country to Hawai‘i in order to discuss and propose...

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement in advance of Monday’s national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Senator Schatz will participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade on January 20th, beginning at 9 am HST from Magic Island, and the Unity Rally at 12 pm HST at Kapiolani Park.  “This weekend, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a civil...

Washington, DC -  Following the spill of approximately 7,500 gallons of crude 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) into the Elk River last week that tainted the water supply for more than 300,000 West Virginians and a 233,000-gallon molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor in September that was one of the worst environmental catastrophes in Oahu’s history, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D- Hawaii) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) introduced legislation to make those responsible for such spills pay...

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today passed the Fiscal Year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed yesterday.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) worked to include more than $744 million directly for Hawai‘i’s priorities in the bill, which now goes to the President’s desk for his signature. “Appropriations have always been important to Hawai‘i and we need to make sure Hawai‘i continues to secure...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) welcomed news that the inaugural U.S.-hosted meeting of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Defense Ministers will take place in Hawai‘i this April.  U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has invited Senator Schatz to participate. “Holding the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ meeting in Hawai‘i showcases our critical role in Asia and the Pacific.  As we continue to see, Hawai‘i is...

Honolulu, HI - Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced this year’s nominees to attend one of our nation’s service academies. “The men and women of the U.S. armed forces secure our daily liberties and make our country what it is, ” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “This year’s service academy nominees represent Hawai‘i’s best and brightest students.  These students have completed a highly competitive selection process...

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared Hawai‘i and Maui Counties disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. Kalawao County was named a contiguous disaster county also eligible for federal assistance. This declaration makes farm operators facing extreme drought conditions eligible for low interest emergency loan assistance from the Farm Service Agency. Funds may be used to assist in moving water to...

Washington, DC—Today, the U.S. Senate voted 60-37 to move forward a renewal and three month extension of emergency, long-term unemployment insurance.  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who has been a vocal advocate of the need to restore unemployment insurance to the 1,900 Hawai‘i residents who immediately lost emergency unemployment benefits on December 28th, and to the additional 5,800 people in Hawai‘i at risk of losing out on future benefits, released the...

Washington, DC— After the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made changes to its loan guarantee program resulting in a $125,000 drop in the maximum loan guarantee for Honolulu, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai`i) is requesting that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the VA take O‘ahu’s high cost of living into consideration and increase the loan guarantee limit for the City and County of Honolulu. “O’ahu has some of the most expensive housing in the...

Honolulu – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement today after Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima signed off on plans that will allow the relocation of the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station.  The relocation is key to a broader U.S. realignment of troops in the Asia-Pacific region, and will move approximately 8,000 Marines to other locations in the region including Hawai‘i, Guam and Australia. The Okinawa approval...

Honolulu – President Barack Obama today signed into law the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) - the Military Installations Enhancement Act of 2013 - to promote the long-term viability of military bases with smart growth planning and construction that helps preserve Hawaii’s precious land and natural resources.  NDAA funds provisions...

Honolulu —On O`ahu today, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), the Native American Memorial Amendments Act of 2013, to pave the way forward for a long-awaited Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. “It is long past time for our nation to honor the uncommon contributions of Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Natives, American Indian, and other native...

Washington, DC—The U.S. Senate last night unanimously passed the Native American Memorial Amendments Act of 2013, introduced by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), paving the way forward for a long-awaited Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  Schatz’s legislation to facilitate construction of the Native American Veterans’ Memorial has already passed the House of Representatives and now goes to President Obama for his signature...

Honolulu, HI - Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced $11,162,104 in federal housing grants for the City & County of Honolulu. The City & County of Honolulu will receive the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, HOME and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS funding to distribute to private and non-profit entities to create better affordable housing for low-and moderate-income residents. “Even those with a decent job have a...