Press Releases

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...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement in response to a new Media Matters report detailing how broadcast networks covered climate change in 2014: “While I am pleased that broadcast media coverage of climate change has increased this year, it is not enough,” said Senator Schatz.  “I remain deeply concerned about both the lack and the quality of the coverage.  This new report shows that Sunday shows...

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta calling for immediate action to address the safety concerns and potential security risks of small unmanned aircraft, also known as drones.  Today’s letter follows a recent report of a drone landing on the White House grounds and reiterates a call for action.  “Yesterday’s report of an unmanned aircraft that...

Honolulu, HI – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) submitted video testimony opposing proposed reductions to Army personnel in Hawai‘i.  In video remarks to be delivered at the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai‘i’s community listening session in Honolulu, Senator Schatz underscored Hawai‘i’s important role in the nation’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and highlighted the deep ties the Army has cultivated with the state. “I am strongly...

Honolulu, HI – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced today the names of 38 students nominated to attend one of our nation’s service academies. The four service academies are: the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. “This year’s U.S. Service Academy nominees represent a new generation of future military leaders, all of whom completed a highly...

Washington, DC—Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement following President Obama’s annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. “Tonight we heard the President lay out his vision for the year ahead to ensure that our economy continues its recovery and that our economic policies and priorities strengthen and expand the middle class. “This is particularly important in Hawai‘i, where the high cost of...

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was chosen to serve as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet.  “I am looking forward to serving as the lead Democrat on this subcommittee,” said Senator Schatz.  “Innovation and technology are some of the biggest drivers of our economy and can help solve some of today’s toughest challenges.  In my new role, one of my top...

Washington, DC – The Senate is set to vote on advancing U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s (D-Hawai‘i) amendment to S.1, the Keystone XL pipeline legislation.  The Schatz amendment, the first climate science amendment offered by Senate Democrats, affirms that climate change is real and significantly caused by human activity.  Senator Schatz delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling on his colleagues to acknowledge the facts about climate change and support the amendment....

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) commended United Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) for bringing back dozens of union jobs, which were previously given to contractors, to Honolulu International Airport.  “This is good news for our dedicated union workers and their families at Honolulu Airport,” said Senator Schatz.  “Unions have played an important role in building our middle...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today introduced S.164, legislation to provide a 3.8 percent pay raise to federal workers in calendar year 2016.  Federal employees have lost over a billion dollars in salary and benefits due to sequestration and a three-year pay freeze from January 2011 to December 2013. “Hawai‘i’s federal employees are some of the hardest working public servants in the country,” said...

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted against advancing S.1, a bill to authorize construction of Keystone XL, a pipeline that would transport dirty tar sands oil from Canada to the United States Gulf Coast.  Prior to the vote, Senator Schatz spoke out on the Senate floor to oppose authorization of the pipeline which would undermine efforts to combat climate change and would endanger the health of American families. “For me, and for many...

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) congratulated Saint Louis School graduate Marcus Mariota and the University of Oregon on a successful football season.  Mariota’s teammates include Saint Louis School graduates Bronson Yim and Isaac Ava, Kamehameha alum Koa Kaai, and Punahou graduates DeForest Buckner and Davis Miyashiro-Saipaia.   “Congratulations to the Oregon Ducks, including our six local players from Hawai‘i, on a...

Washington, D.C.  – Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) applauded President Obama’s announcement on his intention to nominate former Bank of Hawai‘i Chief Executive Officer Allan R. Landon to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “The Federal Reserve is responsible for regulating nearly every aspect of our banking industry and it is critical that its members reflect the diversity in the industry,” Senator Schatz said. ...

Washington, D.C. – United States Senate Democratic leadership announced the selection of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to serve on the key Senate Committee on Appropriations. The appointment is an especially important one.  Prescribed in the U.S. Constitution, the Committee writes the legislation that allocates funds to government departments, agencies and organizations.  The Committee also has responsibility for supplemental spending bills as may be needed during...

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Promoting Regional Energy Partnerships for Advancing Resilient Energy Systems Act (PREPARE Act), legislation that would help states modernize U.S. energy systems to make them cleaner, more efficient, cost-effective, reliable and resilient.  With an aging U.S. energy infrastructure in need of replacement and...

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) have written Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) requesting an extension to a provision that allows the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the maximum home loan guaranty amount for veterans in high cost of living areas.  A current provision enacted by...