Press Releases

Washington, DC –  Today, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the State of Hawai‘i activating the release of federal funds to help communities recover from Tropical Storm Iselle that occurred from August 7-9, 2014. “This is great news for the thousands of people in Puna who were affected by Iselle,” U.S Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) said.  “This federal assistance is critical to supporting our communities’ ongoing...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated Hawai‘i County as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by wind, rain, and flooding from Tropical Storm Iselle. After a review of the Hawai‘i County Loss Assessment Reports, the USDA determined that there were sufficient agricultural production losses to warrant a Secretarial natural disaster designation....

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced the award of $1.9 million in federal funding to the Hawaiian Shores Community Association in Puna, Hawai‘i.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding will help the homeowner’s association improve and repair the community’s water system, ensuring safer, clean water and providing adequate water flow for fire protection.  Senator Schatz’s office worked closely with the USDA...

Honolulu, HI – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) expressed his sincere sympathy upon the passing of former legislator, Robert Herkes: “We extend our condolences to the family, many friends and all the people Bob Herkes steadfastly served as a Hawai`i County Council member and Hawai`i State legislator.  Bob was a plain spoken leader who was simultaneously business and community minded.  His colleagues always sought his opinion because he was smart, balanced...

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)...