Press Releases

WASHINGTON- Senator Brian Schatz joins Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in supporting legislation that would allow students to pay the same interest rate on their student loans as big banks.  Student loan interest rates are set to double on July 1, 2013, which would cause students to pay 9 times more in interest rates than big banks on Wall Street that caused the economic crisis. “Student loan interest rates are set to double, and Congress must act so that we reduce student loan...

Washington, DC—Today, Senator Brian Schatz introduced a bill that would facilitate the construction of  a Native American Veterans’ Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The Schatz bill, S.1046, will provide the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) with the much needed flexibility to raise funds and move forward on  construction of a memorial  to honor the brave men and women of Native American heritage who have served our nation....

WASHINGTON- Senator Brian Schatz joined his Senate colleagues in voting against a harmful amendment for domestic sugar producers.  The repeal of the sugar program would have created significant hardships for Hawaii’s sole remaining sugar producer, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S). Sugar producers and processors contribute $20 billion in economic activity, and are responsible for 142,000 American jobs. “Today, the United States Senate saved the Hawaiian...

Washington, DC—Today, Senator Brian Schatz joined local and national advocates, as well as Senators Schumer, McCaskill, and Boxer, calling for passage of the The Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act of 2013 (S. 921).   Named after two sisters who were killed driving a rental car that had been recalled, this is a commonsense bill that bans rental car companies from renting or selling vehicles that are under manufacture recall. This legislation has gained support from all...

WASHINGTON –The Hawai‘i delegation announced today the Department of Health and Human Services will make available to community health centers in Hawai‘i $1,150,468 million for assistance in providing uninsured individuals with affordable health care coverage under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.  These funds are designed to help 14 community health centers across Hawai‘i that treated 144,427 patients in 2012.  “The Affordable Care Act has...

Washington, DC—Senator Brian Schatz invited Malia Brennan to be his guest at the Joint Meeting of Congress in honor of President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. “I was so glad to have Malia Brennan as my guest for the Joint Meeting of Congress today,” said Senator Schatz. “She is a bright young leader that has served our community through mentoring and teaching underprivileged children, and it was my honor to have her join me for the address of the first female President of...

Washington, DC— Senator Brian Schatz joined Senators Robert Casey (PA), Dean Heller (NV) and a group of bipartisan Senators in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to take direct action in ending the current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog. The number of pending claims at the VA has increased 2000% in the last year despite a 40% increase in the VA’s budget. More than 600,000 veterans are stuck in the VA’s disability claims...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Brian Schatz joined Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and a number of other Senate Democrats in opposing the use of Chained Consumer Price Index to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security or benefits to disabled veterans or their families.  “We owe it to our seniors and veterans to give them the full benefits that they have earned and deserve,” said Senator Brian...

WASHINGTON – Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to pass legislation that would require background checks, preventing criminals from purchasing guns: “It’s extremely disappointing that the Senate failed to pass measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the severely mentally ill,” said Senator Brian Schatz.  “My heart goes out to the victims of gun violence and their families who have worked...

WASHINGTON – The Hawaii Congressional delegation announced today legislation to address the issue of physician shortages in rural communities and on neighbor islands.  Senator Brian Schatz and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard introduced Senate and House versions of the Rural Preventive Health Care Training Act (S. 726), and Senator Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa are original co-sponsors of the legislation. This legislation would fund preventative health care training for...

WASHINGTON, D.C – Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Al Franken (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)today introduced legislation to significantly...

Washington, DC—Today, the Senate voted to confirm President Obama’s nominee Sally Jewell as Secretary of the Interior.  In February, Senator Schatz met with Jewell to discuss Hawai‘i’s priorities, including the Department of Interior’s commitment to Native Hawaiians and the National Parks Service, as well as addressing the financial burden on the state of Hawai‘i as a result of the federal government’s Compact of Freely Associated States. Jewell has...

WASHINGTON, DC- Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) today introduced legislation to right an unjust wrong in our nation’s past. The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act (S. 690) would provide Filipino soldiers who defended the United States during WWII by with the full veterans’ benefits that they deserve.  Senator Mazie Hirono is an original co-sponsor of the bill. “Filipino veterans who fought in World War II are American...

HONOLULU- During the week of March 29th, Senator Schatz will meet with constituents and stakeholders across neighbor islands and Oahu to discuss issues facing Hawai‘i today.  “My goal is to continue an open dialogue with my constituents so that I can hear from them on what I can do in Washington to better represent the people of Hawai‘i.  Whether it’s our oceans, fisheries, parks, health care facilities, or small businesses, I’m seeking input from the...

WASHINGTON – Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement today as the Supreme Court hears arguments to determine the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court will also hear a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage between a man and a woman, thereby denying federal benefits to same-sex couples. Schatz joined his Senate colleagues in filing an amicus brief in the DOMA case that is before the...

Washington, DC—Senator Brian Schatz and Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii introduced bills that will help expand the number of Native Hawaiians eligible for homeownership, grant additional options when transferring ownership, and provide more financial assistance tools to secure a home. Senator Schatz introduced three amendments to the Native Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA), which will expand housing program eligibility and succession authority to those who are one-quarter Hawaiian. It...

WASHINGTON- During today’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting, Senator Brian Schatz made clear that President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will work with the Hawaii Congressional Delegation on Hawai‘i’s priorities. Schatz confirmed that the Department of Interior will remain committed to ensuring Native Hawaiians are on equal footing with Alaska Natives and Native American Indians.  Schatz also underscored the Department of...

Washington, D.C. –Senator Brian Schatz and Senate leadership, including Majority Leader Reid, and Senators Begich and Cantwell, hosted 18 native leaders from across the country at the invitation of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee (DSOC). D. Keola Loyd with the Lanikuhonua Cultural Center and Kawika Riley with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs were invited to attend the meeting by Senators Schatz and Hirono. Topics of discussion included federal recognition of Native Hawaiians,...

Moving Towards a Clean Energy Economy By Senator Brian Schatz Posted: 03/15/2013 3:29 pm Climate change is the challenge of our generation, and Congress must act. First, let's accept the facts: Climate change is real. It is caused by humans. It must be confronted. And it is solvable. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in 2012 experienced the second highest rise since record-keeping began in 1959. This jump in carbon...

Washington, D.C. –Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) are supporting legislation that would reunite Filipino World War II veterans with their families. Certain Filipino veterans of World War II were offered U.S. citizenship in recognition of their service; however their children were not. As a result, the veterans who came to the United States could only reunite with their children by filing a petition...