Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Senator Brian Schatz announced his opposition for the Republican plan that does not avert the harmful impacts of sequestration and would only hurt middle-class families by not addressing the deficit. President Obama announced today that he would veto the legislation (S. 16). “I stand with President Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid in opposing the Republican plan,” said Senator Schatz.  “President Obama has clearly stated that he will veto this...

WASHINGTON – Senator Brian Schatz, member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, met with Sally Jewell, President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, about the priorities for the state of Hawai‘i.  Jewell has served as the President and CEO of Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) for the past eight years. “I had a productive conversation with President Obama’s nominee Sally Jewell about the issues that are important to the people of...

HONOLULU- Senator Brian Schatz discusses how the sequester will hurt middle-class families and why Democrats have proposed a balanced approach that increases revenues and makes reductions in domestic spending and defense spending. While in Hawai‘i, Schatz is meeting with a wide variety of agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Governor and other State Administration officials, to discuss the potential impacts of sequestration. "Sequestration was designed not to take effect but...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hawaii will receive $17 million for disaster relief. The funds come from a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will help the state repair roads and highways damaged by heavy rains causing flooding and landslides on Kauai and Maui in late February and early March 2012. Repair work will include emergency repairs to restore traffic flow,...

HONOLULU- Senator Brian Schatz has selected five field representatives with proven records of leadership from across Hawai‘i to serve as his regional liaisons to the community.  The field representatives are: Clyde Kodani (Kaua‘i), Marlena Castro Dixon (East Hawai‘i Island), Kari Luna Nunokawa (Maui), Helen Nielsen (Maui), and Bryan Andaya (O‘ahu).   Senator Schatz picked a broad group of individuals that will serve as community liaisons to ensure that the...

WASHINGTON – Senator Ron Wyden, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced Senator Brian Schatz as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Water and Power.  Schatz will serve on additional Subcommittees within Energy and Natural Resources, including the Subcommittee on National Parks and the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. In addition to Schatz’s Subcommittee assignments on Energy and Natural Resources, the Senator has been assigned...

WASHINGTON–Navatek CEO Martin Kao and Kupu CEO John Leong joined 14 companies from a dozen states to share their success stories on creating jobs in their communities with Democratic senators today. These businesses and organizations from across the country met with nearly 20 senators, including Majority Leader Harry Reid and Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Chairman Mark Begich, to highlight how small and medium-sized businesses have continued to create jobs and strengthen...

WASHINGTON – In response to tonight’s State of the Union address, Senator Brian Schatz praised President Obama’s clear plan to strengthen our middle-class and his commitment to a clean energy economy. “President Obama laid out a clear plan to help middle-class families grow and prosper once again.  While we’ve made progress to get our economy back on track, the President’s commitment to a thriving clean energy economy ensures that we will get people back...

WASHINGTON– Senator Brian Schatz has invited Patrick Branco, 25, from Kailua, as his guest to the State of the Union.  Branco entered the Foreign Service in September of 2012, and will commence his service in June as the Assistant Information Officer in the U.S. Embassy, Bogota, Colombia.  “In just a few short years, Patrick has demonstrated a clear commitment to public service and dedication to the State of Hawaii through his work in the state legislature and his time in...

WASHINGTON –Senator Brian Schatz announced today that he is a proud co-sponsor of the Voter Empowerment Act. In addition, he joined his Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring a resolution honoring Black History Month.  “I’m proudly co-sponsoring the Voter Empowerment Act in order to give the federal government additional tools to ensure that every voter can cast their vote and have that vote counted free of discrimination.  Over the last few years, we have seen voter...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Tulsi Gabbard announced today that Hawaii will receive more than $1 million to expand and improve the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. The funds come from a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The grant will help the state provide enhanced service for nearly 80,000 veterans and their families by adding a family room addition at the administration building, a new...

WASHINGTON – On the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, Senator Brian Schatz urges Congress to act now and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is common sense legislation that would require women to be paid the same as men for the same job. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 is the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama during his first term and takes steps towards eliminating pay discrimination on the basis of gender.  “Today marks the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz praises the confirmation of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State and for his leadership in clean energy that will make a mark in history.  “Senator John Kerry is a tireless leader and public servant with decades of foreign policy experience, and I can’t think of a better person to represent our country as Secretary of State.  His leadership in addressing climate change and making it an issue of national security will no doubt...

HONOLULU- Senator Brian Schatz announced today the submission of the 2017 Service Academy nominees. “Today, I am pleased to announce that 16 of our brightest students from throughout Hawai’i were nominated to attend one of our nation’s service academies,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. “These men and women went through a rigorous selection process led by Senator Inouye and submitted by my office in order to serve and protect our nation.  I would like to...

WASHINGTON – Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement in support of marriage equality: "The time has come to make marriage equality a reality for Americans around the country, so that all people can exercise that right in freedom and without restriction. I am pleased that President Obama supports marriage equality, and that the State of Hawai'i has a proud history of leadership in civil rights. I encourage State lawmakers to pass legislation that will ensure equal rights for...

WASHINGTON - “Today we honor the work of Martin Luther King who dedicated himself to the American principle that we are all created equal.  He was a steadfast guardian of the freedoms that make us a stronger people and a greater country.  “Today we also inaugurate President Obama, a celebration in itself, of the importance of all women and men being given the opportunity to achieve their potential.  This day is doubly a reminder of what is possible if we work to...

"The President, supported by the people of this country, has made it clear that the nation has a moral obligation to reduce gun violence.  His administrative actions and his legislative proposals are designed to keep all people, especially our children safer, while still respecting the rights established in our United States Constitution.  We expect rigorous debate because some of these issues are difficult.   Let’s bear in mind that no one is talking about taking away...

HONOLULU - Senator Brian Schatz returns to Hawai`i for the first time since being appointed to fill Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s seat on December 26, 2012.  During the week of January 14, 2013, Senator Schatz will participate in two public events. On Monday, January 14, Senator Schatz will join Governor Neil Abercrombie and members of the state Legislature in honoring former U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka as he is inducted to the inaugural Aloha Order of Merit.  "Senator Akaka has...

WASHINGTON - Senator Brian Schatz has named Andy Winer as his Chief of Staff in Washington. D.C. “We’ve got a great office, Room G-11 in the Dirksen Senate Building.  Andy is a leader who knows Washington well and whose working roots are in Hawai`i.  He has excellent contacts within President Obama’s administration, deep familiarity with what’s happening back home and will serve the people of our State with distinction,” Schatz stated in making the...

WASHINGTON - United States Senator Brian Schatz today called the committee assignments he’s received “strategically excellent” for Hawai`i. Schatz has been named as a member of the U.S. Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources, Indian Affairs and Commerce. “I could not have asked for better assignments for the needs and future of our State,” said Schatz about the three committees. “The Commerce Committee is very important because of its breadth...