Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) led a group of 17 senators in introducing a resolution to recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse communities around the world, and to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. “International Transgender Day of Visibility is about celebrating the transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse communities around the world...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to confirm Nani Coloretti as Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Confirmed by a vote of 57-41, Coloretti is now the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration. Coloretti hails from Kapahulu and graduated from ‘Iolani School in 1987. “This is a proud moment for Hawai‘i. Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that would help fight cybercrime and help keep people safe from online scams. The bipartisan bill, which will improve data collection on cybercrimes and give law enforcement and policy makers more tools to combat cybercrime in the United States, previously passed the Senate in December and is expected to be signed into law by the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that 18 health care providers in Hawai‘i will receive $1,182,796 in federal COVID-19 relief funding to cover pandemic-related costs and continue providing health care for kids and families throughout the state. The funding supports smaller health care providers, with a specific focus on those serving Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare beneficiaries. “This new federal funding will...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the inclusion of $1 billion to defuel the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in the president’s annual budget request. Schatz worked closely with senior Biden Administration officials to ensure the new funding was included in the president’s annual budget request. “The president’s budget proposal signals the...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $100,000 in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations bill for the YWCA of Hawai‘i Island. The money will be used to help fund technology upgrades, supplies, and teacher training for the nonprofit’s Developmental Preschool Program. “Early childhood education is incredibly important to a child’s development, health, and successful future,”...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. “Madeleine Albright is a towering figure in American and world history, but I knew her as family. She is my oldest brother’s mother-in-law, and when I came to Washington, we became friends. Actual friends. She was thrilled to have a politician in the family, and wanted to be helpful without casting a long shadow, so...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that Ho‘āhu Energy Cooperative Moloka‘i, a local group developing Moloka‘i’s first community-owned renewable energy resource project, will receive federal support, including technical assistance, from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). “This kind of hands-on federal support will help us expand clean energy production on Moloka‘i as the community moves to take its energy...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new proposed rule requiring publicly traded companies to disclose their climate risk exposure. “The SEC took a crucial first step to protect investors from material risks related to climate change. Investors need to know exactly how exposed individual companies are to climate risks. For that, they need consistent, comparable, and...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Safe Connections Act, bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), that will help survivors of domestic violence and other crimes cut ties with their abusers and separate from shared wireless service plans, which can be exploited to monitor, stalk, or control victims. “Giving domestic violence abusers control over their victims’ cell phones is a terrifying...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that 14 community health centers across Hawai‘i will receive $23,749,447 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue providing health care services to underserved communities. “Community health centers provide quality, affordable health care to Hawai‘i families every day,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $23 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations bill for highway improvements on Maui. The new earmark funding will be used to realign 4.5 miles of Honoapi‘ilani Highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko to make it safer and more resilient to the impacts of coastal erosion and climate change. “This $23 million earmark will directly benefit Maui and help...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $350,000 in congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, in this year’s appropriations bill for the Molokai Land Trust. The new earmark funding will be used to support construction of predator-proof fencing to protect threatened and endangered species within the Mokio Preserve. “This new earmark will protect dozens of threatened and endangered species on Molokai,” said Senator Schatz, a senior...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured more than $240 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, in this year’s appropriations bill, including $10 million for housing on Hawai‘i Island. The funding for Hawai‘i County will be used to build affordable housing and emergency shelter units for people experiencing homelessness. “This new earmark funding will help build new shelters and affordable permanent housing for...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the FY22 appropriations bill which includes congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, for the first time since 2011. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured more than $240 million in earmarks this year for non-profit organizations and state and county agencies across Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i is set to receive a total of $263 million in congressionally directed spending, which includes earmarks requested by Schatz, and the rest of Hawai‘i’s...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $8.5 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations bill. The new earmark funding will be used to construct a community center and help build senior housing for the Lima Ola Community, an affordable housing development that will house more than 500 families. “This $8 million earmark will go directly to Kaua‘i to help build a community center and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), who serves as both the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing, secured $22.3 million for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the highest level of funding ever appropriated by Congress. The record amount, included in this year’s appropriations bill, is $20.3 million more than was allocated last year. “We secured the highest...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured the inclusion of provisions to the FY22 government funding bill that will temporarily extend access to expanded telehealth services. The provisions, which are from the Schatz-authored Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, allow Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country to utilize telehealth services in their homes and allow more types of health care...

WASHINGTON – Congressional leaders today released a bipartisan appropriations deal that will increase federal funding for critical programs that benefit Hawai‘i. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, successfully secured funding for state priorities, which are now included in the final deal. “This is a big increase in federal dollars this year. We are delivering millions in federal funding to help us rebuild our economy and help people...

WASHINGTON – Following a ban in 2011, congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, have returned to the annual appropriations process. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured more than $240 million in earmarks this year for non-profit organizations and state and county agencies across Hawai‘i. Hawai‘i is set to receive a total of $263 million in congressionally directed spending, which includes earmarks requested by Schatz, and the rest of Hawai‘i’s congressional...