Press Releases

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released a detailed guide to help Hawai‘i seniors access new and enhanced federal benefits established under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “There are new programs and funding for Hawai‘i seniors who need help with their rent, getting basic groceries, receiving health care, or just need financial assistance,” said Senator...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and 13 of his colleagues today called on student loan companies to allow its borrowers to suspend payments without penalty and take additional steps to aid borrowers affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a series of letters to Wells Fargo, SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae), Navient, Citizens Financial Group, Discover Financial Services, the PNC Financial Services Group, Truist Financial Corporation, the Pennsylvania Higher...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released a new guide to help independent contractors, freelancers, those who are self-employed, and gig-economy workers, including ride sharing drivers, better understand how to apply for new benefits established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “These federal programs can help thousands of Hawai‘i workers who are struggling to get by,” said Senator Schatz. “If you’re...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and 42 of his colleagues called on Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to make temporary flexibilities on Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans permanent for the duration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Schatz and the senators also urged Secretary Perdue to ensure famers have adequate and equitable access to credit during this time of economic uncertainty to avoid disruption in the country’s food supply chain....

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and 44 of his colleagues called on the Trump Administration to issue direct payments automatically to recipients of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Supplemental Security Income program. In their letter, the senators point out that these are two groups with large numbers of non-filers and groups that the federal government has the data necessary to deliver the stimulus checks automatically. The...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that starting on April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders. Independent contractors and those who are self-employed can begin applying on April 10, 2020.“This new loan program will help Hawai‘i small businesses meet their payroll and provide people with...

  HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released a comprehensive resource guide to help Hawai‘i families, workers, and small businesses better understand how to apply for new benefits and access federal funds established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The full guide provides detailed information on eligibility, coverage, and directions on how to access dozens of federal programs, including unemployment assistance,...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Hawai‘i is set to receive at least $4 billion in federal coronavirus relief funding. “Billions of dollars in federal money are on the way,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will support state and local response efforts and help Hawai‘i families and businesses struggling to get...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released new guidance to help renters and homeowners with government-guaranteed mortgages who may fall behind on monthly payments due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Lots of Hawai‘i residents are struggling to make their mortgage or their rent, and these programs can help tens of thousands of people who need it,” said Senator Schatz. “Please call either your mortgage servicer, your landlord, or a...

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released a resource guide to help Hawai‘i small businesses better understand how to access federal loans and new programs established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bipartisan $2 trillion CARES Act is the largest aid package in American history and was signed into law on Friday. “This new law will help Hawai‘i small businesses meet their payroll and provide people with...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass a massive $2 trillion coronavirus economic recovery package. The bipartisan deal – the largest emergency relief package in American history – includes billions to help those who are unable to work due to the outbreak, direct cash payments to millions of Americans, new funding for state and local governments, including at least $1.2 billion for Hawai‘i, and aid for small businesses, hospitals,...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Monday announced the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, legislation to force President Trump to implement the Defense Production Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-774, 50 U.S.C. §§4501 et seq.) and federalize the manufacture and distribution of scarce in-demand medical supplies in order to cure the growing inefficiencies of 50 states and...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) led a bipartisan group of 26 senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase subsidies to health care providers through the Rural Health Care Program. The additional funding would ensure that providers have the resources they need to deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19)...

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and called for more federal support to help people. The bill bolsters the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak and provides limited relief for some American families hurt by the personal and economic impact of the outbreak. “This bill will help some people get relief right now, but it is just not enough,” said Senator Schatz....

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), both members of the Senate Banking Committee, introduced new legislation to protect people’s credit scores during the coronavirus outbreak. As some families struggle with job losses or reduced incomes, they may fall behind in paying their bills. These late payments could hurt their credit for years and hold them back from accessing credit, taking out a mortgage, applying for a job, or renting...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz, Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and a number of their Democratic Senate colleagues introduced the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, legislation that would ensure free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. “Testing should be free and available for everyone who needs it. We can’t stop this outbreak if we don’t know...

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) introduced the Coronavirus Worker Relief Act. The new bipartisan, bicameral legislation will provide disaster unemployment assistance to people who are unable to work due to the current coronavirus outbreak....

WASHINGTON – Today, the State of Hawai‘i will have immediate access to more than $4.5 million in emergency funding. The funding, which was approved by Congress and signed by the president last week, will be used to help Hawai‘i respond to the crisis. “This federal money will help fund Hawai‘i’s response efforts and give us additional resources to keep people safe,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and a group seven senators urged the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to commit that federal workers and contractors will not be penalized for following recommended health procedures to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. In a letter sent to OPM Director Dale Cabaniss, the senators wrote, “As the largest employer in the nation, it is paramount that the federal government lead by example and...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced the Inspiring New STEM Professionals by Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces (INSPIRES) Act. The growth of jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has outpaced all others. However, due to lack of resources, schools serving rural and Native American communities face greater challenges in providing students with a strong STEM education and preparing them for growing workforce...