Press Releases

HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, released the following statement in response to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to repeal net neutrality rules. “Since its formation, we’ve seen a free and open internet grow our economy and our imaginations. But today the FCC has threatened to end the internet as we know it. If...

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, comprehensive legislation that authorizes defense funding for Fiscal Year 2018. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure Hawai‘i priorities and worked to include provisions he authored that will improve the Red Hill facility, give Hawai‘i and states across the country more flexibility in funding for military construction, and fund a study to assess...

BONN, GERMANY – A United States Senate delegation has concluded its mission to the annual United Nations climate conference in the wake of President Trump's intentions to withdraw America from the historic Paris Climate Agreement, an accord now agreed to by every other country in the world to fight global climate change through a mix of carbon emissions reductions, clean energy innovations, adaptation measures, and resiliency enhancements.Led by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, voted against advancing Jim Bridenstine’s nomination to be the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). “This is a nonpartisan science agency,” said Senator Schatz. “The scientific consensus is that climate change is real, urgent, and caused by humans. This science should be both supported and...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) will receive a more than $60 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build and upgrade more than 70 miles of power lines and support smart grid projects.“KIUC is on track to be 50% renewable by 2023 and this funding will help them reach...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced a bill prohibiting President Trump from starting a preemptive war against North Korea, absent an imminent threat or without express authorization from Congress. The bill, introduced amidst the escalation of irresponsible rhetoric and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the State Public Option Act, bicameral legislation to create a Medicaid-based public health care option on the insurance marketplace, which will provide Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance. “Our bill will unlock each state’s Medicaid program to anyone who wants it, giving Americans a high-quality, low-cost...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), all members of the Senate Commerce Committee, called on the Chairman and Ranking Member of the committee to hold a hearing on President Trump’s attacks on the media and his latest threat to interfere with the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) television station license renewal proceedings. “The FCC Chairman’s failure to quickly respond and...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, released the following statement on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s comments about President Trump’s threat against NBC. “This statement is better than nothing, but it is merely a reiteration of the FCC’s authorities under the law. What we needed is a full-throated defense...

HONOLULU — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement today on President Donald Trump’s nomination of Barry Myers as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Barry Myers is a questionable choice to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As the CEO of AccuWeather, Barry Myers views NOAA as a direct competitor that provides high-quality forecasts for free. He is in the vanguard of corporate...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, released the following statement after President Trump threatened to challenge NBC’s broadcast license. “The president’s threat against NBC and other media outlets is far from empty. In 1974, President Nixon and his top aides discussed using the FCC’s license renewal process to punish the Washington...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Co-Chair of the Senate Climate Change Task Force, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan.  “Once again, the administration has put partisan ideology above the health of the American people, our economy, and our planet.  Like their failed attempts to undermine clean water and methane rules, this effort to repeal the Clean Power Plan has no...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced the Police Creating Accountability by Making Effective Recording Available (Police CAMERA) Act of 2017.  This legislation would create a pilot grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies develop safe and effective body-worn camera programs that also protect civilians’ privacy rights. “We can’t restore...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement in response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas, which has left at least 50 people dead and more than 500 injured. “Today, our hearts are with the people affected by this tragedy, and with all of Las Vegas. But warm words are not enough. Thoughts and prayers won’t stop this from happening again. It’s time for Congress to finally stand up against gun violence and take action so this...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced a bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) through 2022. NAHASDA provides federal housing assistance and housing loan guarantees for Native Hawaiians. Additionally, the legislation helps provide safe and affordable housing for Native Americans and...

WASHINGTON – This week, the Senate voted unanimously to pass the CHRONIC Care Act, which includes key provisions authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) that will improve access to and quality of care for Medicare patients and save costs for the federal government. “Almost every other part of our health system uses technology to improve health and save costs. It’s long past time for Medicare to catch up,” said Senator Schatz....

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act (S. 1856) to establish limitations and create greater transparency on the federal transfer of surplus military-grade equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies.“As we work to rebuild the trust between communities and the police, we can’t ignore the role that the federal government has played in arming police...

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Making Available Information Now to Strengthen Trust and Resilience and Enhance Enterprise Technology (MAIN STREET) Cybersecurity Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, and James Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The bipartisan bill will provide...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called for an investigation into the planned periodic shutdown of Healthcare.gov – the official federal website established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) where Americans can enroll in a health insurance plan – during the 2018 open enrollment period (OEP). During open enrollment – the time of year that individuals can enroll in a...

HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will award Hawai‘i a total of $1,928,823 in federal funding to improve the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao and the Lanai Veterans Cemetery in Lanai City. “These federal funds will help improve our veterans cemeteries on Maui and Lanai, and help us honor the legacies of thousands of brave service members...