{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"HI\" and year = 2024 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/over-the-last-year-schatz-secured-more-than-6-billion-to-support-mauis-recovery-build-more-housing-improve-infrastructure-expand-high-speed-internet-and-advance-other-priorities-across-hawaii", "Over The Last Year, Schatz Secured More Than $6 Billion To Support Maui\u2019s Recovery, Build More Housing, Improve Infrastructure, Expand High-Speed Internet & Advance Other Priorities Across Hawai\u2018i", "2024-12-30", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 In 2024, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) helped secure more than $6 billion in federal funding for Hawai\u2018i as he led efforts to deliver resources to support Maui\u2019s recovery from last year\u2019s fires and advance a range of other priorities for the state. Earlier this month, Schatz announced an estimated $1.6 billion in new funding for Maui\u2019s continued recovery, aimed at building permanent housing for survivors, in addition to almost $500 million to support economic development, small business needs, water infrastructure, and more. The funding was approved following efforts led by Schatz for more than a year to press the need for long-term disaster aid both in Congress and with the Biden administration.\n\n\u201cSurvivors on Maui are doing everything they can to recover \u2013 but they can\u2019t do it alone. That\u2019s why getting funding to build housing \u2013 which remains the top priority \u2013 was so important,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cPeople can\u2019t fully recover without stable, permanent housing, and it\u2019s critical that homes now get built as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\nSenator Schatz added, \u201cWe also delivered significant funding this year to improve infrastructure of all kinds, expand access to high-speed internet, and help people transition to clean energy. Tackling Hawai\u2018i\u2019s housing shortage is one of the biggest challenges of our time \u2013 and the new investments to encourage pro-housing policies and build housing on Hawaiian home lands are just the start. Whether it\u2019s increasing SNAP benefits for families or preserving telehealth access or pushing to strengthen Hawai\u2018i\u2019s security, we made real progress this year to help people across the state.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Schatz, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), helped secure more than $6.6 million to build housing across the state by removing regulatory barriers that drive up the cost of housing. The funding came from a first-of-its-kind national program created by Schatz \u2013 the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program \u2013 for which he secured $100 million in fiscal year 2024.\n\nAdditionally, as Chair of THUD and Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Schatz delivered record funding to build housing on Hawaiian home lands and in other Native communities. The more than $1.3 billion for Native communities nationwide was an increase of more than $320 million from last year, and is in addition to the $22.3 million he secured to address Native Hawaiian housing needs.\n\nAdditional highlights include:\n\nHelping increase SNAP benefits to reflect food costs in Hawai\u2018i: Following calls from Schatz to increase SNAP benefits in Hawai\u2018i in line with the local cost of food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed a $40 \u2013 or 2.3 percent \u2013 increase in benefits. Schatz worked directly with USDA Secretary Vilsack to update the Hawai\u2018i cost analysis.\n\nSupporting flood management and environmental restoration projects: As part of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, Schatz secured provisions authorizing feasibility studies for flood risk management projects on Maui, Kaua\u2018i, and O\u2018ahu and expediting projects already underway.\n\nImproving air tour safety and addressing air noise: Schatz secured several provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to toughen safety requirements for air tour operators and require the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to participate in a state task force on air tour operations. The bill also helps airports in the state adapt to extreme weather and establishes the first-ever, Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.\n\nExtending telehealth coverage: Schatz led a group of 100 lawmakers in calling for telehealth expansion that were set to expire at the end of the year. Schatz continues to push for the passage of his bipartisan bill to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries.\n\nLeading the push to strengthen national security and protect Hawai\u2018i: Along with Senator Eric Schmidt (R-Mo.) and a group of bipartisan colleagues, Schatz \u2013 a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee \u2013 called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to clarify that Hawai\u2018i would be protected by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) under Article V of its treaty should the state ever come under attack by an adversary. Hawai\u2018i is the only state in the country that does not have full protections under NATO.\n\nRenewing COFA agreements and making medical care accessible to U.S. military veterans living in the FAS: Schatz helped extend the United States\u2019 agreements with the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia as part of this year\u2019s appropriations process. Additionally, Schatz secured provisions to allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide medical care to veterans of the U.S. military living in the FAS.\n\nWorking to improve evacuation route planning in the event of a disaster or emergency: Following the Lahaina fires, Schatz joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness.\n\nFunding highlights include:\n\nNearly $108 million to rehabilitate bridges on Hawai\u2018i Island. $74.6 million in funding will help improve Nanue and Hakalau bridges on Hawai\u2018i Island in an effort to maintain traffic capacity and safety. The funding will also enable the completion of environmental remediation of lead paint under Hakalau Bridge that led to the closure of Hakalau Beach Park. $33 million of the funding will help strengthen the Wailuku River Bridge by making key improvements to reinforce its foundation.\n\nNearly $100 million to improve airports statewide. The funding will help rehabilitate runways at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on Hawai\u2018i Island as well as enable the construction of a new security screening checkpoint facility at Kahului Airport on Maui. At Daniel K. Inouye Airport on O\u2018ahu, the funding will help improve the Terminal 2 roadway for the Wiki Wiki Shuttle, expand sidewalks and update lighting to the Diamond Head Concourse, and upgrade fire sprinkler and alarm systems.\n\n$89 million to expand high-speed internet access on Hawaiian home lands. The funding will help bring broadband internet access to thousands of households on Hawaiian home lands through building new telecommunications infrastructure, workforce development programs, and digital equity initiatives for DHHL lessees.\n\n$68.4 million to conserve and restore watersheds and forests. The funding for the University of Hawai\u2018i Sea Grant College program will be used to help conserve and restore watersheds and forests; build natural infrastructure to protect communities and habitats; restore Native Hawaiian fishponds, limu, and coral reefs to reinvigorate habitat; and establish new green infrastructure projects to reduce risk and improve disaster resilience.\n\n$62.4 million to deliver solar power to low-income homes statewide. The funding will help finance residential rooftop solar projects as well as storage and community-owned solar systems.\n\n$42.5 million to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety on Hawai\u2018i Island and O\u2018ahu. The funding will be used to reconstruct roadways near Bayfront Highway and Waianuenue Avenue in Hilo to implement a slate of roadway improvements including ADA-compliant sidewalks, pedestrian signals, and traffic management devices. In Honolulu, the funding will be used to add an additional lane and execute a complete redesign of a 1.5-mile segment of Salt Lake Boulevard which includes dedicated bike lanes.\n\n$24.4 million to repair roads and structures damaged by storms on Maui and Kaua\u2018i. The funding will be used to cover the costs of repairs to roadways and structures on Maui and Kaua\u2018i that were damaged by landslides and severe rain in recent years.\n\n$20 million to support Native Hawaiian climate resilience efforts. The funding, awarded to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations, will help restore native ecosystems and plants and enhance food security while incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-the-passing-of-former-president-jimmy-carter", "Schatz Statement On The Passing Of Former President Jimmy Carter", "2024-12-29", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) issued the following statement after the death of former President Jimmy Carter:\n\n\u201cI join Americans across the country in mourning the loss of former President Jimmy Carter. As president, he worked to protect the environment, expand clean energy, champion human rights, and advance Middle East peace. After leaving office, he spent decades helping the less fortunate, in America and around the world. His legacy of service, kindness, and generosity will live on. My deepest condolences go out to the entire Carter family.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-biden-signs-hirono-cruz-legislation-into-law-to-maintain-access-to-the-federal-courts", "President Biden Signs Hirono, Cruz Legislation Into Law to Maintain Access to the Federal Courts", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act into law. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, transitions 10 temporary federal judgeships\u2014including one in Hawaii\u2014to permanent status in order to maintain the current level of access to the federal court for millions of Americans across the nation.\n\n\u201cIt was heartening to see broad bipartisan consensus on this bill to make the temporary district court judgeships around the country permanent, and I am glad that President Biden signed it into law,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis legislation will ensure that people in Hawaii, Texas, and across the country can continue to rely on these longstanding temporary judgeships. I thank Senator Cruz for his partnership, and all of the Senate and House cosponsors of this legislation for their support.\u201d\n\nThe Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act grants permanent status to all 10 currently-existing temporary federal district court judgeships in the following federal district courts:\n\nU.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii\n\nU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas\n\nU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama\n\nU.S. District Court for the Central District of California\n\nU.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico\n\nU.S. District Court for the District of Arizona\n\nU.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida\n\nU.S. District Court for the District of Kansas\n\nU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri\n\nU.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-biden-signs-hirono-tokuda-bill-to-study-designating-lahaina-as-national-heritage-area-into-law", "President Biden Signs Hirono, Tokuda Bill to Study Designating Lahaina as National Heritage Area Into Law", "2024-12-23", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI). The bicameral legislation directs the National Park Service, in coordination with Maui County and other state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of a National Heritage Area designation for Lahaina. The bill passed the House and unanimously passed the Senate last month.\n\n\u201cThe historic, natural, and cultural resources found in Lahaina tell a nationally significant story and the devastating August 2023 wildfires shed light on how special this town is to our communities and to the country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI am proud President Biden signed the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act into law, as this bill will place Lahaina under consideration to become a National Heritage Area, helping to ensure that this town is celebrated and appreciated for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was also cosponsored by Representative Ed Case (D-HI).\n\nThe National Park Service currently oversees 62 National Heritage Areas across the country, none of which are in Hawaii. In 2022, the House passed Senator Hirono\u2019s Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act to study designating Kaena Point on Oahu as a National Heritage Area.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-2-billion-in-new-disaster-aid-funding-for-maui-passes-senate-set-to-be-signed-into-law", "Schatz: More Than $2 Billion In New Disaster Aid Funding For Maui Passes Senate, Set To Be Signed Into Law", "2024-12-21", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to pass more than $110 billion in new long-term recovery funding for disaster-impacted communities nationwide. Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked to include an estimated $1.6 billion in new Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for housing on Maui and an estimated $480 million more for economic development, small business loans, and water infrastructure, among other things. The funding bill is expected to be signed into law by the president today.\n\n\u201cThe $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding is for three things: housing, housing, and housing,\u201d said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cFor the past 16 months, the people of Lahaina have done everything in their power to recover as quickly as they can. But they were never meant to do it alone. As disaster response gives way to disaster recovery, building housing is the top priority. People can\u2019t fully recover without permanent, stable housing, and that\u2019s why getting this funding now is so important.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the estimated $1.6 billion in CDBG-DR funding for housing, about $480 million more will be heading to Maui, including:\n\nAt least $22 million to support economic recovery, agriculture, and conservation effort\n\nAt least $12 million to provide loans to impacted small businesses\n\n$33 million to repair roads\n\n$350 million to build critical water infrastructure\n\n$19 million for child care\n\nSince the Maui fires in August 2023, Schatz has continually led efforts in Congress to deliver relief for survivors, including securing $16 billion for the national Disaster Relief Fund last year and most recently co-sponsoring the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act which passed the Senate unanimously last week. The bill exempts survivors of the fires from having to pay federal income tax on their settlement money or pay tax on attorney fees included in the settlement.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-schatz-secure-several-provisions-to-support-hawaii-communities-and-strengthen-disaster-resilience-in-2024-water-resources-development-act", "Hirono, Schatz Secure Several Provisions to Support Hawaii Communities and Strengthen Disaster Resilience in 2024 Water Resources Development Act", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The U.S. Senate passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which includes several provisions secured by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities and strengthen the state\u2019s disaster resilience. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, to conduct studies, construct projects, and research activities to improve U.S. waterways. The bill passed the Senate by 97-1 and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe Water Resources Development Act is crucial legislation to strengthen our country\u2019s water conservation efforts and improve waterways. This year\u2019s bill includes several provisions that will benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities, including projects to expand access to resources for remote communities, reduce flood and storm damages across the state, and support Maui as they continue to recover after the wildfires,\u201d said Senators Hirono and Schatz. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to have helped secure these provisions and will continue fighting to ensure that Hawaii has the federal support necessary to enhance our waterway infrastructure and improve disaster resilience efforts.\u201d\n\nWRDA\u2014legislation that is passed every two years\u2014enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to carry out activities related to the conservation and development of water and related resources, such as flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration.\n\nIn October 2023, Senator Hirono and Senator Schatz sent a letter to leadership of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works requesting the inclusion of several provisions that would benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities in the 2024 WRDA. Ten of those provisions were included in the final bill, including:\n\nSupporting Maui Post-Wildfires\n\nMaui Wildfire Response:\n\nPrioritizes watersheds of the island of Maui, including Wahikuli, Honokowai, Kahana, Honokahua, and Honolua, as well as the coral reef habitat north of Lahaina, in watershed and river basin assessments recommending construction or modification of water resources development projects.\n\nCreates a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and ecosystem restoration in the County of Maui.\n\nCarries out a post-disaster watershed assessment for areas impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Maui.\n\nExpanding Access to Resources\n\nSection 444 Amendments: Adds Hawaii to the \u201cPacific Region\u201d within Section 444 of the WRDA of 1996. This would allow USACE to partner with stakeholders on a broader range of projects including cultural resources preservation and environmental restoration.\n\nExpanding Remote and Subsistence Harbors Eligibility: Expands eligibility for coastal communities whose longevity is linked to harbor accessibility. This change would also allow for greater consideration of cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits to the local community in cost-benefit analyses.\n\nRemote, Coastal, or Small Storm Damage Reduction Projects: Creates an avenue for remote, coastal areas to include comprehensive cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits in cost-benefit analyses for small hurricane and storm damage reduction projects. This addition would also allow remote, coastal communities to qualify for projects based on increased area costs, remote location, or the relationship between project success and long-term community viability.\n\nStrengthening Disaster Resilience\n\nHonolulu Deep-Draft Harbor Funding Modifications: Amends the current study to expand its scope, including to consider disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.\n\nLaupahoehoe Harbor Breakwater: Expedites the completion of the repairs of the damaged seawall at Laupahoehoe Harbor.\n\nFlood and Coastal Risk Management Study for County of Kauai: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and coastal storm risk management in the County of Kauai.\n\nHanapepe Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Hanapepe Levee project to evaluate sources of flooding and propose engineering and non-structural solutions to reduce flood damages in the Hanapepe River watershed.\n\nWaimea Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Waimea project to evaluate sources of flooding in the Waimea River watershed and investigate modifications to existing Waimea River levees on the southwest coast of Kauai.\n\nKuliouou Stream Flood Risk Management: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Hawaii Kai.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hirono-secure-several-provisions-to-support-hawaii-communities-and-strengthen-disaster-resilience-in-2024-water-resources-development-act", "Schatz, Hirono Secure Several Provisions to Support Hawaii Communities and Strengthen Disaster Resilience in 2024 Water Resources Development Act", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The U.S. Senate passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which includes several provisions secured by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities and strengthen the state\u2019s disaster resilience. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, to conduct studies, construct projects, and research activities to improve U.S. waterways. The bill passed the Senate by 97-1 and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe Water Resources Development Act is crucial legislation to strengthen our country\u2019s water conservation efforts and improve waterways. This year\u2019s bill includes several provisions that will benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities, including projects to expand access to resources for remote communities, reduce flood and storm damages across the state, and support Maui as they continue to recover after the wildfires,\u201d said Senators Schatzand Hirono. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to have helped secure these provisions and will continue fighting to ensure that Hawaii has the federal support necessary to enhance our waterway infrastructure and improve disaster resilience efforts.\u201d\n\nWRDA\u2014legislation that is passed every two years\u2014enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to carry out activities related to the conservation and development of water and related resources, such as flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration.\n\nIn October 2023, Senator Schatz and Senator Hirono sent a letter to leadership of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works requesting the inclusion of several provisions that would benefit Hawaii\u2019s communities in the 2024 WRDA. Ten of those provisions were included in the final bill, including:\n\nSupporting Maui Post-Wildfires\n\nMaui Wildfire Response:\n\nPrioritizes watersheds of the island of Maui, including Wahikuli, Honokowai, Kahana, Honokahua, and Honolua, as well as the coral reef habitat north of Lahaina, in watershed and river basin assessments recommending construction or modification of water resources development projects.\n\nCreates a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and ecosystem restoration in the County of Maui.\n\nCarries out a post-disaster watershed assessment for areas impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Maui.\n\nExpanding Access to Resources\n\nSection 444 Amendments: Adds Hawaii to the \u201cPacific Region\u201d within Section 444 of the WRDA of 1996. This would allow USACE to partner with stakeholders on a broader range of projects including cultural resources preservation and environmental restoration.\n\nExpanding Remote and Subsistence Harbors Eligibility: Expands eligibility for coastal communities whose longevity is linked to harbor accessibility. This change would also allow for greater consideration of cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits to the local community in cost-benefit analyses.\n\nRemote, Coastal, or Small Storm Damage Reduction Projects: Creates an avenue for remote, coastal areas to include comprehensive cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits in cost-benefit analyses for small hurricane and storm damage reduction projects. This addition would also allow remote, coastal communities to qualify for projects based on increased area costs, remote location, or the relationship between project success and long-term community viability.\n\nStrengthening Disaster Resilience\n\nHonolulu Deep-Draft Harbor Funding Modifications: Amends the current study to expand its scope, including to consider disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.\n\nLaupahoehoe Harbor Breakwater: Expedites the completion of the repairs of the damaged seawall at Laupahoehoe Harbor.\n\nFlood and Coastal Risk Management Study for County of Kauai: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and coastal storm risk management in the County of Kauai.\n\nHanapepe Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Hanapepe Levee project to evaluate sources of flooding and propose engineering and non-structural solutions to reduce flood damages in the Hanapepe River watershed.\n\nWaimea Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Waimea project to evaluate sources of flooding in the Waimea River watershed and investigate modifications to existing Waimea River levees on the southwest coast of Kauai.\n\nKuliouou Stream Flood Risk Management: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Hawaii Kai.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-provisions-to-help-veterans-maximize-education-benefits-to-be-signed-into-law", "Schatz Provisions To Help Veterans Maximize Education Benefits To Be Signed Into Law", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Provisions from the bipartisan Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act to provide veterans with up-to-date student outcomes and financial information for eligible educational institutions are set to be signed into law by President Biden after passing Congress this week. The provisions, originally authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), will require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to make the information available through its G.I. Bill Comparison Tool and train its education counselors in using the tool in order to help veterans make the best choices about where to use their education benefits.\n\n\u201cThe G.I. Bill benefit has helped open the doors to higher education for so many veterans who otherwise wouldn\u2019t have the opportunity to access it. But to maximize its potential, veterans need to have the most current information about different schools and their benefits,\u201d said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. \u201cThese provisions will help veterans across the country find the education program that\u2019s right for them.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States. When they come home, we have a responsibility to provide the resources and benefits they have earned,\u201d said Senator Rounds. \u201cThis includes making certain veterans have the tools and information they need to utilize their G.I. Bill benefits to attain a higher education. I am pleased that this legislation is being signed into law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-national-defense-authorization-act-containing-over-11-billion-in-hirono-led-provisions-to-strengthen-national-security", "Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act Containing Over $11 Billion in Hirono-led Provisions to Strengthen National Security", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ Within the FY25 NDAA, Hirono secured over $2 billion for infrastructure in Hawaii and over $9 billion for projects, capabilities, and exercises to support the Indo-Pacific region ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. Senate, securing several key provisions for Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. military servicemembers, and the maintenance and modernization of Department of Defense (DOD) infrastructure. Senator Hirono\u2019s provisions include over $2 billion for infrastructure projects in Hawaii, over $9 billion for initiatives to support our allies and strengthen deterrence throughout the Indo-Pacific region, and the creation of a new \u201cmajor mishaps\u201d incident classification within the DOD to bolster accountability. In addition to the provisions Senator Hirono secured, the NDAA also provides a 4.5% pay raise for all servicemembers and a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 85-14 and now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA invests in critical DOD infrastructure, bolsters national security and readiness, supports our servicemembers, and delivers for the people of Hawaii,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, I\u2019m proud to have helped secure provisions to increase pay for military personnel and ensure servicemembers and their families can access and afford basic needs like child care and health care. I am also glad the bill contains a provision I introduced following the Red Hill fuel spills to create a new classification for major mishaps within the DOD to ensure a more thorough investigative process and provide for greater oversight and accountability of such incidents.\n\nWhile this NDAA takes important steps to ensure the readiness of our military and the health and safety of our servicemembers, it\u2019s unfortunate Republicans demanded the inclusion of a cruel and unnecessary amendment preventing TRICARE from providing gender-affirming care, despite our efforts to strip it from the bill. I\u2019ll continue working to support our servicemembers and their families and fighting to ensure they have access to the care and benefits they need.\u201d\n\nThroughout the negotiation process, Senate Democrats also successfully prevented Republicans from adding provisions to the bill that would, among other things, block the Pentagon\u2019s policy to reimburse troops who travel to seek reproductive health care; eliminate DOD\u2019s climate change mitigation efforts; and eliminate DOD\u2019s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.\n\nThe FY 2025 NDAA includes several of Senator Hirono\u2019s key priorities, including:\n\nBolstering Critical Infrastructure\n\nIncreases to $30 million the threshold of authority for the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to conduct minor military construction projects to improve posture throughout the Indo-Pacific Region.\n\nAuthorizes over $600 million in additional funding to repair and improve enlisted barracks.\n\nRequires the Navy to conduct more extensive planning on large military construction projects to more accurately identify operational mission need dates, and to routinely brief Congress on the status of the Pearl Harbor Dry Dock construction project until it is completed, including an assessment of the likelihood of cost overruns and steps being taken to avoid further cost overruns.\n\nRequires DOD to designate two officials, one for Hawaii and one for Guam/Northern Mariana Islands, responsible for the coordination of infrastructure projects with state and local governments and the community to support additional servicemembers and their families who will be stationed in these locations over the next 10 years.\n\nDirects DOD to implement all of the Inspector General Report recommendations related to issues identified at Defense Fuel Support Points around the world to prevent future fuel leaks.\n\nEqualizes the structure of jointly based services (such as those at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) by requiring each military department with responsibility for a joint base to submit a prioritized list of military construction projects to Congress. This will help to ensure tenant Services receive equitable prioritization for infrastructure funds from the host Service.\n\nDirects the Navy to brief Congress on its plan to repair ship and submarine berths and piers, including the surface ship piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, to include a timeline and funding necessary to secure a more resilient source of energy for its ship and submarine piers and berths.\n\nDelivering for Hawaii\n\nAuthorizes over $2.2 billion in DOD investment in Hawaii facilities, to include:\n\n$1.2 billion for Dry Dock 3 replacement at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\n$505 million for the Water Treatment Plant at Red Hill, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\n$231 million for a Wheeler Army Airfield Aircraft Maintenance Hangar.\n\n$20 million for an Airfield Operations Building at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).\n\n$203.5 million for a Hangar and Parking Apron at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.\n\n$94 million for Electrical Distribution and Modernization at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.\n\n$36.6 million for a Hawaii Air National Guard Space Control Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\nAs a follow-up to the Red Hill fuel leak to bolster accountability within the Department of Defense, the NDAA establishes a new DOD-wide classification system for \u201cmajor mishap incidents,\u201d defined as incidents that surpass $500,000,000 in damage or loss and have a significant effect on national security. If an incident meets these criteria and is designated by the Secretary of Defense, the DOD will be required to appoint a two-star Admiral or General as the investigating officer and complete the investigation within 12 months. The provision also requires mandatory follow-on reports to Congress until all disciplinary actions are completed.\n\nAuthorizes over $100 million for the procurement of a dual-use, FAA aviation safety and missile tracking radar in support of the defense of Hawaii.\n\nEncourages DOD to finalize a memorandum of agreement with the State of Hawaii formalizing a long-term commitment to environmental restoration and remediation as well as a research program to determine the total volume and location of any contaminated soil.\n\nAuthorizes an additional $4 million above the President\u2019s budget for the Pacific Intelligence and Innovation Initiative (P3I), which creates a local skilled workforce to meet DOD demand for intelligence, IT, and cyber professionals in Hawaii.\n\nRequires the Army and Navy to coordinate a plan for the repair and maintenance of Kolekole Pass for emergency egress.\n\nRequires DOD to provide an update on coordination efforts with the State of Hawaii to maintain or extend the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.\n\nRequires the Secretary of Defense to enhance efforts to manage, control, and interdict the coconut rhinoceros beetle on military installations in Hawaii.\n\nDirects an update from DOD on providing training for cultural adaptation and community orientation for servicemembers assigned to Hawaii and Joint Region Marianas.\n\nSupporting People\n\nIncludes a 4.5 percent pay increase for more senior military personnel, and a significantly larger 14.5% increase for junior enlisted personnel to enhance quality of life and bolster recruiting/retention. It also includes a 2 percent pay raise for DOD civilian employees.\n\nIncreases the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) for qualifying servicemembers to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines to help military families better afford basic needs.\n\nAuthorizes an increase of $50 million of Impact Aid to support schools located near DOD concentration areas and an additional $20 million for children with severe disabilities.\n\nIncludes a provision that would establish contraception coverage parity under TRICARE, eliminating insurance co-pays, to bring military healthcare in line with civilian healthcare.\n\nExpands access to and capacity of military child care programs.\n\nImproves on my previous work with the Stayskal Act by adjusting the DOD medical malpractice claims process to require that a medical expert be board-certified in the medical specialty related to the underlying claim.\n\nDirects the Secretary of Defense to carry out a three-year demonstration program to reimburse covered members for expenses incurred in the retrieval, testing, cryopreservation, shipping, and storage of gametes.\n\nRequires the Secretaries of the Military Departments, in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency, to develop a plan to allow for quick access to all required uniform items.\n\nIncludes multiple provisions to improve DOD efforts related to traumatic brain injury.\n\nCodifies the authority to hire military spouses into noncompetitive appointments in the civil service.\n\nAuthorizes the military services to provide travel and transportation allowances to pay for the shipping of two privately owned vehicles during military moves (current law limits reimbursement for only one vehicle).\n\nAuthorizes free high-speed internet access and wireless network connections to be provided to servicemembers who reside in unaccompanied housing within the United States.\n\nEncourages the Defense Department to implement recommendations contained in three separate Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports related to improving the Department\u2019s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and directs a briefing detailing the progress in implementing all of the outstanding GAO recommendations.\n\nStrengthening Our Ability to Protect the Indo-Pacific Region\n\nAuthorizes almost $10 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) related items and requires a plan for more effective budgeting for PDI in future years.\n\nDirects DOD to create a pilot program for advanced manufacturing (3D printing) in the Indo-Pacific to expedite the building of ship repair parts and autonomous systems.\n\nRequires a plan for the establishment of a joint force headquarters subordinate to INDOPACOM in Japan.\n\nAuthorizes the Commander of INDOPACOM to carry out campaigning exercises that will strengthen alliances and partnerships, deter aggression by adversaries, and allow the U.S. Armed Forces to coordinate and operate with foreign military partners in the region.\n\nAuthorizes a second Virginia-class attack submarine and a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.\n\nAuthorizes the Navy to allow U.S. homeported ships (including those in Hawaii) to do up to 21 days of maintenance at foreign shipyards with a cap on the cumulative amount of work of 2% that can be performed of the average total workload in individual homeports. This provision will support the Navy\u2019s need to exercise wartime battle damage repairs at overseas locations while protecting Hawaii\u2019s vital ship repair and maintenance industry.\n\nRequires DOD to establish a cross-functional team to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) reform.\n\nIncludes a variety of DOD acquisition reform proposals to streamline the delivery of critical weapons system procurement and save taxpayer money.\n\nEstablishes a medical readiness program with Indo-Pacific partner nations to ensure access to foreign medical facilities during peacetime and wartime operations.\n\nRequires a multi-year plan for DOD activities to establish a regional contingency stockpile for Taiwan.\n\nRequires a report on the military cooperation between China and Russia and the implications of such for U.S. national security.\n\nRequires a plan for ensuring comprehensive ballistic missile defense radar coverage of Guam against simultaneous ballistic missile threats from China and North Korea.\n\nPrioritizing Sustainability and the Environment\n\nAuthorizes $10 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) Program above the President\u2019s budget request of $177 million. REPI has funded many projects in Hawaii since its inception.\n\nIncludes $16.3 million of Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program funding for solar panel covered parking and EV charging station at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\nAuthorizes $7 billion for the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) defense environmental cleanup activities.\n\nDirects the Army to provide a briefing regarding Hawaiian Homelands that surround DOD testing facilities that assess advanced surveillance technologies to locate munitions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and a schedule of upcoming surveying events.\n\nDirects the Navy to mitigate the further spread of the invasive octocoral found in Pearl Harbor.\n\nRequires DOD to prioritize the recycling of critical materials and where possible, source materials derived from recycled and reused minerals and metals.\n\nDirects a briefing on DOD efforts to enhance military installation resilience through the scaling and adaptation of the DOD Climate Assessment Tool.\n\nDirects a briefing on the risks related to flooding and other natural disasters that threaten military installations and surrounding civilian infrastructure.\n\nRequires the Defense Department to brief Congress on policies for situations where an environmental release at an overseas base migrates off the installation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-transportation-department-releases-250-million-to-honolulu-rail-as-part-of-grant-agreement", "Schatz: Transportation Department Releases $250 Million To Honolulu Rail As Part Of Grant Agreement", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has released an additional $250 million to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) as part of its Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement signed in February. The funding follows February\u2019s initial release of $125 million and was delivered after HART completed the contract award for the City Center Guideway and Stations.\n\n\u201cHART and the City continue to make good progress on the Skyline, and this new funding is proof of that. With this new money, HART will have more resources to complete the line and give the people of Honolulu more travel options,\u201d said Senator Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.\n\nTo date, HART has received more than $1.1 billion in federal funding and more than $365 million is expected to be released by DOT as HART continues to meet the milestones outlined in the grant agreement.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-senate-unanimously-passes-hirono-tokuda-bill-to-study-designating-lahaina-as-national-heritage-area", "VIDEO: Senate Unanimously Passes Hirono, Tokuda Bill to Study Designating Lahaina as National Heritage Area", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ Video of Senator Hirono\u2019s floor remarks is available here ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI). The bicameral legislation directs the National Park Service, in coordination with Maui County and other state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of a National Heritage Area designation for Lahaina. The bill passed the House on December 4, 2024 and now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThe devastating August 2023 wildfires that claimed over 100 lives and destroyed much of Lahaina shed light on how special this town is, not only to the Maui community, but also to Hawaii and the country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe historic, natural, and cultural resources found in Lahaina tell a nationally significant story and this bill will help ensure that story can continue to be told and appreciated for generations to come. Since 1984, there have been over 60 National Heritage Areas established across the country, none of which are in Hawaii\u2014it is a fitting tribute that Lahaina is now under consideration to be one of our first. I\u2019m glad the Senate has passed this legislation and look forward to President Biden signing it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act is about grounding its rebirth and rebuilding in the history, culture, and tradition of the ahupua?a that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawai?i. I am grateful and proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our bill received in the House, and humbled and honored by Senator Hirono?s leadership and insistence on getting this passed by the Senate before the end of this Congress. I am hopeful the President will also see my bill as a necessary step forward in honoring and healing our community and in getting Lahaina the recognition she long deserves,\u201d said U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02).\n\nThe Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was also cosponsored by Representative Ed Case (D-HI).\n\nThe National Park Service currently oversees 62 National Heritage Areas across the country, none of which are in Hawaii. In 2022, the House passed Senator Hirono\u2019s Kaena Point National Heritage Area Act to study designating Kaena Point on Oahu as a National Heritage Area.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-introduce-ndaa-amendment-to-protect-military-parents-right-to-health-care-for-their-kids", "Hirono, Colleagues Introduce NDAA Amendment to Protect Military Parents\u2019 Right to Health Care for Their Kids", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ House-passed NDAA included a ban on health care for transgender kids, stripping servicemembers of parental rights to make health care decisions for their children ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, joined twenty of her colleagues in introducing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2025 to remove language that would strip away servicemembers\u2019 parental rights to access medically necessary health care for their transgender children. The U.S. House of Representatives-passed NDAA includes language that bans health care for transgender kids and TRICARE patients under the age of 18.\n\n\u201cThousands of transgender children, whose families serve in our armed forces, rely on access to medically necessary health care. This draconian policy would strip away this access, endangering the lives and well-being of these children and their families,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis amendment will help ensure that our servicemembers and their families have the freedom to make their own choices about the care their kids need\u2014because this decision should be made by families, not politicians.\u201d\n\nThe amendment to the FY2025 NDAA would strike Sec. 708 of the House-passed NDAA, which would ban TRICARE from offering medically sound health care for our youngest transgender servicemembers and to transgender military children under 18.\n\nEvery major medical and mental health association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors, supports access to this medically necessary, evidence-based health care for transgender people. If the House-passed NDAA becomes law, it is estimated that thousands of transgender children of servicemembers would not be able to access the health care that their parents had approved.\n\nThe amendment, led by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), is also cosponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Fetterman (D-PA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).\n\nThe full text of the amendment is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-durbin-welch-introduce-constitutional-amendment-to-end-undemocratic-electoral-college", "Schatz, Durbin, Welch Introduce Constitutional Amendment To End Undemocratic Electoral College", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College system and restore democracy by allowing the direct election of presidents through popular vote alone.\n\n\u201cIn an election, the person who gets the most votes should win. It\u2019s that simple,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cNo one\u2019s vote should count for more based on where they live. The Electoral College is outdated and it\u2019s undemocratic. It\u2019s time to end it.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn 2000, before the general election, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Constitution and abolish the electoral college. I still believe today that it is time to retire this 18th century invention that disenfranchises millions of Americans,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThe American people deserve to choose all their leaders, and I am proud to support this effort with Senators Schatz and Welch to empower voters.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur democracy is at its strongest when everyone\u2019s voice is heard\u2014and right now our elections aren\u2019t as representative as they should be because of the outdated and flawed electoral college. I\u2019m excited to partner with my friends and colleagues Senator Schatz and Chair Durbin on this important constitutional amendment, which will help empower every voter in every state,\u201d said Senator Welch.\n\nIn all but five presidential elections, the winner of the election received the most votes. Two of those five times came in the last 19 years, handing the presidency to candidates the majority of voters rejected. A handful of states now determine the leader for all 50 states, regardless of each candidate\u2019s final vote tally. Schatz\u2019s constitutional amendment would address this inequality by abolishing the outdated Electoral College system. Specifically, the constitutional amendment would provide for the direct election of the President and Vice President of the United States by a popular vote among voters in each state and the District of Columbia.\n\nSeventeen states and the District of Columbia have joined a national plan to bypass the Electoral College by agreeing to allocate its electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the nationwide popular vote. The movement to abolish the Electoral College is also gaining popularity among voters with polls showing more voters preferring direct elections through a popular vote over the existing Electoral College system.\n\nThe constitutional amendment is supported by the NAACP and Common Cause.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-markey-introduce-legislation-to-promote-conservation-and-preservation-of-government-and-historic-records", "Hirono, Markey Introduce Legislation to Promote Conservation and Preservation of Government and Historic Records", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Public Archives Resiliency Act, legislation that would authorize grants to promote preservation, climate resilience, adaption, and continuity of vital government records and protect other records of historical or cultural significance. The bill would provide funding for public archives, libraries, museums, institutions of higher education, or non-profits that protect these valuable records. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-NC).\n\n\u201cIn the wake of last year\u2019s Lahaina wildfires, eight of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation\u2019s historic sites were burned down or critically damaged, leading to the loss of thousands of artifacts and records,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cPublic records are essential to the preservation of our history and culture. The Public Archives Resiliency Act will help to better protect them from the effects of climate change, including natural disasters like wildfires or floods.\u201d\n\nGovernment records are generated through birth, death, marriage, taxes, military service, education, immigration, property ownership, and much more. Many institutions that manage these records however, are at risk of environmental damage and lack resources to protect themselves and their communities. When these public records are destroyed or become inaccessible, it can delay an individual\u2019s ability to access key government benefits and services, as well as result in the loss of irreplaceable cultural artifacts.\n\n\u201cThe importance of this bill cannot be overstated,\u201d said Janel Quirante, Head Archivist, at \u2018Ulu\u2018ulu: The Henry Ku\u2018ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai\u2018i. \u201cThis bill provides crucial support to libraries, archives and museums that care for historic and cultural materials endangered by the impacts of climate change. Infrastructure support would allow for critical improvements to aging HVAC systems, especially in Hawai\u2018i and other tropical climates where high temperature and humidity pose major challenges to maintaining a safe long term preservation environment for archival films. Digitization support would allow for the preservation, access and sharing of our cultural heritage documented on films and videos that are increasingly susceptible to loss from climate disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cHistoric records and artifacts left by our kupuna (ancestors) serve as foundational blueprints, offering invaluable guidance for addressing present-day challenges and shaping our future,\u201d said Kai Kahele, Chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. \u201cThe Public Archives Resiliency Act, which allocates additional funding to repositories, greatly strengthens the capacity of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s archives to preserve and access essential historical records. This support is particularly critical as we confront the challenges of climate change, as recently underscored by the devastating wildfires on Maui in 2023.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Public Archives Resiliency Act will provide essential support to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s repositories dedicated to the preservation and accessibility of historic documents and artifacts,\u201d said Kale Hannahs, Research Systems Administrator at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. \u201cThese institutions serve as vital stewards, empowering and educating the communities they support. OHA\u2019s partnership with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation serves as a timely example of the importance of digitizing historic documents for the purpose of preserving Hawai?i\u2019s history and provides a foundational framework upon which we build our future.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-grijalva-lead-group-of-34-lawmakers-urging-president-biden-to-pardon-native-american-activist-leonard-peltier", "Schatz, Grijalva Lead Group Of 34 Lawmakers Urging President Biden To Pardon Native American Activist Leonard Peltier", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and U.S. Representative Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee renewed efforts to urge President Joe Biden to pardon Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist convicted of murder in 1977 following a controversial investigation and trial, which many civil rights leaders and legal experts have called unjust, including the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case.\n\nIn their letter to the president, the lawmakers cite Peltier\u2019s advanced age, illness, and the growing concerns of misconduct and injustice around his arrest and prosecution.\n\n\u201cDespite the grave concerns surrounding the continued imprisonment of Mr. Peltier, who is now 80 years old and suffering from severe health conditions, including increasing vision loss, the Bureau of Prisons denied Mr. Peltier a compassionate release or reduction in sentence in April of this year; and in July 2024, the U.S. Parole Commission denied him parole. These recent denials mean only you have the unique ability to grant him clemency and rectify this grave injustice that has long troubled human rights advocates and Native Peoples across the globe,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2019i), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D- Vt.), as well as former U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and U.S. Representatives Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Daniel Kildee (D-Mich.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Erica Lee Carter (D-Texas), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Robert Scott (D-Va.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i), and Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to you with renewed urgency regarding the case of Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier. The power to exercise mercy in this case lies solely within your discretion, and we urge you to grant Mr. Peltier clemency, allowing him to return home and live out his remaining days among his own people.\n\nNearly 50 years ago, Mr. Peltier, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, was arrested and later convicted for his alleged involvement in the murder of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Since that time, Mr. Peltier has maintained his innocence, and serious concerns have been raised regarding the fairness of his trial and incarceration. Calls for his release have also received sweeping support from civil liberties and human rights organizations \u2013 including the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch; faith leaders and other respected voices \u2013 including Pope Francis, Saint Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Coretta Scott King; and even those previously involved in his prosecution. James Reynolds, the former U.S. Attorney whose office oversaw Mr. Peltier\u2019s prosecution and appeal, has argued that Mr. Peltier has served his sentence \u201con the basis of minimal evidence, a result that [he] strongly doubt[s] would be upheld in any court today.\u201d\n\nDespite the grave concerns surrounding the continued imprisonment of Mr. Peltier, who is now 80 years old and suffering from severe health conditions, including increasing vision loss, the Bureau of Prisons denied Mr. Peltier a compassionate release or reduction in sentence in April of this year; and in July 2024, the U.S. Parole Commission denied him parole. These recent denials mean only you have the unique ability to grant him clemency and rectify this grave injustice that has long troubled human rights advocates and Native Peoples across the globe.\n\nWe commend the steps that your Administration has taken to right past wrongs of our federal government\u2019s treatment of Native Americans, and the steps you have taken to uphold the American values of liberty and justice, including rectifying inequities in our nation\u2019s criminal justice system. In keeping with these principles, we strongly urge you to commute Mr. Peltier\u2019s sentence.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-debt-ceiling-looms-schatz-introduces-legislation-to-avoid-catastrophic-default", "As Debt Ceiling Looms, Schatz Introduces Legislation To Avoid Catastrophic Default", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today led a group of 17 colleagues in reintroducing the End the Threat of Default Act, legislation that would permanently remove the threat of a default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit restricting the amount that the United States Treasury can borrow to pay its debts. In June 2023, the president signed legislation that suspended the statutory debt ceiling until January 2, 2025.\n\n\u201cDefaulting on our national debt would be an economic catastrophe for everyone, especially families, veterans, and seniors. Congress has the chance to debate federal spending, and it\u2019s well before the bill comes due,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWe need to stop playing this dangerous game with the nation\u2019s economy and get rid of the debt ceiling for good.\u201d\n\nA default would be catastrophic and would likely trigger a recession. Military pay, Social Security and Medicare payments, and Treasury bond yields would all be disrupted.\n\nIn practice, the debt limit has no impact on government spending, which is authorized and approved through the federal budget and appropriations process. Instead, the ceiling restricts the U.S. Treasury from paying for expenditures already approved by Congress therefore requiring Congress to constantly raise the ceiling before it is reached. In recent years, this has become a politicized procedure that often leads to threats of defaulting on the government\u2019s obligation to pay its bills.\n\nThe United States is one of only two democratic countries with a statutory debt ceiling, and the only one that could single-handedly cause a global recession. Since 1960, Congress has acted more than 75 times to raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit. In 2011, the crisis surrounding raising the debt ceiling led credit rating agency Standard & Poor\u2019s to downgrade the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating for the first time ever. Fitch downgraded the U.S. government\u2019s credit rating following debt limit brinksmanship in 2023.\n\nIn addition to Schatz, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-announces-5-million-for-forestland-management-and-conservation-in-hawaii", "Hirono Announces $5 Million for Forestland Management and Conservation in Hawaii", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ Funding to support forest management techniques to encourage conservation and lower risk of wildfires ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding $5 million to the State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) to support forest management and restoration activities across the state. Specifically, the grant funding will assist landowners in the protection and restoration of Hawaii\u2019s watersheds, forest resources, wildlife habitats, and endangered species.\n\n\u201cHawaii\u2019s forestlands are essential to its diverse ecosystem and this funding is an important investment in the protection and management of these lands throughout our state,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs Maui continues to recover following the devastating wildfires last year, this funding will help encourage sustainability in preserving our natural resources and support Hawaii\u2019s efforts to plan for and reduce the risk of future wildfires.\u201d\n\nThis grant was made possible through investments from the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Inflation Reduction Act, which Senator Hirono helped pass into law in 2022. The funding is part of nearly $335 million in grants that were awarded to incentivize private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and to permanently conserve private forests in partnership with states. Forest management techniques, such as thinning trees or removing invasive species, helps to reduce susceptibility to forests pests and disease and lowers the risks of catastrophic wildfires.\n\nMore details about these funded proposals are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-session-nears-end-schatz-continues-leading-calls-to-pass-long-term-disaster-relief-for-maui-survivors", "As Session Nears End, Schatz Continues Leading Calls To Pass Long-Term Disaster Relief For Maui Survivors", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today reiterated calls for Congress to pass long-term disaster aid for survivors on Maui and nationwide before Congress is scheduled to go on recess at the end of next week. Schatz has repeatedly led calls for flexible, long-term aid for survivors of last year\u2019s Lahaina fires so that they can rebuild as quickly as possible, particularly housing.\n\n\u201cI want to be perfectly clear: we cannot and we will not leave town next week without passing disaster aid,\u201d Schatz said.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re running out of time. We have just over a week left before Congress goes home for the holidays which means we have just a few days to what we should have done a long time ago and pass long-term disaster relief. People have waited and waited and waited for help to arrive. And every day we don\u2019t get this done this is another day survivors can\u2019t get back to life as they knew it,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cNobody is asking for charity. What they\u2019re asking for is the kind of aid that\u2019s helped restore so many communities across the country over the years.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Senator Schatz\u2019s remarks is available below. Video is available here.\n\nWe\u2019re running out of time. We have just over a week left before Congress goes home for the holidays. And we cannot leave without passing long-term disaster relief.\n\nPeople have waited\u2026and waited\u2026and waited for help to arrive. And every day we don\u2019t get this done this is another day survivors can\u2019t get back to life as they knew it. Going to work\u2026going to school\u2026dropping their kids off at basketball practice\u2026getting together with their friends and neighbors.\n\nFor people in Lahaina, help can\u2019t come soon enough. Almost a year-and-a-half since the tragic fires, it\u2019s as hard as ever to make ends meet. Housing is uncertain. Prices are going up. And jobs are hard to come by. People are doing everything they can to get by and help each other out. So it\u2019s not for a lack of trying. It\u2019s that they were never meant to confront this recovery alone. When you\u2019ve lost everything\u2026when you\u2019re still mourning friends and loved ones\u2026when you\u2019re 16 months into the recovery and normalcy still feels so far away\u2026you need help. And getting that help is the difference between people being able to stay on Maui or leaving\u2026reluctantly, but out of necessity\u2026from the only place they\u2019ve ever called home. Those are the stakes\u2026and they are not theoretical.\n\nLahaina is not the only community that\u2019s been devastated by a disaster. Communities in 40 states are building back from a disaster of some kind \u2013 floods, fires, hurricanes, and the like. And more than 25 states are relying on long-term federal assistance to get survivors back on their feet. No one is asking for charity. What they\u2019re asking for is the kind of aid that\u2019s helped restore so many communities across the country over the years. Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. New York and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy. Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. California after the 2018 wildfires. And more than a dozen states nationwide as recently as 3 years ago.\n\nThe Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program \u2013 known as CDBG-DR \u2013 works. It\u2019s supported millions of Americans struck by disaster over the past 30 years by giving them flexible and long-term assistance. And so, to not do this now \u2013 for people in Lahaina and all across the country \u2013 would be the unusual thing.\n\nWe have a simple task here\u2026to help our fellow Americans in their hour of need. And I want to be perfectly clear that we cannot and will not leave town next week without passing disaster aid.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-call-on-president-biden-to-protect-immigrant-families-ahead-of-the-inauguration-of-president-elect-trump", "Hirono, Colleagues Call on President Biden to Protect Immigrant Families Ahead of the Inauguration of President-Elect Trump", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senators: \u201cWe urge you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the President-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined six of her colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. In addition to Senator Hirono, the letter was also signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\n\u201cAs Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the incoming administration poses to immigrants in our communities,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter to President Biden. \u201cMass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy. While we support common-sense steps to better secure our borders and improve border processing, we will continue to oppose any policies that contradict our nation\u2019s core values.\u201d\n\nThe letter continues, \u201cWe write now because the window to secure and finalize your administration\u2019s policies is closing rapidly. We urge you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the President-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.\u201d\n\nThe Senators went on to request that the Biden Administration prioritize the following actions:\n\nDesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for all eligible countries and consider providing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as appropriate;\n\nExpedite the processing of benefit requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients;\n\nProtect the ability for DACA holders and others to travel on advance parole;\n\nPrioritize adjudication of pending asylum claims; and\n\nFinalize the rule providing automatic extensions for those with work permits and prioritize work permit processing.\n\nThe Senators concluded their letter, \u201cWe stand ready to support you in these efforts and are committed to working together to ensure that these priorities are realized. Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to the betterment of our nation.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nAs Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the incoming administration poses to immigrants in our communities. Mass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy. While we support common-sense steps to better secure our borders and improve border processing, we will continue to oppose any policies that contradict our nation\u2019s core values.\n\nWe write now because the window to secure and finalize your administration\u2019s policies is closing rapidly. We urge you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the President-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.\n\nWith this in mind, we respectfully urge you to prioritize the following actions:\n\nRedesignate and Extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for All Eligible Countries and Consider Providing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) As Appropriate. Worsening crises in countries across the world, including in Ukraine, Nicaragua, and eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, continue to endanger hundreds of thousands, underscoring the need for TPS. Additionally, the administration has already affirmed that conditions in El Salvador continue to justify TPS, with over 180,000 Salvadoran nationals having lived in the United States for more than 23 years. We urge your administration to offer vital protections via TPS for eligible countries or parts of countries, providing relief from deportation while allowing these individuals to continue working and contributing to our economy. Where TPS is not an option, we strongly urge the administration to protect qualified vulnerable noncitizens through DED.\n\nExpedite the Processing of Benefit Requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients. With the ongoing uncertainty around the future of DACA, we urge DHS to process all DACA renewals, Advance Parole requests, 212(d)(3) waivers, and H-1B premium processing applications from DACA recipients as expeditiously as possible. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should also allow early renewals of DACA and allow DACA grants to maximize each individual\u2019s time in status.\n\nProtect the Ability for DACA Holders and Others to Travel on Advance Parole. Toward the end of the first Trump Administration, the Executive Office for Immigration Review proposed a rule restricting the ability of Immigration Judges to manage their court dockets. The rule also proposed, among other things, overturning the Board of Immigration Appeals\u2019 decision in Matter of Arrabally\u2014a seminal case that clarified rules around Advance Parole and has helped many DACA recipients travel to their home countries for the first time in their lives. We request that your administration withdraw the bulk of this proposed rule and codify the Arrabally decision by making it clear that a noncitizen who leaves the country temporarily under a grant of Advance Parole has neither \u201cdeparted\u201d nor made a \u201cdeparture\u201d for purposes of triggering an inadmissibility bar under 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B), as well as all other grounds of inadmissibility. In the alternative, the administration should withdraw the proposed rule in its entirety.\n\nPrioritize Adjudication of Pending Asylum Claims. Many asylum claims have been pending in the backlog for many years. We request that your administration ensure that those who started the process, in some cases even years before you took office, can finally complete their cases.\n\nFinalize the Rule Providing Automatic Extensions for Those with Work Permits and Prioritize Work Permit Processing. Earlier this year, USCIS published a temporary final rule that increased the automatic extension period for work authorization from 180 days to at least 540 days. This important step helped reduce the risk of employment authorization documents becoming invalid before USCIS could renew them, but the temporary final rule will sunset on October 15, 2025, unless the rule is finalized. We urge your administration to finalize this rule and extend work permits for at least 540 days to ensure work-authorized immigrants do not lose their jobs. The Department of Homeland Security and USCIS should also take immediate action to prioritize work permit processing for vulnerable noncitizens, especially asylum applicants, DACA recipients, and TPS holders.\n\nWe stand ready to support you in these efforts and are committed to working together to ensure that these priorities are realized.\n\nThank you for your continued leadership and dedication to the betterment of our nation.\n\nSenator Hirono is a leading champion in the fight to reform the country\u2019s immigration system, protect immigrant children, and keep lawfully-present immigrant families together. Earlier this month, she introduced the Reuniting Families Act, legislation that would promote family unity in our country\u2019s immigration system, reduce the family-based immigration backlogs, and update our laws to reflect how families immigrate to the United States. The bill also includes Senator Hirono\u2019s Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. In June, Senator Hirono led her colleagues in introducing the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024, which would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. In March, Senator Hirono and Representative Grace Meng (D-CA) announced that they stopped Republicans from adding a citizenship question to the next United States Census, blocking their attempt to exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment decisions in the census.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-wicker-lead-group-of-100-lawmakers-in-calling-for-extension-of-telehealth-expansion", "Schatz, Wicker Lead Group Of 100 Lawmakers In Calling For Extension Of Telehealth Expansion", "2024-12-09", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) led a bipartisan and bicameral group of 100 lawmakers in calling for the extension of expanded Medicare coverage of telehealth services to be included in a year-end appropriations package. Provisions from the Schatz-Wicker legislation, the CONNECT for Health Act, were included in previous COVID-19 relief legislation to allow Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, and to expand the types of health care providers eligible to provide telehealth. Medicare beneficiaries have come to rely on expanded access, which have also been proven beneficial to patients. But these provisions will expire at the end of the year, unless congressional leaders act to extend those measures or make them permanent.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:\n\nExpanded Medicare coverage for telehealth services is set to expire on December 31, 2024. As you work to advance a year-end appropriations package, we urge you to extend coverage as much as possible so that all Medicare beneficiaries retain access to these services.\n\nTelehealth plays a critical role in health care delivery \u2013 a fact that Congress has recognized by expanding coverage during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Most recently, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Congress enacted a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth services coverage. Committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives have recently recognized the need to protect patients\u2019 access to telehealth services by voting to advance an additional two-year extension on a bipartisan, unanimous basis.\n\nWe ask you to prioritize provisions that remove geographic restrictions on telehealth services and permit the home and other clinically appropriate settings as originating sites. Congress should also expand the authority for practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services. Rural and underserved communities rely on telehealth services, and Congress should recognize federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics as telehealth distant site providers. Additionally, Congress should allow the use of telehealth in the recertification of hospice care. Finally, telehealth has transformed mental and behavioral health care, now accounting for 40 percent of telehealth services provided under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Therefore, Congress should permanently repeal the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health services. It should also reject similar policies that create barriers to care.\n\nTelehealth provides essential access to care and improves outcomes, including reduced emergency department utilization and improved medication adherence. Medicare beneficiaries have come to rely on expanded access to telehealth services and are satisfied with the care they receive. While there is overwhelming support for Congress to enact permanent telehealth legislation, we must provide patients and clinicians with long-term certainty to support continued investment in technology and clinical models to meet the evolving health care needs of Medicare beneficiaries. We appreciate your collaboration and leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to ensure access to telehealth services is retained by the end of 2024.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-group-of-12-senators-in-renewing-calls-to-biden-administration-to-urge-israeli-government-to-allow-journalists-into-gaza-protect-free-press", "Schatz Leads Group Of 12 Senators In Renewing Calls To Biden Administration To Urge Israeli Government To Allow Journalists Into Gaza, Protect Free Press", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) led a group of 12 senators today in renewing calls to the Biden Administration to urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to protect press freedom and allow journalists into Gaza to cover the ongoing war. In addition to Schatz, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) In their letter to the Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators underscored the dangerous conditions for reporters, the importance of safe access into Gaza for journalists, and the need for accurate and independent reporting from inside the warzone. They also raise concerns about violence against journalists in Lebanon and the West Bank. The new letter follows calls led by Schatz a year ago to protect journalists in Gaza.\n\n\u201cSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\u201d\n\nThe full letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe appreciate your continued engagement with Congress as you work to resolve the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and secure the release of all hostages. We write today to follow up on the December 2023 letter to President Biden about the lack of press freedom related to the conflicts. It is crucial for you to work with the Israeli and Egyptian governments to allow all interested journalists to report with appropriate protections and without restriction from Gaza. We appreciate the State Department\u2019s response to the letter which reiterated the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s commitment to protecting journalists during armed conflict. However, the situation on the ground in Gaza has gotten worse since last December. Crackdowns and violence against journalists in the West Bank have steadily increased as well.\n\nWe recognize the longstanding challenges to press freedom in Gaza predate Hamas\u2019s unspeakably brutal attacks on October 7, 2023. Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, has a record of harassing, obstructing, torturing, and using physical violence against journalists in Gaza. Several journalists were among the 1,200 people killed on October 7th. We strongly condemn Hamas\u2019s actions, both in its repression of the Palestinian people and its violent attacks against the Israeli people. However, we must hold our closest democratic allies and partners to a higher standard than a terrorist organization when it comes to protecting the bedrock democratic value of freedom of the press.\n\nOver one year into the war, the Israeli government continues to ban journalists from entering Gaza independently, despite standing calls from Israeli and foreign press in the country. With the exception of operational security requirements for embedded journalists, all interested journalists must be allowed to report without restriction from Gaza. As a Haaretz editorial asserts, \u201cBy blocking journalists from Gaza, Israel not only prevents coverage of the war\u2019s horrors but also hinders real-time scrutiny of Hamas\u2019 claims \u2013 a key Israeli interest.\u201d The Foreign Press Association in Israel calls \u201c...for unfettered and independent access to Gaza. To Israel, we say enough with the excuses. It is time to let us in.\u201d We urge you to prioritize journalists\u2019 immediate access to Gaza with guarantees from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to ensure that it does not target them in its operations.\n\nSince October 7, 2023, over 130 journalists have been killed, the vast majority of whom were Palestinians killed in Gaza. The lack of safe working conditions for journalists in Gaza makes it almost impossible to have an accurate understanding of the humanitarian devastation taking place in the territory. Nevertheless, local reporters have continued working despite being displaced repeatedly, losing family members, experiencing hunger, and living under constant threat of violence. Israel has also injured scores of Palestinian journalists and detained dozens, some of whom have been placed in arbitrary administrative detention without access to due process.\n\nJournalists face safety threats from the IDF outside of Gaza as well. As you are aware, on October 13, 2023, IDF strikes hit a group of journalists in southern Lebanon. These strikes killed Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, injured Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist and U.S. citizen Dylan Collins, and caused severe injuries to another AFP journalist at the scene, Christina Assi, who lost her right leg. The journalists were wearing helmets and jackets clearly marked with the word \u201cpress\u201d as they filmed from a location on top of an exposed hillside when they were struck by tank rounds. The IDF has not released a review or investigation into the incident.\n\nViolence against journalists in the West Bank is on the rise as the IDF increases its operations. According to the United Nations (UN), there were at least three incidents in September 2024 alone where Israeli security forces fired live ammunition at journalists or their vehicles while they were reporting in the West Bank. Journalists are at risk of being detained and harassed, making it increasingly difficult to operate in the West Bank. On September 22, the IDF raided and closed Al Jazeera\u2019s office in the West Bank for at least 45 days. This followed the IDF\u2019s decision in May to close Al Jazeera\u2019s offices in Israel. The network remains banned and it is unclear what actions the U.S. government has taken on this issue beyond expressing concern.\n\nThe United States must make clear to Israel that targeting media organizations and members of the press is unacceptable. It is also important that the United States support UN efforts calling for accountability and protection of journalists in Gaza and the West Bank. The absence of U.S. government support for accountability efforts by the UN and press freedom defenders only undermines U.S. leadership. Promoting press freedom globally, protecting journalist safety, and advancing international laws and norms are essential to sustaining a rules-based international order.\n\nConsidering our profound concern for the safety of journalists and demand for justice for targeted attacks on journalists, we respectfully request detailed responses to the following questions:\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure access for international journalists, including Americans, to Gaza?\n\nHas the State Department urged Israel to permit entry to journalists willing to travel to Gaza for reporting? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department expressed support for Israeli journalists and international correspondents in Israel seeking to gain independent access to Gaza? If so, in what ways, by whom, and how often?\n\nHas the State Department advocated for equipment for journalists, including cell phones and cameras, to be allowed into Gaza?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to ensure that the IDF \u2013 a major recipient of U.S. security assistance \u2013 reforms its rules of engagement (ROEs) to mitigate harm to journalists in Gaza and the West Bank?\n\nIf the IDF is unwilling to change ROEs in ways that lessen harm to journalists, what steps are you considering taking to show U.S. government disapproval and secure policy changes that end the pattern of violent attacks on journalists?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses?\n\nIs it your assessment that Israeli government\u2019s actions in Gaza are in accordance with international humanitarian law?\n\nWhat support has the State Department provided to help injured journalists leave Gaza for medical care?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to seek full accountability for the killings of journalists by the IDF?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to ensure accountability for the October 13, 2023 attack that injured Mr. Collins and killed Issam Abdallah in southern Lebanon?\n\nDo you have information about the status of the reported Israeli investigation into the incident?\n\nDo you have confidence that any Israeli investigation would result in effective accountability and serve to deter future IDF attacks on journalists?\n\nWhat specific steps has the State Department taken to secure the release of journalists in administrative detention?\n\nHas the U.S. Embassy assessed allegations of mistreatment in Israeli custody of journalists?\n\nHave you discussed allegations of mistreatment of detained journalists with Israeli authorities, including IDF leaders?\n\nWhat steps have you taken to identify the whereabouts of missing Palestinian journalists? Have you asked the Israeli government if missing journalists are in their custody?\n\nIs it your assessment that the Israeli government has thoroughly investigated allegations of any wrongdoing, ensuring immediate and transparent accountability for any abuses or violations related to detentions?\n\nWhat steps has the State Department taken to advocate the importance of press freedom within Israel?\n\nHave you or other State Department officials raised your concern over the closing of Al Jazeera in Israel and the West Bank to the Israeli government? If so, what responses have you received?\n\nWhat is the State Department assessment of the impact on global press freedom of countries \u2013 especially closely allied democracies, like Israel \u2013 of placing restrictions on, detaining, or allowing violence against journalists?\n\nWe appreciate your response to these questions and look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-and-tokuda-applaud-passage-of-natural-disaster-tax-relief-bill", "Hirono and Tokuda Applaud Passage of Natural Disaster Tax Relief Bill", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ U.S. Senate unanimously passed Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which includes Tokuda and Hirono legislation to lessen the tax burden on survivors of the Maui wildfires. The bill now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law. ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of the bipartisan Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023.\n\nThe legislation, which passed in the U.S. House in May, would exempt wildfire disaster relief payments received between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, from taxable income. The Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act also includes language from Representative Tokuda and Senator Hirono\u2019s Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 to make it easier for Maui fire victims to deduct disaster-related losses by eliminating the minimum 10 percent loss threshold, as well as the requirement to itemize deductions to receive this tax benefit.\n\n\u201cThe Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act will help to ease the financial burden on communities impacted by wildfires, as well as other disasters, across our country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m glad the Senate has passed this legislation, which included language from our bill to support the people and families who have already lost so much in the wake of natural disasters. I will continue working to help ensure our communities have the necessary resources to support themselves and I look forward to President Biden signing this crucial legislation into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince I introduced the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 last October, I have been fighting to provide financial relief to Lahaina fire survivors and natural disaster victims throughout the country. In a time of extreme partisanship, I\u2019m proud that Republicans and Democrats in both the House and Senate came together on disaster relief and passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cWe urgently need President Biden to sign this critical bill, which will help disaster victims keep more money in their pockets and provide them with the financial support they will need for what we know will be a long recovery.\u201d\n\nThe bill now heads to President Joe Biden\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nFollowing the devastating Maui wildfires, Senator Hirono has worked to support Lahaina in their recovery and rebuilding efforts, while also strengthening Hawaii\u2019s natural disaster response. In August 2024, Senator Hirono delivered remarks on the Senate floor marking one year since the devastating wildfires. During her speech Senator Hirono paid tribute to the individuals lost in the fires, honored the resilience of those impacted by the fires, and also emphasized the need for Congress to pass a supplemental funding bill to provide the resources that Maui, and other communities across the country impacted by disasters will need. In May 2024, Senator Hirono announced that the U.S. Forest Service is awarding more than $5.6 million to help plan for and prevent wildfires in Hawaii. The announcement follows a letter Senator Hirono sent to U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore in November 2023 in strong support of Hawaii\u2019s applications for CWDG funding. In March 2024, Senator Hirono led the Hawaii Congressional delegation in urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, Danny Werfel, to extend the 2023 federal tax filing and payment deadlines for individuals and businesses impacted by the Maui wildfires.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-duckworth-introduce-legislation-to-promote-family-unity-in-us-immigration-system", "Hirono, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Promote Family Unity in U.S. Immigration System", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ Bill includes Hirono\u2019s Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Reuniting Families Act, legislation that would promote family unity in our country\u2019s immigration system, reduce the family-based immigration backlogs, and update our laws to reflect how families immigrate to the United States. The bill also includes Senator Hirono\u2019s Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans.\n\n\u201cAs the only immigrant currently serving in the U.S. Senate, I am proud to introduce the Reuniting Families Act to update our country\u2019s family immigration system and promote family unity,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBy implementing changes to reduce the backlog of family-based immigration visas, exempting close relatives from visa caps, and preventing the separation of LGBTQ+ families, this bill will better prioritize family unity in our immigration system. We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform, but in the meantime, the Reuniting Families Act is a step in the right direction to help reunite or keep families together as they navigate our immigration system.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur country\u2019s broken immigration system is riddled with unnecessary barriers that have created backlogs and kept families apart for years,\u201d said Senator Duckworth. \u201cThis legislation would implement commonsense reforms to help end family-based backlogs, which keep too many with approved green card applications stuck in bureaucratic limbo, and get more families where they belong\u2014together.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Reuniting Families Act would:\n\n\u201cRecapture\u201d unused visas from previous years, adding them to the number of visas United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may distribute;\n\nExempt close relatives from visa caps, extending the current exemption to spouses, unmarried children under 21, and certain parents of legal permanent residents;\n\nRaise the per-country family-based immigration caps, allowing more visas to go to a single country such as India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines;\n\nProvide discretion to the government when applying certain \u201cbars\u201d on individuals, eliminating unfair requirements for individuals to go to their home countries if that individual unlawfully entered the United States;\n\nProtect children from \u201caging out\u201d after 21, extending protections for step-children and children of visa holders;\n\nExpand cancellation of deportation orders, making it easier for noncitizens to apply in cases of extreme hardship to a family member who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; and\n\nEliminate discrimination against LGBTQ+ families, ensuring our immigration system treats those in same-sex relationships equally, including resettling partners together with their refugee spouses and allowing spouses to come to the U.S. if their partner is granted asylum.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last year by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).\n\nThe Reuniting Families Act, is endorsed by: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), FWD.us, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), African Communities Together (ACT), Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), and National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA). The full list of endorsing organizations can be found here.\n\n\u201cLike many immigrants, millions of Asian Americans started their American story because of family, and often through the family-based immigration system,\u201d said Asian Americans Advancing Justice. \u201cThe last significant legislative change to the family-based immigration system happened in 1990. Yet over 30 years, the system that shapes our country and future has broken down, failing to live up to our values and hopes. The Reuniting Families Act is a vision for a better immigration system \u2013 one that recognizes that families belong together. We thank Senator Hirono for reintroducing this bill, which will help reduce needless and punitive barriers in our immigration system that separate parents from their children and permanent partners and spouses from their loved ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany AAPI individuals live in constant fear of deportation or a constant state of waiting to see their families due to the backlogs of millions of cases. The Reuniting Families Act would strengthen the family-based immigration system and bring us one step closer to creating a fair system that facilitates family reunification,\u201d said Gregg Orton, National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). \u201cWe are grateful for Sen. Hirono\u2019s commitment to advancing the Reuniting Families Act, and we are thrilled to continue the critical work to ensure that families can stay with their loved ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly 50 years ago, Southeast Asian families were separated while being forced to flee their homes due to war,\u201d said Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). \u201cAs we near our community\u2019s 50th year of resettlement, many SEAAs still wait to embrace their loved ones as a result of the U.S.\u2019 severely backlogged family immigration system. We thank Sen. Hirono for introducing legislation that centers humanity and will reunite relatives to the care and love of their families and community, where they belong.\"\n\n\"Families should not have to be stuck in decades-long backlogs due to our failed and outdated immigration system,\" said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. \"The Reuniting Families Act offers smart and moral policies, such as recapturing unused visas lost to bureaucratic delay and repealing the harsh and ineffective immigration bars that separate families, to help end the decades-long backlogs and finally begin the process of modernizing our family-based immigration system.\"\n\n\u201cThe Reuniting Families Act emphasizes the importance of a family reunification framework that keeps American families together,\u201d said Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF). \u201cAs SALDEF and other communities work to combat disinformation and the negative framing of immigrants, it is crucial to push through false narratives and support our immigrant families. This bill will help millions of people caught in family immigration backlogs, making families whole again and affirming our right to be with our loved ones. SALDEF commends Senator Hirono for her leadership in improving our family-based immigration system that has historically separated many from their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe welcome the introduction of the Reuniting Families Act in the Senate and reaffirm its importance to ensure family unity for many of our members,\u201d said Nils Kinuani, Federal Policy Manager for African Communities Together (ACT). \u201cBy increasing the number of visas available to families and setting time limits on visa processing, this bill will modernize and streamline our family-based immigration system.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur outdated immigration system is failing our families by keeping them separated for years, sometimes decades,\u201d said Senior Policy Attorney & Strategist Elizabeth Taufa at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). \u201cThe Reuniting Families Act will go a long way toward eliminating the unnecessary bureaucracy and delays and will bring relief for families who have been stuck in administrative purgatory for far too long.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Reuniting Families Act, reintroduced today by Senator Hirono, is an important step toward a more fair and efficient family-based immigration system,\u201d said Ben Johnson, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). \u201cThis common-sense bill was first introduced more than a decade ago; since then, the harm caused by delays and separation have only gotten worse. The outrageous backlogs cause immense hardship to American families and stifle our nation\u2019s social and economic growth. This solutions-oriented bill will provide much-needed relief to loved ones that have endured, in some cases decades-long waits, and will prevent others from suffering the same fate moving forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Reuniting Families Act is common sense legislation that will help keep families together by increasing the number of family-based visas available and reducing the wait time for applicants,\u201d said Jung Woo Kim, co-director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and directly impacted community member. \u201cAs someone whose petition has been caught in the backlog since I initially applied in 2018, I understand firsthand the harm that systemic barriers \u2013 like processing times and arbitrary quotas \u2013 does to individuals, families, and communities. We are grateful for the continued work of Senator Hirono to fight for the rights of immigrant families. Every family \u2013 native-born, naturalized, and immigrant alike, deserves to live and thrive together.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe welcome the introduction of Reuniting Families Act by Senator Hirono,\u201d said Angelica Salas, Executive Director at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). \u201cFor 36 years CHIRLA has advocated on behalf of all immigrants regardless of their immigration status. In recent years, we have witnessed the consequences of our broken immigration system including significant backlog of family visas. This bill accounts for the various difficulties faced by immigrant families: it is about keeping families together, about reuniting those families that have been separated, and also about ensuring that thousands of people are given the opportunity to join their families in the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Reuniting Families Act is a step in the right direction to ensure Pacific Islander families can be together again,\u201d said Karla Thomas, Interim Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities. \u201cAs a community whose core values are rooted in family and unity, Pacific Islanders deserve an opportunity to live a full and meaningful life together with their loved ones. We thank Senator Hirono for her leadership in ensuring families are reunited and we hope that the family-based immigration system will be better because of it.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\nSenator Hirono is a leading champion in the fight to reform the country\u2019s immigration system, protect immigrant children, and keep lawfully-present immigrant families together. In November 2023, Senator Hirono led 15 of her CAPAC colleagues in urging President Biden to reduce the visa backlog, which keeps millions of immigrants\u2014including many immigrants from Asia\u2014separated from their families. In October 2023, Senator Hirono joined her colleagues in introducing new legislation to provide a comprehensive framework to reform the federal government\u2019s care and custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children (UC). The Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act would address gaps in our system by improving existing safeguards for the release of UC from government custody, increasing UCs\u2019 access to social services and legal protections, and creating new safeguards and services for children\u2019s safety. That same month, Senator Hirono also reintroduced legislation to provide unaccompanied children with access to legal representation when they appear in proceedings before an immigration judge. Earlier that year, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration Act to eliminate the current five-year waiting period for access to federal public benefits for immigrants.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-urges-president-biden-to-pardon-native-american-activist-leonard-peltier-in-final-weeks-of-term", "Schatz Urges President Biden To Pardon Native American Activist Leonard Peltier In Final Weeks Of Term", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today again called on President Biden to pardon Native American activist Leonard Peltier who was convicted of murder in 1977 following a controversial investigation and trial, which many civil rights leaders and legal experts have called unjust, including the U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the case. Since 2022, Schatz has repeatedly led colleagues in calling on the president to grant Peltier, who is now 80 and has been imprisoned for the past 49 years, clemency.\n\n\u201cAs President Biden considers candidates for clemency in the final weeks of his term, the Native American activist Leonard Peltier is among those who deserve that grace and mercy,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nSenator Schatz continued, \u201cPeltier is now 80 years old and has been in prison for almost 50 years. He\u2019s in declining health, experiencing vision loss and other illnesses. If there was ever a case that merited compassionate release, Leonard Peltier\u2019s is it. This is exactly what that awesome presidential power is for. To right a historic wrong. And if not that, then to show mercy and let an old man die with his family.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Senator Schatz\u2019s remarks is available below. Video is available here.\n\nAs President Biden considers candidates for clemency in the final weeks of his term, the Native American activist Leonard Peltier is among those who deserve that grace and mercy. Peltier was arrested in 1975 for his alleged involvement in the murder of 2 FBI agents in a shootout on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But the process that led to his conviction had major issues and inaccuracies from the start.\n\nFor example, one witness whose statements were used at trial said she was told to lie and say that she was in a relationship with Peltier and that she had witnessed him shoot the agents. She later recanted that statement, saying \u201cI was forced into this, and I feel very awful. I just wish that Leonard Peltier will get out of prison.\u201d In another instance, according to reporting, a juror who, on day 2 of the trial, professed her prejudice against Native Americans was allowed to remain on the panel.\n\nIf that isn\u2019t enough, take it from the very U.S. Attorney who tried Peltier\u2019s case, James Reynolds, who said Peltier has served his sentence on \u201cthe basis of minimal evidence, a result that I strongly doubt would be upheld in any court today.\u201d In the same letter, Reynolds urged President Biden to commute Peltier\u2019s sentence, writing, \u201cI write today from a position rare for a former prosecutor. To beseech you to commute the sentence of a man who I helped put behind bars. With time, and the benefit of hindsight, I have realized that the prosecution and continued incarceration of Mr. Peltier was and is unjust. We were not able to prove that Mr. Peltier personally committed any offense on the Pine Ridge Reservation.\u201d\n\nPeltier is now 80 years old and has been in prison for almost 50 years. He\u2019s in declining health, experiencing vision loss and other illnesses. And in spite of all of that, earlier this year, federal officials denied his requests for compassionate release and parole.\n\nEven if you believe that he did in fact commit the crime, surely now is the time to let him spend whatever remaining days he has at home and die with his family. He\u2019s done his time. He\u2019s of old age and in poor health. And he poses little threat to society. If there was ever a case that merited compassionate release, Leonard Peltier\u2019s is it. This is exactly what that awesome power is for. To right a historic wrong. And if not that, then just to show mercy and let an old man die with his family.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-calls-from-schatz-to-increase-snap-benefits-in-hawaii-usda-proposes-23-boost-in-benefits-to-reflect-food-costs", "Following Calls From Schatz To Increase Snap Benefits In Hawai\u2018i, USDA Proposes 2.3% Boost In Benefits To Reflect Food Costs", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following calls for increased benefits for Hawai\u2018i families, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed updates to its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Hawai\u2018i to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food across the state. The USDA has proposed a 2.3 percent increase in SNAP benefits for Hawai\u2018i, which would result in an estimated $40 monthly increase for a family of four.\n\n\u201cFor many in Hawai\u2018i, SNAP is a lifeline, helping families put food on the table. But to make sure this program continues to help those who rely on it, SNAP benefits need to keep up with the real cost of food across the state,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cI thank the USDA and Secretary Vilsack for working with us to update SNAP benefits for Hawai\u2018i so that those who need it can continue to access this critical federal program.\u201d\n\nFood prices in Hawai\u2018i are among the highest in the nation. Schatz worked directly with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and urged him to update its cost analysis in the state. Today\u2019s action from the USDA continues a rulemaking process to adjust benefits for Hawai\u2018i. Today, USDA is proposing a new rule to ensure benefits take into account food costs for residents across the state, and releasing a report that finds an increase in benefit if the rule is finalized. The public can submit comments through February 3, 2025.\n\nSNAP is a federal program that provides crucial nutritional benefits to low-income individuals and families that are used at stores to purchase food. It\u2019s administered at the federal level through USDA\u2019s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and at the state level in Hawai\u2018i by the Hawai\u2018i Department of Human Services. Nearly 200,000 Hawai\u2018i residents rely on SNAP.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-welcomes-59-million-in-federal-funding-for-honolulu-harbor", "Hirono Welcomes $59 Million in Federal Funding for Honolulu Harbor", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement celebrating the announcement of more than $56 million in federal funding to modernize Honolulu Harbor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the port along with $2.5 million to develop strategies to improve air quality at ports around the state, developed in consultation with communities living near the ports. The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) Clean Ports Program, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act that Senator Hirono helped pass into law.\n\n\u201cHonolulu Harbor is essential to the delivery of food, medicine, and other goods people rely on not only on Oahu, but across Hawaii,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe investments in hydrogen-powered cargo tractors and a hydrogen fueling station will help the port operate more efficiently while decreasing carbon emissions and other pollution that affects surrounding communities. The funding will also support the development of plans to improve air quality at ports and surrounding communities throughout our state. I\u2019m proud to have supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which made this investment possible, and I\u2019ll continue working to secure federal funds for projects that strengthen communities across our islands.\u201d\n\nMore information on the projects being funded is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-33-million-heading-to-hawaii-island-to-improve-wailuku-river-bridge", "Schatz: More Than $33 Million Heading To Hawai\u2018i Island To Improve Wailuku River Bridge", "2024-10-18", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that Hawai\u2018i will receive $33 million to rehabilitate the Wailuku River Bridge on Hawai\u2018i Island.\n\n\u201cUpgrading aging infrastructure is critical to ensuring people can get around safely for years to come,\u201d said Senator Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. \u201cMaking these necessary upgrades to the Wailuku River Bridge will result in less disruptions and safer commutes for people on Hawai\u2018i Island.\u201d\n\nThe funding will help strengthen the bridge by making key improvements to reinforce its foundation. The bridge will also be widened to be in line with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards, and the bridge railings will be upgraded to meet current safety standards.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-death-of-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar", "Schatz Statement On Death Of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.\n\n\u201cAs the leader of Hamas and the mastermind of the October 7th attack in Israel, Yahya Sinwar is responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent civilians, including Americans. His death is welcome news, and we hope it will provide a measure of justice and comfort to the families of victims and hostages terrorized by Hamas. At the same time, this news should set the stage for an end to this cycle of violence and bloodshed, the return of all remaining hostages, and lasting stability and peace in the region.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-defense-department-correcting-discharges-for-service-members-unfairly-discharged-under-dont-ask-dont-tell", "Schatz Statement On Defense Department Correcting Discharges For Service Members Unfairly Discharged Under \u2018Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u2019", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) released the following statement after the Department of Defense announced that more than 800 service members who were unfairly discharged from the military under \u2018Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u2019 will be upgraded to an honorable discharge.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time that LGBTQ+ veterans who bravely served our country received the honorable service records they deserve and the benefits that go with it,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWhile these record corrections are welcome relief for hundreds of service members, it\u2019s essential that the Department of Defense continues its efforts to ensure they receive the full benefits they are entitled to and any veterans not included in this review receive upgrades as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\nSchatz has led bipartisan efforts in the Senate through the Restore Honor to Service Members Act to correct the military records of service members unjustly discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation under \u2018Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u2019 and support access to the benefits they have earned.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-ftc-click-to-cancel-rule", "Schatz Statement On FTC Click-To-Cancel Rule", "2024-10-16", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its final \u201cclick-to-cancel\u201d rule that would help customers more easily get out of unwanted subscriptions.\n\n\u201cFree trials should be free, but instead some companies have used that model to lure and trap customers into subscriptions with costly monthly charges they never meant to make. That\u2019s why I introduced a bill to stop those kinds of deceptive business practices. While this FTC action is a good step in the right direction, we also need to pass the Unsubscribe Act to provide consumers with more transparency and protections.\u201d\n\nSenator Schatz previously introduced the Unsubscribe Act, bipartisan legislation that would require companies to be more transparent about subscription-based business models and make it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions once their free or reduced price trial period has ended.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-fema-extending-temporary-housing-support-for-maui-fire-survivors-until-february-2026", "Schatz Statement On FEMA Extending Temporary Housing Support For Maui Fire Survivors Until February 2026", "2024-10-10", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) extended financial assistance and direct temporary housing assistance for survivors of the Maui fires until February 2026. The assistance through FEMA\u2019s Individuals and Households Program was originally set to expire in February 2025.\n\n\u201cFEMA\u2019s extension means survivors will continue to have homes for their families for the foreseeable future. But let\u2019s be clear about what\u2019s needed \u2013 building temporary housing so that survivors have stable roofs over their heads as they recover.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-cassidy-introduce-bill-to-improve-health-care-for-veterans", "Hirono, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Improve Health Care for Veterans", "2024-10-09", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Bill Cassidy (R-IA) introduced legislation to enhance the quality and efficiency of health care services provided to veterans. The VetPAC Act of 2024 creates a new Veterans Health Administration Policy Advisory Commission (VetPAC) to facilitate a transparent, expert-driven review process for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).\n\n\u201cAs we work to ensure those who served our country can access the high-quality health care they\u2019ve earned, the VetPAC Act of 2024 will create a new independent commission to address challenges the VHA faces and improve care for our veterans,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, I am proud to introduce this legislation that will support Congress\u2019 work to help improve health care access, delivery, and quality for veterans.\n\nModeled after the successful Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the 17-member independent commission will focus on improving health care delivery and addressing the operations challenges within the VHA. Led by health care and large medical system experts, the commission would review pressing veterans\u2019 health topics such as health care delivery and access at VA Health facilities and in the community, workforce issues, and VA medical research.\n\nBy conducting regular assessments and providing recommendations to Congress, this legislation seeks to ensure critical areas such as technology, staffing, and patient care are continuously improved.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.\n\n\u201cThe VFW supports the VetPAC Act of 2024 that would establish a commission to review operations at the Veterans Health Administration and submit reports to Congress,\u201d said Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Associate Director Meggan Coleman. \u201cThe VFW believes the recommendations from these assessments would aid Congress in proposing meaningful legislation to ensure veterans receive adequate care. We thank Senator Hirono and Cassidy for introducing this bill and we look forward to its passage into law.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Hirono has consistently worked to support veterans in Hawaii and across the country. In May 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation to improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans. Among other things, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would enable Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to seek direct reimbursement from VA for care provided to Native Hawaiian veterans. In April 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the Honoring Veterans\u2019 Legacies and Burial Benefits Enhancements Act to improve memorialization and burial benefits for veterans and their families. In February 2024, following a concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report finding significant shortfalls in care provided by VA to veterans who seek care after experiencing a sexual assault, Senator Hirono joined her colleagues in sending a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, urging the Department to take immediate steps to improve the readiness of VA facilities and staff to address the needs of veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-introduce-bill-commemorating-october-as-filipino-american-history-month", "Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bill Commemorating October as Filipino-American History Month", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-HI), Michelle Steel (R-CA), Robert Cortez Scott (D-VA), James Moylan (R-GU), and Jill Tokuda (D-HI) in leading a bipartisan, bicameral resolution commemorating October as Filipino-American History Month. The resolution celebrates the long and distinguished history of Filipino Americans in the U.S. and the cultural and historical contributions made by Filipino American communities nationwide.\n\n\u201cFrom the first Filipino contract laborers who arrived in Hawai\u2018i seeking a better life, to the Filipino American leaders in business, health care, and our Armed Forces, this community has contributed to our country\u2019s diversity and helped to shape our identity as a nation,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we continue working to uplift the voices of Filipino Americans in Hawai\u2018i and across the country, I am proud to introduce this resolution to honor the Filipino American community\u2019s contributions and accomplishments and celebrate their rich history and culture.\u201d\n\nThe legislation resolves that Congress:\n\nRecognizes the celebration of Filipino American History Month as \u2013\n\nA testament to the advancement of Filipino Americans;\n\nA time to reflect on and remember the many notable contributions that Filipino Americans have made to the United States; and\n\nA time to renew efforts toward the research and examination of history and culture so as to provide an opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more about Filipino Americans and to appreciate the historic contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States; and\n\nUrges the people of the United States to observe Filipino American History Month with appropriate programs and activities.\n\nThe resolution is cosponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), George Helmy (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). The resolution is cosponsored by more than 35 representatives in the House.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-voters-and-election-workers-at-election-centers", "Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Voters and Election Workers at Election Centers", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and six colleagues in introducing bicameral legislation to protect voters and election workers from intimidation and threats of violence at the ballot box. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would help ensure that every voter and election worker has the right to cast their ballot and conduct their official duties free from fear and intimidation. U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA) is leading the introduction in the House.\n\nThe bill would update existing anti-intimidation provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit the presence of visible firearms at locations where voters cast their ballot or election workers perform their official duties, empowering poll workers and election officials to continue safely administering elections.\n\nThe right to vote is a central pillar of American democracy, but rising political violence against voters and poll workers threatens election security. False allegations of widespread voter fraud have further increased tensions at election centers. As of May 2024, 38% of election workers have reported experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse.\n\nSpecifically, the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would:\n\nAmend Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act to establish a rebuttable presumption that a person carrying a visible firearm while engaging in election-related activities is engaging in voter intimidation;\n\nProvide civil remedies for individuals who experience this type of intimidation, including an emergency injunction that would allow the voter or election official to carry out their duties in peace; and\n\nRecognize an exception for law enforcement officers acting within their official duties.\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Padilla, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA) is cosponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is endorsed by organizations including the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Institute for Responsive Government, League of Conservation Voters, Center for American Progress, End Citizens United Action Fund, Common Cause, Defend the Vote Action Fund, Fair Elections Center, Democracy SENTRY, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen, Faith in Public Life Action, Sierra Club, and Voto Latino.\n\nSenator Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been a long-time champion of voting rights legislation and protections. In March, Senator Hirono led 11 of her colleagues in introducing the Time Off to Vote Act, legislation that would require employers\u2014upon the request of the employee\u2014to provide at least two consecutive hours of paid leave in order to vote in federal elections. In September 2023, Senator Hirono joined her colleagues on National Voter Registration Day in introducing a resolution recognizing September as \u201cNational Voting Rights Month.\u201d In September 2022, Senator Hirono introduced the Election Worker Protection Act, comprehensive legislation which would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure these workers\u2019 safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield election workers from intimidation and threats.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-hold-judiciary-accountable-for-workplace-misconduct", "Hirono, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Hold Judiciary Accountable for Workplace Misconduct", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Judiciary Accountability Act of 2024 (JAA). The legislation would ensure the more than 30,000 employees of the federal judiciary have strong statutory rights and protections against discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and other forms of workplace misconduct and will guide further conversations with stakeholders and experts about a legislative solution to protect the rights of judiciary employees. U.S. Representatives Hank Johnson (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Norma Torres (D-CA) introduced a House companion bill.\n\n\u201cNo one is above the law, but most federal judiciary employees lack essential workplace protections, preventing them from obtaining justice when they face discrimination and harassment,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cEmployees of the federal judiciary dedicate their careers to providing justice, and they deserve justice when they face misconduct in the workplace. Yet these employees are among the only ones in the United States who lack the right to sue when they face discrimination or harassment. The Judiciary Accountability Act will help to protect the 30,000 federal judiciary employees by extending basic anti-discrimination protections to cover them, giving them access to federal court to vindicate those rights, and helping to ensure more accountability in the federal courts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Judiciary Accountability Act expands federal laws that prohibit workplace harassment and discrimination to employees of the judiciary, putting them on par with executive branch, congressional, and private sector employees who have long-had these protections,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThis legislation not only helps safeguard employees from mistreatment at work, but also establishes a review system to foster accountability when those rights are violated. I appreciate the opportunity to lead this bipartisan legislation with Senator Hirono to cultivate transparency and a positive working environment within the judicial branch.\u201d\n\nThe foundational federal civil rights statutes\u2014such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964\u2014generally do not apply to the federal judiciary, making it one of the only employers in the entire country\u2013public or private\u2013whose employees are not protected by federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination and retaliation. The federal judiciary has faced sustained criticism for its approach to preventing, investigating, and remedying sexual harassment and discrimination by judges and others in the judicial branch.\n\nThis year, back-to-back reports were released\u2014one from the from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the other from the Federal Judicial Center and National Academy of Public Administration\u2014underscoring that although the Judiciary has taken steps to implement an internal dispute resolution process, that process can be disjointed and confusing. Moreover, no part of that process provides judiciary employees a path to vindicate their rights in court.\n\nThe Judiciary Accountability Act will:\n\nGive judicial branch employees the same anti-discrimination rights and remedies private sector and government employees have had for decades. Today, most judicial branch employees are not protected by the federal civil rights statutes that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, and disability. The Judiciary Accountability Act would correct that injustice.\n\nProtect judicial branch employees from retaliation against them by providing them with the right to sue for relief if they are retaliated against. Unlike other federal employees, most judicial branch employees currently have no statutory protection against retaliation. At a House Judiciary Committee hearing in 2020, multiple witnesses testified that they and others were afraid to come forward about the sexual harassment they suffered or witnessed.\n\nEstablish a comprehensive workplace misconduct prevention program overseen by an improved and expanded Office of Judicial Integrity. The Office\u2019s Board of Directors would include members experienced in investigating and enforcing civil rights laws against workplace discrimination, as well as experience assisting victims of discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Office would administer a nationwide, confidential reporting system and a comprehensive training program addressing workplace behavior and bystander intervention, among other duties.\n\nRequire regular assessments of workplace culture to determine the effectiveness of judicial branch policies designed to prevent and remedy harassment and discrimination.\n\nMake clear that discrimination and retaliation constitute judicial misconduct and ensure that the judicial misconduct laws apply to all federal judges, regardless of whether they subsequently resign, retire, or pass away.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-nationwide-book-bans-top-10000-schatz-raskin-introduce-bicameral-resolution-condemning-book-bans", "As Nationwide Book Bans Top 10,000, Schatz, Raskin Introduce Bicameral Resolution Condemning Book Bans", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced a resolution condemning an escalating censorship crisis that has removed and targeted thousands of books from the shelves of schools, libraries and universities across the country.\n\nThe bicameral resolution, coinciding with Banned Books Week, reinforces congressional recognition of students\u2019 First Amendment rights and affirms that the freedom to read is essential to a strong democracy. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, PEN America documented over 10,000 instances of individual books being banned, nearly triple the previous academic year. Many bans have removed books from public shelves with characteristics that would be targeted by Project 2025, which additionally proposes labeling teachers and librarians who distribute such books as sex offenders.\n\n\u201cAny attempt to ban books because someone has an ideological disagreement or doesn\u2019t believe in capturing the full scope of history is un-American,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cFreedom of expression is a founding principle of our country, and it's up to all of us to stand up against these attacks on this fundamental right.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy filling our libraries with a diversity of stories, we help our students understand new perspectives rather than suppressing their freedom to think, read and write independently,\u201d said Representative Raskin. \u201cWe must close this chapter of censorship and, rather than continuing to take a page from the world\u2019s dictators and autocrats, turn our attention to the resources students need to succeed. I am grateful to Senator Schatz for his partnership on this resolution.\u201d\n\nAccording to findings from PEN America and the American Library Association, targeted books include classics like To Kill A Mockingbird, 1984, and The Handmaid\u2019s Tale. Books are also more likely to be removed if they feature content related to the LGBTQIA+ experience, race or racial injustice or stories about grief and abuse.\n\n\u201cWe thank Representative Raskin and Senator Schatz for their continued commitment to academic freedom and the First Amendment. The movement to ban books is an affront to public education and students\u2019 ability to understand the world,\u201d said PEN America\u2019s Congressional Affairs Lead, Laura Schroeder. \u201cThe targeted bans intentionally seek to silence the experiences of authors of color, LGBTQI+ authors and stories that explore the themes of racism, trauma, religion, gender identity and sexual identity. Students are being deprived of stories that can help them deal with real lived experiences such as trauma and violence. This must end.\u201d\n\n\u201cLibraries defend every American\u2019s freedom to read \u2013 a freedom that is increasingly under threat \u2013 even though many librarians face criticism and threats to their livelihood and safety,\u201d said Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association. \u201cThis Banned Books Week, we\u2019re proud to have Congressional leaders standing with us and with communities that are fighting back to protect their libraries and schools from the censors.\u201d\n\nThe resolution is endorsed by the American Library Association (ALA), Banned Books Week Coalition, EveryLibrary, Interfaith Alliance, JCRC of Greater Washington, Jewish Community Relations Council of Broward County (Florida), Jewish Community Relations Council of Portland, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of Teachers of English, National Education Association, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, PEN America, PFLAG National, Red Wine and Blue Education Fund, The Sikh Coalition, Jewish Community Relations Council for Tucson & Southern Arizona, and Urban Libraries Council (ULC).\n\nIn addition to Schatz, the Senate resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Angus King (I-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-calls-for-additional-disaster-aid-when-congress-returns-in-november", "Schatz Calls For Additional Disaster Aid When Congress Returns In November", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today called for additional disaster relief funding when Congress returns in November. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schatz stressed the need to provide disaster survivors on Maui and in other disaster-impacted communities with flexible, long-term assistance in the form of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding which will enable them to rebuild their homes and communities as quickly as possible.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, our work is not over,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWhen we return in November, passing disaster aid has to be the top priority of the United States Congress. There is no excuse not to do this. This is an American priority, and we cannot close up shop for this Congress leaving all these Americans behind.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the senator\u2019s remarks can be found below. Video is available here.\n\nIt is good that the Senate and the House are working on a bipartisan basis to pass a short-term bill to keep the government open. But make no mistake, our work is not over, because once again we are leaving town for a long period of time not having passed disaster aid to help survivors on Maui and elsewhere.\n\nOver the past 13 months since tragic fires tore down the town of Lahaina and claimed 102 lives, I've been here on the floor repeatedly pressing for urgent disaster relief. And in that time, more disasters have devastated communities all over the country. So many people on Maui, in Texas and Vermont, New Mexico, California, Iowa and Florida and 20 states total, and unfortunately rising. They're waiting for help, and the federal government has not come to their aid yet. They've lost loved ones. They've lost homes. They've lost businesses. They've lost livelihoods. And all they want is help and a little bit of hope to get their lives back to something close to normal. What are we doing as a Congress if we can't even deliver help to our fellow Americans when disaster strikes?\n\nWhen we return in November, passing disaster aid has to be the top priority of the United States Congress. There is no excuse not to do this. What's being asked of us is what Congress always does. We simply need to do the thing that we've always done, which is to show up for disaster survivors and get them the help survivors and get them the help that they need. And if you are a member who represents any of the 20-odd states that need this help, we need your help. And if you are a member from one of the other 30 states, there but for the grace of God go I. It will always come around. Everyone needs disaster help. So consider it your priority, even if your state, thank God, hasn't been hit this year or last. Even if you don't have 20 or 30,000 victims waiting for help. This is an American priority, and we cannot close up shop for this Congress leaving all these Americans behind.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-urging-senate-leaders-to-take-up-legislation-to-permanently-extend-telehealth-flexibilities-expand-access", "Schatz Leads Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Urging Senate Leaders To Take Up Legislation To Permanently Extend Telehealth Flexibilities, Expand Access", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) led members of the bipartisan Senate Telehealth Working Group in calling on Senate leaders to take up legislation to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries that are set to expire at the end of the year. Specifically, the senators urged for the passage of the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act which Schatz leads with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and was reintroduced last year with the support of 66 bipartisan senators. The letter follows Telehealth Awareness Week and comes after the House Energy & Commerce Committee unanimously advanced a two-year telehealth extension. In addition to Schatz, the letter is signed by Wicker and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).\n\n\u201cAt least 66 Democratic and Republican Senators support permanently expanding telehealth access, and similar provisions have passed on a bipartisan unanimous basis in committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives. The Senate must quickly act to advance these policies, which protect access to telehealth services and align with your objective to advance bipartisan legislation that promotes the health and well-being of Americans,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cMedicare beneficiaries have come to rely on expanded access to telehealth services and are satisfied with the care they receive. We must provide patients and clinicians with long-term certainty of their ability to access and provide care through telehealth. The CONNECT for Health Act will help us achieve this shared goal and has strong, bipartisan support in the Senate.\u201d\n\nThe CONNECT for Health Act makes permanent telehealth flexibilities made temporarily available during the COVID-19 pandemic and later extended. Additionally, it expands access to telehealth services by removing unnecessary barriers and enabling doctors, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to leverage telehealth to better serve their patients. The bill was first introduced in 2016 and is considered the most comprehensive legislation on telehealth in Congress. Several provisions of the bill have since been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell:\n\nWith the end-of-year expiration of telehealth flexibilities rapidly approaching, we write to urge you to prioritize policies that ensure all Medicare beneficiaries retain access to telehealth services. At least 66 Democratic and Republican Senators support permanently expanding telehealth access, and similar provisions have passed on a bipartisan unanimous basis in committees of jurisdiction in the House of Representatives. The Senate must quickly act to advance these policies, which protect access to telehealth services and align with your objective to advance bipartisan legislation that promotes the health and well-being of Americans.\n\nUnder your leadership, Congress has recognized the critical role of telehealth in health care delivery by expanding coverage during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Most recently in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Congress enacted a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth services coverage. This ensured continuity of care and provided time for experts to evaluate the effects of expanded telehealth serves. Recent studies by leading researchers and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) are clear: Telehealth provides essential access to care and improves outcomes, including reduced emergency department utilization and improved medication adherence.\n\nAccess to telehealth is at-risk, as noted by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: \u201cabsent Congressional action, beginning January 1, 2025, statutory restrictions on geography, site of service, and practitioner type that existed prior to the COVID-19 PHE will go back into effect\u201d. Consequently, Congress must advance policies from our consensus bipartisan bill, the CONNECT for Health Act, before the coverage extension lapses. We urge you to prioritize the following provisions from our bill, which would improve American\u2019s access to and quality of care:\n\nTelehealth should be available to all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of where they live. Therefore, Congress should permanently remove geographic restrictions on telehealth services and permit the home and other clinically appropriate settings as originating sites. If budget constraints make permanent policy out of reach, given the significant costs required to ramp up and provide high quality telehealth programs, Congress must provide the maximum extension possible at an adequate length for providers to make necessary investments.\n\nPractitioners should be able to provide clinically appropriate telehealth services. The flexibility to provide telehealth, within state scope of practice laws, is particularly critical given high rates of provider shortages across disciplines. Therefore, Congress should expand the authority for practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services.\n\nFederally qualified health centers and rural health clinics should be able to provide telehealth services, free from unnecessary barriers and disincentives. Therefore, Congress should include federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics as distant site providers and telehealth should be integrated into these providers\u2019 payment systems.\n\nTelemental health services should be accessible, free from barriers. Telehealth has transformed mental and behavioral health care, now accounting for 40 percent of telehealth services provided under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Notably, just 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with a telemental health visit in the preceding quarter would satisfy the requirements to access these services under current statute. Therefore, Congress should permanently repeal the six-month in-person visit requirement for telemental health services.\n\nPatients receiving hospice care should be permitted to receive assessments by telehealth. Therefore, Congress should allow for the use of telehealth in the recertification of a Medicare beneficiary for hospice.\n\nMedicare beneficiaries and providers should be supported as health care continues to transition. Therefore, Congress should provide resources to improve beneficiary engagement and health care professional use of telehealth. Congress should also task the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ensure that telehealth quality is effectively measured, and that limited outlier billing patterns are addressed.\n\nMedicare beneficiaries have come to rely on expanded access to telehealth services and are satisfied with the care they receive. We must provide patients and clinicians with long-term certainty of their ability to access and provide care through telehealth. The CONNECT for Health Act will help us achieve this shared goal and has strong, bipartisan support in the Senate. Further, the Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees have unanimously advanced telehealth legislation. We appreciate your collaboration and leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to ensure access to telehealth services is retained by the end of 2024.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-chu-lead-capac-members-to-urge-omb-to-support-spd-15-implementation-efforts-for-aanhpi-communities", "Hirono, Chu Lead CAPAC Members to Urge OMB to Support SPD 15 Implementation Efforts for AANHPI Communities", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) led 7 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young on Statistical Policy Directive 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15), urging OMB to take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively incorporating its revised standards to SPD 15. OMB\u2019s revised standards to SPD 15 include changes that will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets. By implementing increased data disaggregation through these revisions, federal agencies would be able to better understand more communities, including the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities that encompass over 70 ethnicities.\n\n\u201cFederal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity,\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cWhile SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards.\u201d\n\nThe letter urges OMB to work directly with federal agencies to provide them with the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. The letter further requests clarification on what a \u201csufficient justification\u201d would be to exclude an agency from detailed demographic reporting requirements.\n\n\u201cOMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cIn all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono has long advocated on behalf of the AANHPI communities in Hawaii, the U.S., and the Pacific Island nations and territories, working to ensure that all communities are accounted for and supported. Just last year, Senator Hirono reintroduced the All Students Count Act of 2023, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data in K-12 schools, helping to ensure that AANHPI student groups are better accounted for and supported by schools across the country.\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono and Representative Chu, the letter was signed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Representatives Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Mark Takano (D-CA).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Director Young:\n\nThank you for your continued commitment to advancing racial equity and supporting underserved communities in the United States. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, our country has taken important steps toward promoting an inclusive society where everyone has opportunities to succeed. We write today regarding OMB\u2019s recent revisions to \u201cStatistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity\u201d (SPD 15) \u2013 dated March 28, 2024. We commend OMB for revising these standards, which will help to expand demographic reporting requirements and ensure that diverse communities are better reflected in federal datasets, and thank the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and other OMB officials for discussing the revisions with Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), on July 31, 2024. In order to ensure that these standards are fully implemented in a manner that supports our communities, we strongly urge OMB to comply with statutory mandates and take additional action to assist federal agencies in effectively and efficiently incorporating the revised standards.\n\nFederal data on race and ethnicity is a crucial resource for identifying and addressing inequity. However, since SPD 15 was last updated in 1997, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) advocacy groups have raised concerns over SPD 15\u2019s overly-broad minimum reporting categories, which obfuscate the diverse experiences of over 70 ethnic groups under the AANHPI umbrella. Due to distinct histories and particular experiences with violence and persecution, for example, only 14% of Bhutanese Americans, 19% of Laotian Americans, and 22% of Burmese Americans have obtained a bachelor\u2019s degree\u2014half the rate of all Asian Americans and lower than the overall population.\n\nAccurate and comprehensive data on race and ethnicity is necessary for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. We applaud the 2024 SPD 15 for requiring federal agencies to collect new and more detailed racial and ethnic information, such as \u201cChinese,\u201d \u201cNigerian,\u201d and \u201cNative Hawaiian,\u201d by default. This will help illuminate areas of need within particular ethnic and racial communities and allow policymakers to allocate resources appropriately.\n\nWhile SPD 15 could be a tremendous asset to our communities, we are concerned with how federal agencies will implement the revised standards. A recent report from AAPI Data, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) detailed concerning gaps in the updated SPD 15\u2019s rollout, including the absence of an existing inventory of all federal agency data collections\u2014a requirement of The OPEN Government Data Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-411)\u2014 to assist federal agencies in implementing the revised standards. SPD 15 also allows federal agencies to apply for an exception to its new detailed demographic reporting requirements, but does not set a clear standard for what OIRA should consider a \u201csufficient justification\u201d to grant an exception. In all, greater transparency and stronger guidance will help federal agencies fulfill the ideals of SPD 15 while providing greater opportunity for community accountability.\n\nOMB plays a critical role in ensuring both the quality and consistency of federal datasets, and the updated SPD 15 is a significant step in improving federal data collection processes. In order to ensure SPD 15 is implemented in an effective way, we urge OMB to work directly with federal agencies to ensure they have the necessary resources and guidance to produce detailed inventories on their data collections, and to share these data inventories in a centralized manner, as recommended by over 100 AANHPI advocacy groups that have weighed in on the issue. Without such inventories, there is no reasonable way to account for all the data collections taking place within the federal government, and to fully understand whether these collections are in compliance with SPD 15.\n\nThank you for your consideration on this important matter. We look forward to receiving your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-support-survivors-of-sexual-assault-on-campus", "Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault on Campus", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing legislation to support survivors of sexual assault on college campuses. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, would require that every college and university that receives federal funding have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response.\n\n\u201cAs we continue working to ensure that our students are safe on campus, the S.O.S. Campus Act would help to ensure that survivors of sexual assault at colleges and universities receive the treatment and support they deserve,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAll students deserve to be safe and supported on campus and I will keep fighting to combat sexual violence and ensure that survivors can access much-needed medical, legal, and mental health resources.\u201d\n\nSexual violence and harassment on college campus is heavily underreported, in part due to shortcomings in existing reporting structures. After a change to Title IX under the Trump administration, many universities experienced a drastic decrease in the number of sexual assaults being reported. The Association of Title IX Administrators estimated that upwards of 90% of sexual misconduct cases are handled \u201cinformally\u201d and without formal protections and guidance for survivors.\n\nThe S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to:\n\nEmergency and follow-up medical care,\n\nGuidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement,\n\nMedical forensic or evidentiary exams,\n\nCrisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and\n\nInformation on their legal rights.\n\nLocal rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations are currently providing many of these services in communities and on campuses around the nation. The legislation recognizes the importance of these partnerships by requiring that universities either consult with or partner with these organizations to ensure that survivors can access the services they need.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\nSenator Hirono has been a strong advocate for making sure survivors of campus sexual assault have the resources they need to be supported. Earlier this Congress, she reintroduced the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA), which, like the S.O.S. Campus Act, would provide additional resources for colleges and universities to support survivors. Specifically, GEEA would create an Office for Gender Equity (OGE) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that would, among other things, be responsible for providing Title IX coordinators with annual trainings, detailed information, and best practices about Title IX compliance. ED\u2019s OGE would also be responsible for administering a new $160 million grant program to provide resources for colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other entities to comply with Title IX.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-senate-passes-schatz-wicker-resolution-designating-telehealth-awareness-week", "Senate Passes Schatz-Wicker Resolution Designating Telehealth Awareness Week", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution authored by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) designating September 15-21 as \u201cTelehealth Awareness Week.\u201d The resolution recognizes that telehealth has helped millions of Americans across the country access quality health care, and has become a critical component of health care delivery.\n\n\u201cTelehealth helps people access quality health care when and where they need it, and our resolution highlights the broad, bipartisan support for raising awareness of and expanding access to telehealth,\u201d said Senator Schatz, co-chair of the Senate Telehealth Working Group.\n\n\u201cTelehealth is a cost-effective way for people in rural and underserved areas to access health care. Increasing the services available to patients remains one of my top priorities,\u201d Senator Wicker said.\n\nThe resolution affirms the bipartisan support in Congress for telehealth and encourages expanded access to telehealth services for all people, including members of rural and underserved communities. It notes that 25 percent of Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services at least once in 2023, and that nearly 90 percent were satisfied with their experience. It concludes that \u201cTelehealth Awareness Week\u201d unites the efforts of patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance the role of telehealth in health care.\n\nThe resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).\n\nSchatz has led efforts to expand access to telehealth, including reintroducing the CONNECT for Health Act, the most comprehensive bipartisan telehealth legislation in Congress. Since its first iteration in 2016, several provisions from the bill have been signed into law.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-on-senate-floor-hirono-votes-to-protect-access-to-ivf-blasts-republicans-for-blocking-legislation", "VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Hirono Votes to Protect Access to IVF, Blasts Republicans for Blocking Legislation", "2024-09-17", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Sen. Hirono: \u201cAs Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade, Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government interference.\u201d\n\n~ Video of Senator Hirono\u2019s remarks is available here ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) voted in support of the Right to IVF Act, legislation to protect the right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, as well as expand insurance coverage of IVF treatment for those who struggle with infertility. The legislation, previously blocked by Senate Republicans in June, failed on the Senate floor again, with only two Republicans voting to advance it. Following the vote, Senator Hirono delivered a speech on the Senate floor, highlighting that for decades, IVF treatment and other assisted reproductive technologies have helped people, who otherwise couldn\u2019t, start families on their own.\n\n\u201cWhile some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono has remained committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive care for more than 40 years, working as a State Representative in Hawaii in the 1980s, where she led the passage of a bill making Hawaii one of the first states in the nation to require health insurers to cover IVF treatment. Most recently, following the Alabama state Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos have the same rights as children, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state, Senator Hirono cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act, legislation that would protect IVF and ART services, which was blocked by Republicans.\n\nSenator Hirono also highlighted her Republican colleagues\u2019 obsession with power and control over women\u2019s bodies.\n\n\u201cRepublicans insist they support IVF, but refuse to protect access to IVF. They insist access to contraception is safe, but refuse to codify it into law,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cFrankly, can anyone take Republicans at their word when they say they won\u2019t enact a nationwide abortion ban if given the opportunity?\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government interference.\u201d\n\nA transcript of Senator Hirono\u2019s opening remarks is below and video is available for download here.\n\nM. President, once again today, our Republican colleagues have shown us where their priorities truly lie. Despite insisting time and again how much they support the right to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, they just voted again nearly unanimously to block a bill protecting that very right.\n\nFor decades, IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, have helped people, who otherwise couldn\u2019t, start families of their own. While some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so.\n\nThe first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world. In fact, as a State Representative in Hawaii in the 1980s, I led the passage of a bill making Hawaii one of the first states in the nation to require health insurers to cover IVF treatment. And earlier this year, I met Dr. Lori Kamemoto, an OBGYN who, decades ago, helped deliver the first baby born in Hawaii via IVF.\n\nBut now, thanks to the chaos created by Dobbs, a whole range of reproductive rights, including the right to IVF, are on the chopping block. Look at Alabama, where the state Supreme Court invoked a \u2018fetal personhood\u2019 law to call into question the legality of IVF, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state. Despite the fact that more than 85 percent of Americans support IVF, Republicans here in the Senate have now on several occasions blocked our attempts to pass a bill protecting IVF. Apparently, Republicans\u2019 obsession with power and control over women\u2019s bodies and our lives knows few bounds.\n\nRepublicans insist they support IVF, but refuse to protect access to IVF. They insist access to contraception is safe, but refuse to codify it into law. Frankly, can anyone take Republicans at their word when they say they won\u2019t enact a nationwide abortion ban if given the opportunity? We can\u2019t, M. President. They\u2019ve shown us who they are, and just how wildly out of step they are with the American people.\n\nAs Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade, Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government intrusion. Thank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-bipartisan-group-of-10-senators-in-calling-for-urgent-disaster-relief-funding", "Schatz Leads Bipartisan Group Of 10 Senators In Calling For Urgent Disaster Relief Funding", "2024-09-17", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) led a group of 10 bipartisan senators in calling on Senate leadership to move quickly to pass additional funding to help states recover from ongoing disasters. Schatz was joined by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).\n\n\u201cWe write as members representing states with ongoing disaster recovery needs to request additional disaster relief funding through a supplemental appropriations package, including additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR),\u201d the senators wrote in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine).\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cOur states experienced varying degrees of damage and have unique recovery needs. While we appreciate the federal support through existing permanently authorized disaster recovery programs, there is no one federal program that will directly address the distinct unmet needs of our communities in these difficult times. That is why over the past 30 years, Congress has allocated nearly $100 billion in CDBG-DR funding to disaster-impacted communities in nearly every state and territory. This tried-and-true program provides flexible financial support that communities can use to address unique outstanding needs unmet by other federal streams of assistance. Our states require this federal support to rebuild.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the senators\u2019 letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Chair Murray, and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe write as members representing states with ongoing disaster recovery needs to request additional disaster relief funding through a supplemental appropriations package, including additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR).\n\nWe appreciate your efforts to support disaster recovery thus far this Congress, but urgent and pressing needs in our communities require more support. The additional $16 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief fund (DRF) that Congress approved last year as part of the September continuing resolution has gone a long way towards supporting the immediate needs in many disaster-impacted communities. However, new and ongoing recovery efforts require further DRF funding to ensure core disaster response needs are addressed. In addition, other recovery needs that cannot be addressed through FEMA disaster recovery funding persist. To ensure that disaster recovery progress continues, and that communities can truly begin to rebuild, CDBG-DR funding is of paramount importance.\n\nOur states experienced varying degrees of damage and have unique recovery needs. While we appreciate the federal support through existing permanently authorized disaster recovery programs, there is no one federal program that will directly address the distinct unmet needs of our communities in these difficult times. That is why over the past 30 years, Congress has allocated nearly $100 billion in CDBG-DR funding to disaster-impacted communities in nearly every state and territory. This tried-and-true program provides flexible financial support that communities can use to address unique outstanding needs unmet by other federal streams of assistance. Our states require this federal support to rebuild.\n\nThe futures of our communities depend on the Senate\u2019s action this year. Thank you for working with us to provide relief to our states.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-votes-to-protect-ivf-access-nationwide", "Schatz Votes To Protect IVF Access Nationwide", "2024-09-17", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today voted to protect and expand access to IVF nationwide. The Right to IVF Act failed to pass the Senate after all but two Republicans voted against it for the second time in just over three months. Ahead of the vote, Schatz highlighted a local family from Hawai\u2018i who conceived their child, Nalu, through IVF.\n\nAt a press conference ahead of vote, Schatz holds up photo of Hawai\u2018i family that used IVF to start a family\n\n\u201cToday, for the second time in 3 months, Republicans voted against protecting IVF. Many of them claim to be supportive of IVF. All of them profess to be pro-life. But given a chance to be both, they failed,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nSchatz continued, \u201cRepublicans are doing a lot of mental gymnastics to try and justify their cruel extremism on this issue. But let\u2019s be very clear about what the Right to IVF Act does. It protects every American\u2019s right to access IVF and lowers the cost of the treatment for families who need it. That means anyone struggling to start or grow a family can undergo IVF without fear of interference or punishment by the government. And think about the fact that we have to make a law that says families should not be punished for trying to start a family. That\u2019s what this bill does. It says you should have access to this care and cannot be punished for trying to start a family.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Senator Schatz\u2019s remarks is below. Video is available here.\n\nHere, in this chamber, it\u2019s your vote that counts. Not your tweets, not your public statements, not your TV interviews. But your votes. And today, for the second time in 3 months, Republicans voted against protecting IVF. Many of them claim to be supportive of IVF. All of them profess to be pro-life. But given a chance to be both, they failed.\n\nRepublicans are doing a lot of mental gymnastics to try and justify their cruel extremism on this issue. But let\u2019s be very clear about what the Right to IVF Act does. It protects every American\u2019s right to access IVF and lowers the cost of the treatment for families who need it. That means anyone struggling to start or grow a family can undergo IVF without fear of interference or punishment by the government. And think about the fact that we have to make a law that says families should not be punished for trying to start a family. That\u2019s what this bill does. It says you should have access to this care and cannot be punished for trying to start a family.\n\nIt means providers can administer the treatment without worrying that they\u2019ll be thrown in jail or have their license taken away, just for doing their jobs. And it means insurers can cover IVF without implementing absurd restrictions and onerous requirements that would make it all but impossible to access this miraculous treatment.\n\nWhat this bill is is a commonsense measure that is necessary precisely because of the environment Republicans have created with the fall of Roe. An environment where over half of women of reproductive age in America now live in states hostile to abortion rights. And let\u2019s be clear: Republicans did that, through their vessel of the United States Supreme Court.\n\nAnd so they can pretend to be for IVF but vote against the bill that would actually protect it for good. They can pretend to be for life while also trying to restrict access to miraculous treatments that creates life. They can pretend to have their own bill to support IVF when it in fact that bill literally does the opposite. It literally does the opposite.\n\nBecause here it\u2019s your vote that counts. It is not your rhetoric. It is not your statement. It is not even your explanation. They voted no against IVF. And shame on them.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-tillis-velazquez-kim-reintroduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-collect-data-about-who-is-applying-for-patents", "Hirono, Tillis, Vel\u00e1zquez, Kim Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Collect Data About Who is Applying for Patents", "2024-09-12", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Representatives Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY) and Young Kim (R-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act of 2024, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to permit the collection of data that will provide a better understanding of the disparate rates at which women, veterans, and other groups apply for patents in the United States. The IDEA Act is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee at its September 19th Executive Business Meeting.\n\n\u201cIn order for America to remain innovative and competitive on a global scale, we must include inventors from underrepresented groups across the country\u2014such as women, veterans, and communities of color\u2014in our patent system,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe IDEA Act will help us to better understand who is applying for patents so that we can focus resources and education to help more people participate in this important part of our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is vitally important to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to innovate and to seek to protect their innovations,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cI am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to get a better understanding of the background of individuals who apply for patents with the USPTO.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn the House Small Business Committee, I see every day how innovation and invention drive entrepreneurship and create greater opportunity,\u201d said Congresswoman Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez, Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee. \u201cThis legislation will drive better policy that ultimately helps more women, people of color and other traditionally disadvantaged groups obtain patents for their inventions, bring new products to markets, creating jobs and enhancing our nation's competitiveness along the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor America to lead in today\u2019s innovative, dynamic economy, we need all of our best and brightest minds at the table. Unfortunately, Americans of different backgrounds can face barriers to making their ideas a reality,\u201d said Rep. Young Kim. \u201cThe IDEA Act aims to help us bridge the opportunity gap and identify barriers to developing patents. I am proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Velazquez and will keep fighting to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to invent and achieve their dream.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Tillis and Reps. Vel\u00e1zquez and Kim, the legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\n\nStudies show that women and other underrepresented groups apply for and obtain patents at significantly lower rates than the population as a whole. There is a complete lack of data around the rate at servicemembers and veterans are using our patent system. The IDEA Act works to provide more data about those gaps by directing the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to collect demographic data\u2014including gender, military or veteran status, and race\u2014from patent applicants on a voluntary basis. It further requires the USPTO to both issue reports on the data collected and make the data available to the public, thereby allowing outside researchers to conduct their own analyses and offer insights into the various patent application gaps.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n\u201cPassing the IDEA Act will help us get the information we need to expand our innovation talent pool and compete globally. We thank Senators Hirono and Tillis and Representatives Vel\u00e1zquez and Kim for their strong commitment to expanding participation in inventing, and we look forward to working with them to enact this important legislation,\u201d said Invent Together Executive Director Holly Fechner.\n\n\u201cAs the U.S. heads into the next century of innovation and competitiveness, the IDEA Act will provide vital demographic data that can help inform policy-making and educational initiatives,\u201d said Barbara Snyder, President, Association of American Universities. \u201cThe Act will also enable academic research into inventorship and entrepreneurship.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Society of Women Engineers wholeheartedly endorses the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act,\u201d said Society of Women Engineers Executive Director and CEO Karen Horting. \u201cThis vital legislation will not only help bridge the gender gap in innovation, but also empower women engineers to fully contribute to our nation's technological and economic progress. By fostering a more inclusive environment for inventors, we can unlock the untapped potential of diverse minds and drive forward a future of greater innovation and prosperity.\u201d\n\n\u201cAUTM, an association whose 3,000+ Members support research commercialization, would like to thank Senator Hirono and her colleagues for their leadership on introducing the IDEA Act,\u201d said AUTM CEO Stephen Susalka. \u201cThis legislation is crucial for addressing the underrepresentation of diverse inventors in the patent system.\u201d\n\n\u201cBetter reporting on underrepresentation in entrepreneurship and patenting is a crucial step for understanding how the government, the academy, and industry can all do better to recognize and reward the full spectrum of genius to be found in inventors across every background and to capitalize on the social and economic benefits that unleashing their innovation will provide,\u201d said Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation CEO Erik Iverson and Chief Intellectual Property and Licensing Officer Michael Falk. \u201cThe IDEA Act embraces the above recommendation by requiring that the USPTO collect demographic data on a voluntary basis and then requiring that both reports and the data itself be made public. We strongly support this commonsense step toward ensuring that the benefits of patent protection are shared by inventors of all backgrounds.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we want America to lead the world in the development of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, life-saving medicines and quantum computing, we need to expand American innovation geographically, demographically and economically across all American communities,\u201d said Andrei Iancu, former undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2018-2021), and current board co-chair of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP). \u201cThe IDEA Act will help us gather the data needed to increase access to the intellectual property system so that the United States maximizes its innovation potential.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery American, no matter their background, has a right to protect their intellectual property,\u201d said David Kappos, former undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2009-2013), and current board co-chair of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP). \u201cThe IDEA Act is a much-needed reform that will help policymakers identify and address harmful disparities in the patent system. These disparities deprive inventors of beneficial economic opportunities and prevent groundbreaking products from reaching consumers. The Council for Innovation Promotion thanks Sen. Hirono and her colleagues for their work on this legislation, and we urge Congress to enact it without delay.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-congress-considers-short-term-spending-bill-schatz-stresses-need-to-include-disaster-aid-to-support-survivors-on-maui-nationwide", "As Congress Considers Short-Term Spending Bill, Schatz Stresses Need To Include Disaster Aid To Support Survivors On Maui, Nationwide", "2024-09-12", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 As Congress considers a short-term spending bill to keep the government open past the September 30 funding deadline, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of including disaster aid to support survivors on Maui and across the country. In particular, Schatz stressed the need to provide disaster survivors with flexible, long-term assistance in the form of Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding which will enable them to rebuild their homes and communities as quickly as possible.\n\n\u201cFor Lahaina to recover fully, it needs its people,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cAnd what those people need right now is tangible help. Help with building a home, with finding a job, with rebuilding their small business. The kind of help that will finally provide a reprieve from the constant worrying about what\u2019s next, and hope that a better future awaits them after months of unimaginable suffering.\u201d\n\nSenator Schatz continued, \u201cWe have an opportunity not to do something extraordinary but to do something absolutely essential. We have an opportunity to do the thing that Congress always does, which is when a community gets flattened, we're there.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Senator Schatz\u2019s remarks, as prepared for delivery, can be found below. Video is available here.\n\nCongress\u2019 task over the next 2 weeks is pretty straightforward: to keep the government open and avert a pointless and costly shutdown that would hurt so many Americans. And as we do that, the one priority we can\u2019t afford to neglect or punt on is disaster aid. All across the country, in more than 20 states and territories, millions of Americans are reeling from disasters. Wildfires\u2026hurricanes\u2026 droughts\u2026floods. And having lost their homes, their communities, and their livelihoods, they\u2019re counting on the federal government for help.\n\nFor people on Maui, help is needed immediately. More than a year after the deadly fires that levelled an entire town, claimed 102 lives, and stole just about everything from those lucky enough to survive, nothing is yet normal. Survivors in temporary housing are being forced to move every few months. Many have moved 5 times in the last year, shattering any semblance of stability they\u2019ve cobbled together. Meanwhile, not a single home has been rebuilt so far. Not a single home has been rebuilt so far. That\u2019s a dire emergency for any community in any scenario. But it\u2019s especially worrying given temporary housing assistance from FEMA is due to expire in just 5 short months.\n\nThe long and difficult recovery is squeezing survivors in other ways as well. With fewer jobs and smaller paychecks, people are having to figure out whether they can afford the most basic necessities. A recent poll found that 70 percent of survivors are cutting back on food and groceries. 70 percent\u2026cutting back on food and groceries in the United States of America. And more than half are cutting back on medicine and other health care expenses. So it\u2019s no surprise that people whose families have lived on Maui for generations are giving up and leaving the island altogether. And worse, thousands more are considering doing the same.\n\nFor Lahaina to recover fully, it needs its people. For Lahaina to recover, it needs its people. And what those people need right now is tangible help. Help with building a home\u2026with finding a job\u2026with rebuilding their small business. The kind of help that will finally provide a reprieve from the constant worrying about what\u2019s next\u2026hope that a better future awaits them after months of unimaginable suffering.\n\nProviding that kind of help and relief to our fellow Americans in their hour of need is central to the promise of the federal government. There are not that many things that the federal government absolutely must do. There are not that many things that the federal government absolutely must do. But one of them is when there is a disaster and a state or a county or an island or a reservation or a town is devastated by a natural disaster, and the impact of that natural disaster exceeds the ability for that local unit of government to handle it, the president declares a disaster. And then FEMA comes in. After that HUD comes in with the support of the Congress through a program called Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery. What does that mean? It is flexible funding for those communities to rebuild. FEMA came to the table and did the disaster response. Now we have to recover. People are not recovered. People are not recovered.\n\nAnd so we have an opportunity not to do something extraordinary but to do something absolutely essential. We have an opportunity not to pass the Civil Rights Act but to do the thing that Congress always does. Do the thing that Congress always does which is when a community gets flattened, we're there.\n\nNow the good news is that even though the House proposal for a continuing resolution sort of fell flat on its face for other reasons, because it was six months and because it had this other nonsense in it, it did have 10 billion dollars for disaster recovery. Now, that was a very narrow program called the Disaster Relief Fund which absolutely needs those dollars. But the House position, the Republican House position is to fund disaster relief in the continuing resolution. We've got the chair and the ranking member in the United States Senate and the chair and the ranking member in the United States House Appropriations Committee saying they want to do disaster relief.\n\nWe are not fighting about this as a partisan issue. We are not fighting about this as a partisan issue. So we have an opportunity again not to do something unusual but to do the thing that we've always done. What would be unusual is to keep communities waiting for years now. Wildfires in New Mexico. Unfortunately, there are some wildfires in Nevada as we speak. 20 states waiting on help. Mississippi, Texas, Florida. All over the country, these communities need help. A lot of stuff we do is really hard. A lot of stuff we do is really partisan. This is neither of those things. We just have to decide that among the things that the federal government does is that we come to the table for any American when a disaster hits. Let's get this done.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-legislation-to-protect-and-expand-social-security-meets-with-social-security-commissioner", "Schatz Introduces Legislation To Protect And Expand Social Security, Meets With Social Security Commissioner", "2024-09-11", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) reintroduced the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security (SAFE Social Security) Act, legislation to expand Social Security for seniors and families in Hawai\u2018i and across the country. The bill will increase benefits on average by more than $125 per month, ensure the cost of living adjustments adequately reflect the living expenses of retirees, extend the life of the trust fund, remove the wage cap to make sure all Americans contribute equally, and provide additional benefits to older seniors, caregivers, and low-income Americans. Following the bill introduction today, Schatz met with Social Security Commissioner Martin O\u2019Malley to discuss the urgent need to protect the program and continue helping seniors retire with the dignity and benefits they have earned.\n\n\u201cSocial Security is the most successful safety net program in American history,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cMy bill will expand Social Security, put more money in the hands of seniors who rely on it, strengthen the program for the next generation of retirees, and make sure everyone pays into the system equally.\u201d\n\nIn Hawai\u2018i, more than 280,000 people, or over 1 in 6 residents, rely on Social Security benefits. In 2040, the number of Hawai\u2018i seniors is expected to grow and make up more than 20 percent of the population, making the need to expand the program even more critical.\n\nSpecifically, the SAFE Social Security Act will:\n\nPhase out the payroll tax cap so that payroll taxes apply fairly to every dollar of wages earned;\n\nAdjust current benefits calculations to increase average monthly benefits by over $125;\n\nProvide an additional 5 percent increase in benefits for older seniors to ensure they can make ends meet as their retirement savings are exhausted;\n\nGuarantee a new minimum benefit so that lower income seniors receive enough to survive;\n\nProvide a credit for caregivers that would be added to an individual\u2019s earnings to calculate their future Social Security benefits;\n\nEnsure that any increase in benefits under this legislation would not harm an individual\u2019s eligibility or cause a reduction in their SSI, Medicaid, or CHIP benefits;\n\nEliminate the waiting period for disability insurance and surviving spousal benefits;\n\nInclude an increase of 5.7 percent in the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) to extend the solvency of the Trust Fund to 2050; and\n\nUpdate the annual cost of living adjustment to better reflect the real costs that seniors face through the use of the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly.\n\n\u201cEnactment of the SAFE Social Security Act would give all Americans confidence that Social Security will be there for them when they need it. It would extend the solvency of the Trust Funds for decades to come by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. It also provides much needed improvements to Social Security benefits, which have not been boosted in half a century. These include, among other provisions, a minimum benefit that truly keeps those who worked hard all of their lives out of poverty, a more accurate measure of inflation to be used in calculating Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) known as the CPI-E, and Social Security credits for caregivers who take time out of the workforce to care for children or elderly family members. This bill would strengthen and enhance Social Security for current beneficiaries and future generations,\u201d said Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.\n\n\u201cSocial Security Works enthusiastically endorses Senator Schatz\u2019s Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2024. This essential legislation substantially increases benefits for all current and future beneficiaries, both across the board by an average of $1500 a year and in important targeted ways. It also ensures that all benefits can be paid in full and on time for the foreseeable future,\u201d said Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works. \u201cThrough this visionary legislation, Senator Schatz demonstrates his deep understanding of how important Social Security is for all of us, as well as the need to expand these vital benefits. All of us should thank him for his tireless efforts to increase our economic security.\u201d\n\nThe SAFE Social Security is supported by the Strengthening Social Security Coalition, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Social Security Works, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the American Federation of Teachers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-applauds-va-announcement-on-medical-care-for-cofa-veterans", "Hirono Applauds VA Announcement on Medical Care for COFA Veterans", "2024-09-10", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs\u2019 (VA) announcement that it intends to offer medical care to American veterans living in the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, consistent with the updated Compacts of Free Association (COFA) signed into law earlier this year.\n\n\u201cCOFA citizens who served in our Armed Forces should have access to the same health care and benefits as all other American veterans, regardless of where they live. That\u2019s why my colleagues and I fought to include provisions in the renegotiated Compacts passed earlier this year, which are vital to our national security, to give VA the legal authority needed to provide care in the FAS. Today\u2019s announcement that VA intends to provide comprehensive care to COFA veterans, including medical care, pharmacy services, and travel, is an important step for COFA veterans and our relationship with the Freely Associated States. I appreciate VA Secretary McDonough and his team for working diligently to make this happen, and I\u2019ll continue working with him and our COFA partners to ensure full, timely implementation following negotiations with the Freely Associated States.\u201d\n\nThe Compacts of Free Association allow citizens of the FAS to live and work in the United States. While COFA citizens can and have served in the U.S. Armed Services for many decades, veterans residing in the FAS have long been unable to access health services except through the Foreign Medical Program, which requires out-of-pocket payment making it difficult for veterans in these nations to utilize. During the most recent COFA renegotiations, Senator Hirono worked with her Congressional colleagues and our FAS partners to secure the restoration of VA benefits for COFA citizens residing in the FAS.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-fcc-implementing-safe-connections-act-provision-enabling-domestic-violence-survivors-to-access-discounted-phone-service-through-federal-lifeline-program", "Schatz Statement On FCC Implementing Safe Connections Act Provision Enabling Domestic Violence Survivors To Access Discounted Phone Service Through Federal Lifeline Program", "2024-09-10", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it has implemented a key provision of the Schatz-authored Safe Connections Act which enables domestic violence survivors who\u2019ve separated from their abuser\u2019s phone plan to qualify for discounted phone service through the FCC\u2019s Lifeline program.\n\n\u201cSurvivors of domestic violence should be able to sever ties with their abusers \u2013 including their phone plans \u2013 while still having the ability to stay connected with their families and support network,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cI\u2019m pleased the FCC is implementing a key component of our Safe Connections Act and enabling survivors to get the help and support they need.\u201d\n\nThe Safe Connections Act, which was signed into law in 2022, allows survivors to separate a mobile phone line from any shared plan involving an abuser without penalties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-18-million-in-federal-funding-heading-to-hawaii-to-help-make-buildings-more-energy-efficient-lower-energy-bills-combat-climate-change", "Schatz: More Than $18 Million In Federal Funding Heading To Hawai\u2018i To Help Make Buildings More Energy Efficient, Lower Energy Bills, Combat Climate Change", "2024-09-09", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) announced Hawai\u2018i will receive $18.1 million in federal funding to adopt a building performance standard for energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings \u2013 which currently account for approximately one-third of the state\u2019s total electricity use \u2013 will both lower energy costs and help Hawai\u2018i move closer to achieving its climate goals. A significant portion of the funding, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, will be used to strengthen Hawai\u2018i\u2019s workforce in skilled trades through training, education, and apprenticeship programs.\n\n\u201cMaking our buildings more energy efficient will lower energy bills while also helping us fight the climate crisis,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThis new funding will help strengthen our workforce and enable people across Hawai\u2018i to reap the benefits of our transition to a cleaner future.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-schatz-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-promote-native-arts-and-culture-unlock-federal-funds-for-native-hawaiian-organizations", "Hirono, Schatz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Native Arts & Culture, Unlock Federal Funds for Native Hawaiian Organizations", "2024-08-30", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to promote Native arts and culture and unlock federal funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs). The Native Arts & Culture Promotion Act provides a technical fix to the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts grant program to ensure NHOs can access funding from the program.\n\n\u201cArt has the power to connect us, providing a sense of community and cultural identity,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we continue working to promote Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and arts, this legislation will help to ensure that Native Hawaiian Organizations receive the grant awards they deserve to support diverse creative projects and make art more accessible in our communities.\u201d\n\nEstablished in 1994, the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts program awards grants for scholarly study and instruction in Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native contemporary culture and arts. However, outdated and restrictive language in the statute has limited the ability of NHOs to qualify for grant awards. The bill clarifies that NHOs with a governing board that includes Native Hawaiians or individuals widely recognized in the field of Native Hawaiian arts and culture are eligible for funding.\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hirono-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-promote-native-arts-and-culture-unlock-federal-funds-for-native-hawaiian-organizations", "Schatz, Hirono Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Promote Native Arts & Culture, Unlock Federal Funds For Native Hawaiian Organizations", "2024-08-30", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation to promote Native arts and culture and unlock federal funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs). The Native Arts & Culture Promotion Act provides a technical fix to the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts grant program to ensure NHOs can access funding from the program.\n\n\u201cOur bill provides a common-sense fix so that Native Hawaiian Organizations can access federal funding to support their vital cultural and educational programming,\u201d said Senator Schatz, Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.\n\nEstablished in 1994, the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts program awards grants for scholarly study and instruction in Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native contemporary culture and arts. However, outdated and restrictive language in the statute has limited the ability of NHOs to qualify for grant awards. The bill clarifies that NHOs with a governing board that includes Native Hawaiians or individuals widely recognized in the field of Native Hawaiian arts and culture are eligible for funding.\n\n\u201cArt has the power to connect us, providing a sense of community and cultural identity,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we continue working to promote Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native culture and arts, this legislation will help to ensure that Native Hawaiian Organizations receive the grant awards they deserve to support diverse creative projects and make art more accessible in our communities.\u201d\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-4-million-in-federal-funding-heading-to-hawaii-to-recover-native-plants", "Schatz: $4 Million In Federal Funding Heading To Hawai\u2018i To Recover Native Plants", "2024-08-16", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced Hawai\u2018i will receive $4 million in federal funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help recover native plants. The funding, which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, will be used to identify translocation sites for 425 Hawaiian plants and improve their resiliency to climate change.\n\n\u201cRecovering our native plants and preserving our ecosystems are essential to improving Hawai\u2018i\u2019s resilience to the climate crisis,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThrough investments like these, we\u2019re protecting the natural resources unique to Hawai\u2018i and making our environment more resilient for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/on-one-year-anniversary-of-tragic-fires-schatz-pays-tribute-to-victims-honors-survivors-on-maui", "On One-Year Anniversary Of Tragic Fires, Schatz Pays Tribute To Victims, Honors Survivors On Maui", "2024-08-08", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "LAHAINA \u2013 On the one-year anniversary of the devastating fires on Maui, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) joined state and local leaders and community members to pay tribute to the victims and honor survivors. Earlier today, Schatz addressed community members in Upcountry and joined state and local leaders and the Lahaina community for a memorial paddle out at Hanaka\u2018o\u2018o Beach followed by a tribute and remembrance event at the Lahaina Civic Center.\n\n\u201cNothing could\u2019ve prepared people for the horrors they experienced that day 12 months ago. They lost family and friends, homes and schools, entire neighborhoods and communities. All of it was gone in an instant. And yet even amid all that panic and chaos, so many people\u2019s first instinct was to put others before themselves,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThe kindness and generosity have continued in the months since, even as survivors continue to grieve losses and confront uncertainties of their own.\u201d\n\nSchatz continued, \u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way. Debris removal is running ahead of schedule. Water and wastewater services have been restored. The first few homes are beginning to be rebuilt. And kids are in school learning again at the temporary campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School that opened earlier this year after being built in just 95 days. But we still have a long way to go. And our promise is that we will be there with this community for as long as it takes, at every step of the way.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-tokuda-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-strengthen-social-security-program", "Hirono, Tokuda Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Social Security Program", "2024-08-02", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) introduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, legislation that would strengthen Social Security\u2019s financial state and ensure that seniors continue to benefit from the programs they have paid into throughout their lives.\n\n\u201cSocial Security provides crucial support to millions of kupuna, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities in Hawaii and across the country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBy lifting the cap on Social Security contributions, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act will help ensure Social Security remains solvent for decades to come. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to strengthen the program and help ensure the millions of Americans who rely on it will continue to receive the benefits they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans across the country depend on Social Security. It is a commitment we make to the working men and women who keep America moving forward and they are relying on us to keep Social Security solvent so they can retire with dignity. In Hawaii, where the cost of living is so high, we must ensure these hard-earned benefits keep pace with rising costs of food, housing, and everyday necessities,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cOur bill will provide a necessary increase to Social Security payments while reducing the national debt by trillions of dollars and strengthening the Trust Funds to support our kupuna and retirees for decades to come.\u201d\n\nThis bill will make significant progress toward extending the Social Security lifeline. According to the Social Security Administration\u2019s Office of the Chief Actuary, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act is expected to extend the ability of the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program to pay scheduled benefits in full and on time for an additional 19 years, moving the date of projected depletion from 2035 to 2054. The bill would also reduce the federal deficit by approximately $13.3 trillion by the end of the 75-year projection period.\n\nThe Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to improve the Social Security system\u2019s fairness, solvency, and benefits. Specifically, the bill:\n\nEnsures the appropriate weight is given to the real costs in seniors\u2019 budgets by using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate the relevant cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), rather than the more generic Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W); and\n\nRequires the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share by phasing out the cap on Social Security contributions over the next seven years and encouraging contributions above the cap in exchange for additional benefits.\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tina Smith (D-MN) in the Senate.\n\nIn addition to Representative Tokuda, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) in the House.\n\nThe Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act is endorsed by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM); Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA); and Social Security Works (SSW).\n\n\u201cThe National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare commends Senator Hirono for introducing this important legislation that will extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund and boost benefits for America\u2019s seniors,\u201d said Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. \u201cBy adopting the CPI-E as the measure for calculating COLAs, the legislation assures that the purchasing power of Social Security benefits are more fully protected from the ravages of inflation. This legislation represents a bold step on behalf of seniors and all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith prices rising, it's more important than ever for Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustments to reflect the real expenses seniors and people with disabilities face every day. The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act would do just that, by updating the formula used to calculate the adjustments,\u201d said Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works. \u201cThis wise legislation makes this important improvement while also increasing the financial health of the Social Security system by requiring that the highest-paid workers contribute to Social Security all year long, just like the rest of us.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-leads-colleagues-in-introducing-constitutional-amendment-to-clarify-no-one-is-above-the-law", "Hirono Leads Colleagues in Introducing Constitutional Amendment to Clarify No One is Above the Law", "2024-08-01", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 28 of her Senate colleagues in introducing a constitutional amendment making clear that no one in the United States is above the law, including the President. In addition to Senator Hirono, the amendment is cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).\n\n\u201cThe rule of law is what separates democracy from other forms of government,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe unprecedented decision made by the Supreme Court\u2019s misguided majority massively weakened the rule of law as it applies to presidents. This constitutional amendment makes it abundantly clear that even if you are the President, Vice President, or any other government official, no one is above the law.\u201d\n\nIn response to the Supreme Court\u2019s unprecedented decision last month that Presidents are immune from prosecution for \u201cofficial\u201d actions, Senator Hirono\u2019s amendment would clarify that Presidents and other federal officeholders are, in fact, accountable to the law for their actions. Specifically, the amendment states that every person holding a position of authority under the United States, including the President and the Vice President, is criminally liable for actions both official and unofficial under any generally-applicable criminal laws they violate.\n\n\u201cAmericans are tired of the Supreme Court acting without accountability,\u201d said Leader Schumer. \u201cNo free nation can condone a king who refuses to acknowledge the limit of his power and vulnerability. But yet \u2013 that is what the MAGA Court has allowed Donald Trump to do. The time is now to act. Congress has a duty \u2013 and a Constitutional authority \u2013 to rein in this disastrous decision and reaffirm that all Presidents do not have immunity in federal crimes.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to stand with President Biden, Senator Hirono, and my fellow Senate colleagues in holding elected officials who break the law accountable,\u201d said Senator Butler. \u201cIt is important for us to send a clear message to the American people that our nation is a democracy, not a monarchy and that no person, regardless of their position of power, is above the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe far-right radicals on the Supreme Court invented out of thin air an untested and unprecedented new doctrine placing the President above the law, the Founding Fathers\u2019 greatest fear,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts. \u201cPresident Biden was right to call for a constitutional amendment to fix the right-wing justices\u2019 disastrous decision on presidential immunity, and I\u2019m very pleased to support this effort by Senator Hirono.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to stand with my Senate colleagues to propose a constitutional amendment to reaffirm one of our nation\u2019s most fundamental principles: no person, not even the President, is above the law,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision to effectively grant a \u2018law free zone\u2019 around the President is a threat to our democracy and a gross perversion of the constitution just to give cover to a corrupt president. It is imperative that Congress acts now to ensure all people holding office are held accountable for any crimes they may commit.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one is above the law \u2014 especially not the president of the United States,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cThe president, vice president, and other government officials must be held accountable if they abuse their official powers and responsibilities. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this constitutional amendment to fix the Supreme Court\u2019s dangerous decision on presidential immunity and clarify that no one is above the law.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresidents are not kings. It was a principle first established at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia \u2013 not far from the communities I represent today. When Benjamin Franklin was famously asked if our Constitution established a monarchy or a republic, he uttered that America would be \u2018a republic, if you can keep it.\u2019 These wise words are particularly relevant today in light of the Supreme Court\u2019s recent unprecedented decision to grant U.S. presidents broad criminal immunity,\u201d said Senator Carper. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that Congress must act to protect our republic, and I\u2019m proud to support this proposal to amend our Constitution and affirm that all Americans \u2013 even the President of the United States \u2013 are held accountable when they break the law. We must reaffirm that absolutely no one is above the law in our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court of the United States had an opportunity to uphold one of our country\u2019s most basic tenets, that we are a nation of laws. Instead, it provided broad immunity to Presidential actions that may apply even if these acts are criminal or treasonous,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cNo one should be above the law, which is why I\u2019m proud to back this constitutional amendment ensuring that this foundational principle applies to everyone \u2014regardless of whether she or he is the President.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump v. United States put lawbreaking presidents like Donald Trump above the law\u2014granting them a legal immunity enjoyed by no other citizen. This constitutional amendment removes the broad shield and legal armor that would allow a president to flagrantly abuse their office\u2014upholding the checks and balances that are central to our fair and democratic government,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal.\n\nThe full text of the amendment is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-ahead-of-1-year-anniversary-of-maui-fires-hirono-pays-tribute-to-lahaina-and-calls-for-additional-federal-disaster-funding-for-maui-on-senate-floor", "VIDEO: Ahead of 1-Year Anniversary of Maui Fires, Hirono Pays Tribute to Lahaina and Calls for Additional Federal Disaster Funding for Maui on Senate Floor", "2024-08-01", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered remarks on the Senate floor marking one year since the devastating Maui wildfires. During her speech, Senator Hirono paid tribute to the individuals lost in the fires, honored the resilience of those impacted by the fires, and also emphasized the need for Congress to pass a supplemental funding bill to provide the resources that Maui, and other communities across the country impacted by disasters, will need.\n\n\u201cAugust 8th is a day the people of Maui, and Hawaii, will never forget,\u201d said Senator Hirono in her remarks. \u201cThe loss of the town loved by so many was devastating, but even more tragic is the human toll. The fires claimed 102 lives\u2014kupuna who had lived in Lahaina for decades, keiki born and raised in Lahaina, and many more beloved members of this community.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono highlighted the challenges\u2014such as finding long-term, sustainable housing\u2014that families impacted by the fires continue to face, as many members of the community lost their homes, their jobs, and nearly all of their possessions.\n\n\u201cIn the year since, they\u2019ve had to navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives\u2014finding housing, getting their keiki back to school, and trying to regain a sense of normalcy amidst confusion and trauma,\u201d continued Senator Hirono. \u201cThe uncertainty and instability have left many feeling like they are fighting just to survive.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono also expressed appreciation for the way the community, and the country, came together to support those impacted by the fires. She noted that while the federal government has delivered more than a billion dollars for Maui\u2019s recovery, including nearly $450 million in direct payments to survivors, there is still more work to be done to aid in Lahaina\u2019s eventual rebuilding.\n\n\u201cThis support has been critical in providing some sense of stability to our communities, but the reality is, Lahaina\u2019s recovery will take time, resources, and continuity of effort,\u201d continued Senator Hirono. \u201cAs is often the case with disasters of this magnitude, much more federal support will be needed in the months and years ahead to ensure Maui\u2019s long-term recovery.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo the people of Maui, we are Maui strong,\u201d concluded Senator Hirono. \u201cGuided by the voices and values of the people of Lahaina, we will rebuild by coming together in solidarity.\u201d\n\nA transcript of Senator Hirono\u2019s full remarks is below and video is available for download here.\n\nMr. President, next week marks one year since fires tore through Lahaina and Upcountry on the island of Maui. As we mark one year, we can never forget the tragedy that unfolded on that day. August 8th is a day the people of Maui, and Hawaii, will never forget. In a matter of hours, an entire town\u2014once the seat of the Kingdom of Hawaii\u2014burned to the ground.\n\nThe loss of the town loved by so many was devastating, but even more tragic is the human toll. The fires claimed 102 lives\u2014kupuna who had lived in Lahaina for decades, keiki born and raised in Lahaina, and many more beloved members of this community. Today, and every day, we mourn their loss as we keep their ohanas, and all who loved them, in our thoughts.\n\nThe past year has been harrowing for those families, and for all those impacted by this tragedy, many of whom lost their homes and nearly all their possessions in an instant. And in some cases, saw their places of work burn to the ground\u2014losing their jobs on top of everything else. In the year since, they\u2019ve had to navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives\u2014finding housing, getting their keiki back to school, and trying to regain a sense of normalcy amidst confusion and trauma.\n\nMr. President, the continuing trauma these survivors face is real. They\u2019ve experienced financial, mental, and physical hardship. Many have had to move multiple times and now face under- or unemployment. The uncertainty and instability have left many feeling like they are fighting just to survive. But in these dark times, what has also come to the fore is the unity of this community\u2014unity that has provided a glimmer of light illuminating the path forward. Neighbors coming together to source essential resources in the early days after the fire; strangers who opened their doors to survivors in need of a place to live; and relief workers who have come from across the country to lend their expertise to Maui\u2019s recovery.\n\nThe federal family of agencies, who have been on Maui since just hours after the fires occurred have been, and continue to be, a key part of Maui\u2019s recovery. From FEMA\u2019s work helping with cleanup and housing, to the Army Corp\u2019s rebuilding of King Kamehameha III Elementary School in a matter of weeks, and so much more by so many, the federal government and the Biden-Harris Administration have been there for the people of Maui. And of course, we can never forget the President\u2014President Biden coming to Maui and saying that this recovery was not going to be top down, that we would listen to the people of Lahaina and Maui.\n\nOver the past year, the federal government has delivered more than a billion dollars for Maui\u2019s recovery, including nearly $450 million in direct payments to survivors. This support has been critical in providing some sense of stability to our communities, but the reality is, Lahaina\u2019s recovery will take time, resources, and continuity of effort. As is often the case with disasters of this magnitude, much more federal support will be needed in the months and years ahead to ensure Maui\u2019s long-term recovery.\n\nFor example, there is work to be done to get people into long-term, sustainable housing, suitable housing, especially given the affordable housing crisis that existed on Maui even before this tragedy. We need CDBG-DR funding to help rebuild Lahaina\u2019s critical infrastructure for things like water and electricity, to lay the groundwork for Lahaina\u2019s eventual rebuilding. And we need to resupply the disaster relief fund, to make sure other communities facing disasters can get the rapid support they need\u2014support that has been essential to Maui\u2019s recovery.\n\nThis means that before this year comes to an end, we must commit to a supplemental funding bill that will provide the resources Maui needs, and that other communities throughout our country impacted by disasters will need. So, I come to the floor to remind my Senate colleagues of the importance of getting this funding done.\n\nTo the people of Maui, we are Maui strong. Guided by the voices and values of the people of Lahaina, we will rebuild by coming together in solidarity.\n\nMahalo nui loa, Mr. President.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-release-of-americans-and-others-wrongfully-detained-in-russia", "Schatz Statement On Release Of Americans And Others Wrongfully Detained In Russia", "2024-08-01", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after three Americans \u2013 including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva \u2013 as well as columnist Vladimir Kara-Murza, were freed from Russian captivity as part of a broader multi-country prisoner swap.\n\n\u201cEvan Gershkovich has been wrongfully imprisoned for over a year simply for doing his job as a journalist. Today, thanks to months of diligent diplomacy from President Biden, U.S. government officials, and global allies, Evan will finally be reunited with his family and able to continue doing the job he loves.\n\n\u201cA free press is not just an ideal we espouse in America \u2013 it\u2019s a value we protect and defend, at home and abroad. The release of Evan, along with Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, is a significant victory for press freedom. It\u2019s also a reminder that the work to preserve independent journalism and resist the targeting of journalists around the world continues.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m also pleased that Paul Whelan and others who have been detained by Russia for years on baseless charges are free at last and coming home to their loved ones.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-hirono-duckworth-daines-bill-to-better-protect-parents-traveling-with-breast-milk-passes-committee", "Bipartisan Hirono-Duckworth-Daines Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Committee", "2024-07-31", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Steve Daines (R-MT) successfully passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST). The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products, including ice packs, in consultation with leading maternal health groups.\n\n\u201cFamilies have enough to worry about when traveling, they shouldn\u2019t have to fear being harassed, humiliated, and even put in danger simply for traveling with milk and supplies they need to keep their babies fed,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see the Commerce Committee advance our Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act, to require TSA to clarify its guidance on handling breast milk and baby formula and help ensure parents and families can travel safely and with peace of mind.\u201d\n\nThe Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act would help keep breastfeeding parents and their kids safe and healthy while traveling by air. Mishandled breast milk can become contaminated, which puts children at risk. Moreover, parents who lactate typically need to breastfeed or pump once every few hours. Failure to do so can result in a clogged milk duct, or a painful infection called mastitis. The legislation would better protect families by requiring TSA to:\n\nIssue guidance promoting the hygienic handling of any breast milk, baby formula or other infant nutrition products, as well as accessories required to preserve these products;\n\nConsult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations in establishing and communicating this guidance; and\n\nUpdate guidance every five years to respond to emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.\n\nThis legislation would also direct an independent government watchdog to conduct an audit of compliance with TSA screening policies for passengers traveling with breast milk and other infant nutrition products, providing lawmakers with information related to violations of policies.\n\nThis legislation was first introduced a few months after Emily Calandrelli, host of popular Netflix show Emily\u2019s Wonder Lab, was delayed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) while carrying supplies she needed to safely pump milk for her 10-week-old son. Calandrelli was ultimately forced to check her items despite existing TSA guidelines that permitted her to carry them on. Calandrelli shared her story online and was flooded with hundreds of messages from other mothers who had similar experiences while traveling.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-colleagues-introduce-chance-to-come-home-resolution", "Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Chance to Come Home Resolution", "2024-07-31", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined four of her colleagues in introducing a bicameral resolution aimed at encouraging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a pathway for individuals who have been unjustly deported from the United States to return and reunite with their families. The Chance to Come Home Resolution, led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), calls on DHS to use its legal authority to establish a centralized and independent process for reviewing emergency requests from individuals who were wrongfully removed from the country.\n\n\u201cBy streamlining the petitions process for those who were wrongfully deported, the reforms urged by the Chance to Come Home Resolution would help rectify the injustice of wrongful deportation and more quickly reunite impacted families,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs the only immigrant currently serving in the U.S. Senate, I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution to urge DHS to mitigate the harm caused by our broken immigration system.\u201d\n\nOver the past decade, more than 2 million people have been deported, many of whom have resided in the United States for years, raising families, building businesses, contributing to their communities, and growing local economies. Unfortunately, most people unjustly removed lack legal representation and have no path to meaningfully present their case to reunite with their loved ones in the United States. Wrongful deportation disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities, sending individuals to dangerous conditions without any familial connection and tearing their American families and communities apart.\n\nThe resolution proposes the creation of a centralized, independent review unit within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to streamline the process for individuals seeking to return to the U.S. following wrongful deportations. This unit would provide consistency in adjudication and reduce the burden on government attorneys and immigration courts.\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Booker, the resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).\n\nThe Chance to Come Home Resolution was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), David Trone (D-MD), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY).\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-durbin-colleagues-release-gao-report-on-sexual-harassment-in-the-judiciary-system", "Hirono, Durbin, Colleagues Release GAO Report on Sexual Harassment in the Judiciary System", "2024-07-31", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report addressing the Judiciary\u2019s policies and practices to prevent and respond to workplace misconduct.\n\nThe Administrative Office (AO) of the U.S. Courts failed to fully cooperate with the GAO audit, a process that relies heavily on transparency. Over the two-year study, the Judiciary only permitted the GAO to interview one current Judiciary employee and one former employee to gain an \u201cemployee perspective,\u201d severely limiting the GAO\u2019s ability to assess the practical implementation of the Judiciary\u2019s policies. The tactics used to delay and restrict the GAO auditors\u2019 access to information and court personnel are deeply concerning.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves to be safe and respected in the workplace,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBut this report makes clear that years after its workplace misconduct problems came to light, the federal judiciary will not prevent workplace misconduct, leaving employees vulnerable to abuse without any recourse. The AO\u2019s refusal to fully cooperate with this report underscores its unwillingness to even understand this issue, let alone address it. If the federal judiciary won\u2019t take even basic action to protect its employees, Congress will. I look forward to introducing strengthened legislation with my colleagues in the weeks ahead to protect judiciary employees and stamp out the workplace misconduct that persists in our courts.\u201d\n\nThe GAO report concluded that the Judiciary \u201cdoes not have performance measures in place for its workplace conduct efforts and has not evaluated the effectiveness of its efforts.\u201d Overall, GAO found that the Judiciary\u2019s systems aligned with only 65% of federal standards evaluated. GAO noted that the lack of data collection \u201cmay limit\u201d the Judiciary's ability to understand and fully address workplace misconduct within its organization.\n\nAccording to Judiciary officials, a survey was conducted from January 12 through February 17, 2023, and they received responses from approximately 14,000 out of the 28,000 employees surveyed. GAO requested access to the survey data but was denied. Similarly, Congress requested access to the data and was denied. As of now, the circuit courts themselves have not had access to the data.\n\nThe full report is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-measures-to-improve-fire-weather-forecasts-and-warnings-promote-use-of-ai-to-predict-extreme-weather-passes-key-senate-committee", "Schatz Measures To Improve Fire Weather Forecasts And Warnings, Promote Use Of AI To Predict Extreme Weather Passes Key Senate Committee", "2024-07-31", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today approved seven measures authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i). The provisions, included as amendments to several bills, would improve fire weather forecasts and warnings in remote or rural areas in Hawai\u2018i and across the country and promote the use of artificial intelligence to better predict and respond to extreme weather, among other things.\n\n\u201cBy improving fire weather forecasts and warnings, we can save lives and communities,\u201d said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. \u201cThe committee\u2019s vote today gets us one step closer to enacting life-saving measures that will improve weather forecasts and fire warnings in Hawai\u2018i and across the country. It also will help us realize AI\u2019s full potential in a safe and responsible way.\u201d\n\nThe seven Schatz provisions approved by the committee today will:\n\nImprove fire weather forecasts and warnings in remote or rural areas\n\nThe Lahaina wildfire highlighted the dangers that remote communities face from fire, and the need for forecasts and warning services to reach them in a timely and actionable way. Schatz\u2019s provision would mandate fire weather forecasts and warnings be disseminated to remote, isolated, or rural communities as effectively as anywhere else in the country.\n\nStrengthen weather forecasts with better data\n\nThe Schatz measure would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish and maintain a National Mesonet Program. Mesonets are weather observation data networks that observe and track mesoscale weather events, and that are crucial for collecting local meteorological data, such as soil moisture and water levels, to better forecast weather, flood, fire and agricultural impacts. Establishing the National Mesonet Program and outlining its objectives will help address critical gaps in weather data and forecasting.\n\nPromote AI technology to improve extreme weather forecasts\n\nSchatz\u2019s TAME Extreme Weather Act amendment requires NOAA to adopt and implement AI technologies to better predict and respond to extreme weather. The measure also urges NOAA to consider how to recruit and retain the AI workforce of the future, creating new scientific and technical jobs.\n\nHelp stop illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing\n\nSchatz\u2019s amendment authorizes the U.S. Department of Defense, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, to provide maritime technical assistance for combatting illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing to other nations. Some experts estimate that as much as one out of every five fish in the market is caught illegally with negative impacts to the future health of the oceans for a quick profit today, and this technical assistance will help solve this global problem.\n\nEncourage AI safety and innovation\n\nSchatz\u2019s amendment would award cash prizes to help encourage AI innovations.\n\nSupport open government datasets to improve AI training\n\nThe provision would build on Schatz\u2019s Open, Public, Electronic and Necessary (OPEN) Government Data Act, which required that federal agencies by default publish their data in a machine-readable format. This amendment would ensure that the new, curated public datasets for AI systems that are included in the Future of AI Innovation Act build upon the foundation created by the OPEN Government Data Act. AI is only as useful as the data it\u2019s trained on, and making government data safely available for AI means that AI can help solve important problems.\n\nHelp boost research on AI benefits\n\nBy improving scientific discovery and automating some tasks, AI has the power to solve problems and help people. The amendment will spur studies to help update or remove unnecessary regulations and allow positive deployments of AI technology to occur.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-president-bidens-supreme-court-reform-proposal", "Hirono Statement on President Biden\u2019s Supreme Court Reform Proposal", "2024-07-29", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and leading champion for Supreme Court reform, released the following statement on President Biden\u2019s Supreme Court reform proposal:\n\n\u201cUnbound by norms, the Supreme Court has shown itself all too willing to throw out longstanding precedent, putting its ideological agenda above our constitution. The result is a Court deeply out of step with the American people and our values. Despite growing public distrust in the Court and its independence, Justices have refused to take even the most basic steps to affirm their impartiality.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019ve worked with my colleagues in the Senate to advance Supreme Court reform, including the creation of a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court Justices, and why I\u2019m glad to see President Biden join in this effort. I\u2019m also glad to see him endorse a constitutional amendment like the one I released earlier this month to clarify that no one\u2014including the President\u2014is above the law.\n\n\u201cThe rule of law is what separates democracy from other forms of government. The proposals endorsed by the President today will strengthen the rule of law, and Americans\u2019 faith in our democracy. I look forward to working with the President and my colleagues in Congress to pass this vitally-important package into law.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono has been a leading champion for Supreme Court reform and strengthening the rule of law. Earlier this month, she released a discussion draft of a constitutional amendment making clear that no one in the United States is above the law, including the President. Last October, Senator Hirono introduced the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act, legislation to establish 18-year term limits and regularized appointments for Supreme Court justices. She also cosponsored the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act and was proud to vote for its advancement out of the Judiciary Committee. This legislation would require the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of ethics.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/chair-schatz-20-million-heading-to-hawaii-to-support-native-hawaiian-climate-resilience-efforts", "Chair Schatz: $20 Million Heading To Hawai\u2018i To Support Native Hawaiian Climate Resilience Efforts", "2024-07-29", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today announced that Department of the Interior (DOI) has awarded $20 million to bolster climate resilience in Hawai\u2018i. The new money from DOI\u2019s Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program was funded through a Schatz-authored provision in the Inflation Reduction Act. Funding will be awarded to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) to restore native ecosystems and plants and enhance food security while incorporating Indigenous knowledge and practices.\n\n\u201cThrough the Kapapahuliau Climate Resilience Program, the federal government is directly funding Native Hawaiian-led climate solutions for the first time ever,\u201d said Chairman Schatz. \u201cThis $20 million down payment \u2013 part of the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s historic investment in climate action \u2013 recognizes the critical role of the Native Hawaiian community in charting a path towards a sustainable, climate resilient future in Hawai\u2018i and beyond.\u201d\n\nFunding will be used to support efforts to help raise climate change awareness in the Native Hawaiian community, restore native forests and ahupua\u2018a-based communities, protect ancestral burials, and promote Native knowledge and practices, including loko i\u2018a and outrigger canoe paddling, among other things.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/what-people-are-saying-health-equity-and-accountability-act", "What People Are Saying: Health Equity and Accountability Act", "2024-07-26", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA), legislation that would address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. Advocates and experts support provisions in this legislation that uniquely target a wide spectrum of health equity concerns. Here's what they have said:\n\nNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Center for Health Equity: \u201cThe NAACP is proud to join our partners in supporting the introduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (HEAA),\u201d said Chris T. Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM, Director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity. \u201cWe know firsthand the disparate impacts that health inequities have on Black and other marginalized communities This legislation takes significant steps to right those wrongs, devising a health equity roadmap to advance health and racial justice at every intersection of the human experience. The NAACP applauds the Congressional Tri-Caucus and Senator Hirono, Congresswoman Lee, and Congresswoman Chu for leading this effort and paving the way for equity. We will not stop fighting for a healthy future, for everybody.\u201d\n\nUnidosUS: \u201cUnidosUS is proud to continue its support for HEAA,\u201d said Carmen M. Feliciano, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at UnidosUS. \u201cThis groundbreaking legislation would level the healthcare playing field, including for Latino families who continue facing barriers to affordable healthcare coverage and to high-quality care that is linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate.\u201d\n\nNational Partnership for Women & Families: \u201cThe National Partnership for Women & Families is once again proud to endorse the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA),\u201d said Sinsi Hern\u00e1ndez-Cancio, Vice President for Health Justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families. \u201cIn addition to the inclusion of essential improvements to reproductive and maternal health, we welcome the addition of \u201cMiddle Eastern or North African\u201d as a category of racial and ethnic group to ensure that all women are centered in our efforts to improve a health care system that has often failed people of color, women, LGBTQ+ folks, people with disabilities, and immigrants. In the face of constant attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, it has become even more important to support bold and visionary legislation like the Health Equity and Accountability Act.\u201d\n\nCampaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act requires comprehensive tobacco cessation coverage for all Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries without cost sharing, which is critical as Medicaid beneficiaries smoke at more than twice the rate of those with private insurance,\u201d said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. \u201cIn addition, the bill doubles the cigarette excise tax and creates tax parity for other tobacco products. Raising the price of tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use, especially among price-sensitive kids. We applaud Senator Hirono and Representatives Lee and Chu for their leadership in tackling the enormous problem of health disparities at this critical time, including disparities caused by tobacco use. This legislation will improve health and save lives.\u201d\n\nAmerican Kidney Fund (AKF): \u201cAKF is proud to support the Health Equity and Accountability Act, and we thank Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Judy Chu, along with the entire Congressional Tri-Caucus, for reintroducing this important legislation, which would make a number of crucial investments in the kidney health of Americans and improve kidney health equity, a cornerstone of AKF\u2019s mission,\u201d said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of AKF.\n\nAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): \u201cThe American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) believes everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer,\u201d said Lisa A. Lacasse, President of ACS CAN. \u201cGuaranteeing that all people have access to quality, affordable health care is a critical factor for eliminating disparities and ensuring health equity. We look forward to working with Congress on this legislation that promotes policy solutions for reducing disparities for cancer and other diseases and conditions that significantly impact people of color.\u201d\n\nFeeding America: \u201cFood insecurity can affect anyone, but it\u2019s not the same for everyone,\u201d said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America. \u201cSome groups, like people of color, are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. While many factors contribute to food insecurity, systemic racism and discrimination have created significant barriers to food access for such communities. Some of the highest rates of food insecurity are found in rural areas as well. Feeding America supports the Health Equity and Accountability Act introduced by Sen. Hirono and Rep. Lee, and believes this bill is a critical step to address persistent inequities by helping to ensure everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nAssociation of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO): \u201cLike all underserved communities, Asian American, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders face diverse and unique disparities affecting our health and wellbeing,\u201d said Adam Carbullido, Director of Policy and Advocacy at AAPCHO. \u201cHEAA is comprehensive and forward looking legislation that will deliver an equitable health care system that addresses the challenges faced by patients and providers every day. It is imperative that Congress act to secure the health care rights of every person in the U.S., including communities of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, persons with disabilities, rural communities, territory residents, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.\u201d\n\nHEAA builds upon policies enacted under landmark health care legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Inflation Reduction Act, and lays out additional investments and policy changes to improve the health and well-being of underserved communities, address systemic health inequities, and ensure access to high-quality and affordable health care for all.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-68-million-in-new-federal-funding-heading-to-hawaii-to-improve-climate-disaster-resilience-restore-coral-reefs-native-hawaiian-fishponds", "Schatz: More Than $68 Million In New Federal Funding Heading To Hawai\u2018i To Improve Climate, Disaster Resilience, Restore Coral Reefs, Native Hawaiian Fishponds", "2024-07-26", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $68.4 million in federal funding to the University of Hawai?i Sea Grant College Program, which will work in partnership with a dozen groups spanning government, nonprofits, academia, and local stewards. The new award is through the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and will be used to help improve climate and disaster resilience across the state.\n\n\u201cThis new federal funding \u2013 part of the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s historic investment in climate action \u2013 will restore critical watersheds and forests and utilize Native Hawaiian knowledge and practices to help move us to more a sustainable, climate resilient future for Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nThe new funding will help be used to help conserve and restore watersheds and forests, build natural infrastructure to protect communities and habitat, restore Native Hawaiian fishponds, limu, and coral reefs to reinvigorate habitat, and help reduce risk and improve disaster resilience by establishing new green infrastructure projects and building capacity within at-risk communities, among other things.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/photos-and-video-hirono-lee-chu-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-a-more-equitable-health-care-system", "PHOTOS & VIDEO: Hirono, Lee, Chu Reintroduce Legislation to Create a More Equitable Health Care System", "2024-07-25", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024, legislation that would address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. HEAA has been introduced in every Congress since 2003, with support from CAPAC, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), also known as the Congressional Tri-Caucus.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care, but health disparities prevent many marginalized and underserved communities from accessing these essential resources and services,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act will help to dismantle these barriers by implementing comprehensive provisions to address inequities, including strengthening data collection, increasing access to health services and resources, and diversifying the health care workforce. I am proud to lead this effort and will continue working to ensure that communities across Hawaii and throughout the country have access to the affordable and equitable health care they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus healthcare taskforce, and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am proud to lead the re-introduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA). HEAA is a bold, comprehensive vision for addressing racial health disparities and improving health outcomes in communities of color and the underserved. It\u2019s the only legislation that directly addresses the intersections of health inequities and race and ethnicity,\u201d said Congresswoman Lee. \u201cWe need to pass HEAA to address the underlying challenges that prevent communities of color and underserved communities from gaining coverage and accessing high-quality, affordable health care. With the help of our advocates and partners, I know Congress can act to create a truly just health care system for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigher uninsured rates, language and cultural barriers to care, social determinants, and greater exposure to pollution are just a few of the factors that threaten and hurt the health of Americans of color,\u201d said CAPAC Chair Rep. Chu. \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act would create a healthcare system that works for all Americans \u2013 no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, or language ability \u2013 by advancing culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, improving data reporting, addressing diseases that disproportionately harm certain communities, and so much more. This legislation is a necessary step to take for health equity to be a reality for all, and I am honored to once again join Congressmember Lee and Senator Hirono to lead the introduction of this bold, legislative vision on behalf of the Tri-Caucus this Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, Black Americans have faced persistent disparities in health outcomes and access to quality, affordable health care in our nation. The Tri-Caucus is committed to removing barriers and expanding access to health care in our communities,\u201d said CBC Chairman Steven Horsford. \u201cThe CBC is proud to join our Tri-Caucus partners in cosponsoring the Health Equity and Accountability Act which will take significant steps towards removing systemic barriers, improving outcomes, and making our communities healthier.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I\u2019m proud to join the Tri-Caucus Chairs and leading Congressional Members in introducing the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2024,\u201d said CHC Chair Nanette Barrag\u00e1n. \u201cHEAA is a bold, comprehensive vision to address persistent ethnic and racial health disparities to improve health outcomes for people of color, including millions of Latino families. Data shows Latinos, like many minority populations and underserved communities, face uphill challenges in accessing affordable and high-quality healthcare. This legislation is a critical step toward a fairer healthcare system that prioritizes health equity for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves affordable, high-quality healthcare \u2013 no matter the color of their skin, their zip code, sex or gender,\u201d said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Chair of the CBC Health Brain Trust. \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act will address disparities in maternal health, mental health, improve research, and support culturally competent care. Throughout the years, we have been able to pass pieces of this bill and slowly close the gaps in healthcare inequities. But it's not enough. We must continue to build on our progress and improve healthcare outcomes for every American.\u201d\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves access to affordable, culturally competent health care,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cYet persistent structural inequities too often prevent historically marginalized groups from receiving essential care, despite the disproportionate risks they face to their physical and mental health. Our bill takes critical steps to address the unique health needs of these communities, including by expanding access to equitable reproductive care, combating high-impact minority diseases, and diversifying our health care workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery individual, regardless of their race, ethnicity or socioeconomic background, has a right to high-quality and affordable health care,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThis legislation is designed to dismantle the systemic barriers that prevent many Americans from receiving the dignified, equitable care they deserve. By enhancing data collection, expanding service access, and promoting a diverse health care workforce, we can better address disparities in our health care system and improve the experiences of underserved communities.\u201d\n\nHEAA builds upon policies enacted under landmark health care legislation, such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Inflation Reduction Act, and lays out additional investments and policy changes to improve the health and well-being of underserved communities, address systemic health inequities, and ensure access to high-quality and affordable health care for all. HEAA\u2019s comprehensive policy changes are laid out across 10 titles as detailed below:\n\nData Collection and Reporting \u2013 Strengthens collection of data to better identify health disparities and inform policies and standards to prevent continued bias and inequities.\n\nCulturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health and Health Care \u2013 Improves access to and quality of culturally and linguistically appropriate care for non-English speakers.\n\nHealth Workforce Diversity \u2013 Directs funding to diversify the health care workforce and better supports workforce development for underrepresented minority health professionals.\n\nImproving Health Care Access and Quality \u2013 Addresses systemic barriers to quality care for disparity-impacted communities through expanding coverage, improving access, innovating in delivery, and creating health empowerment zones.\n\nImproving Health Outcomes for Women, Gender-Diverse People, Children, and Families \u2013 Addresses reproductive and sexual health needs, aiming to dismantle barriers to access to health coverage and services, information, and other vital resources.\n\nMental Health and Substance Use Disorders \u2013 Strengthens protective factors, expands access to services and resources for mental health and substance use disorders, and reduces the structural barriers that contribute to behavioral health inequities.\n\nAddressing High-Impact Minority Diseases \u2013 Addresses high-impact minority diseases by increasing services and resources including screenings, research, treatments, and coverage.\n\nHealth Information Technology \u2013 Expands and invests in health information technology infrastructure to reduce impact of health disparities on racial and ethnic minority communities.\n\nAccountability and Evaluation \u2013 Ensures the federal government is held accountable for efforts to reduce health disparities and requires further transparency.\n\nAddressing Social Determinants and Improving Environmental Justice \u2013 Defines social determinants of health, as well as the role they play in health inequities, and contains proposals to address these root causes for health disparities, including provisions to address environmental hazards, gun violence and hunger for seniors, children, and families.\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nIn addition to Representatives Lee and Chu, the bill is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Mark Takano (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Jesus Garcia (D-IL), Grace Meng (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Antonio Cardenas (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\nHEAA is endorsed by over 70 organizations, including Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, National Immigration Law Center, National Health Law Program, American Kidney Fund, National Minority Quality Forum, Center for Law and Social Policy, and National Network for Arab American Communities. The full list of endorsing organizations can be found here.\n\n\u201cAs our nation's demographics change, so do our health needs,\u201d said Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. \u201cUnderserved and underrepresented communities face substantial barriers to obtaining quality health care and equitable health outcomes. APIAHF is proud to lead the 118th Congress's reintroduction of HEAA, with AAPCHO, to tackle these health disparities head on. HEAA invests in culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and health services, creates a pipeline for an inclusive workforce, and deploys innovative strategies to reach communities regardless of region, immigration status, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability. Achieving health equity requires a multi-faceted approach, and HEAA provides a blueprint to do exactly that.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery person should have high quality and affordable health care regardless of where they live, language they speak, or ability to pay,\u201d said Jeffrey B. Caballero, MPH, Executive Director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO). \u201cHEAA is visionary legislation to address the vast inequities facing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and all communities who are underserved in every sector of our health care system, including vulnerable populations getting care at community health centers. AAPCHO is proud to join Senator Hirono, Congresswoman Lee, Congresswoman Chu, and the Congressional Tri Caucus in introducing HEAA in the 118th Congress. We appreciate our partnership with APIAHF and the broad coalition of patient, provider, disease, and civil rights groups who contributed to this bill. We look forward to Congress advancing HEAA\u2019s vision of a health care system that truly meets the needs of our nation\u2019s diverse communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll of us living in the U.S., no matter where we were born or how much money we have, should have quality affordable health care,\u201d said Kica Matos, President of the National Immigration Law Center. \u201cHEAA addresses unfair obstacles so that more people can access care, including ensuring immigration status and language barriers don\u2019t stand between families and the care they need. We are grateful to Senator Mazie Hirono, Representative Barbara Lee, and the Congressional Tri-Caucus, for leading this important effort to eliminate health disparities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (HEAA) represents a crucial opportunity to comprehensively fight the vast racial health inequities that mark the U.S., as well as their intersections with xenophobia, sexism, ableism, ageism, and classism,\u201d said Madeline T. Morcelle, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program (NHeLP). \u201cHEAA builds upon the Affordable Care Act's achievements through groundbreaking reforms such as closing Medicaid's immigrant and post-pregnancy coverage gaps; establishing Medicaid doula payment models among other payment and service delivery innovations that center racial health equity; and strengthening data collection and access to culturally and linguistically appropriate health care. HEAA also recognizes that we cannot achieve racial health equity without a federal right to abortion that includes Medicaid coverage. The National Health Law Program urges Congress to pass this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cKidney failure has a profound and disproportionate impact on people of color, and we are urgently in need of a national action plan to promote kidney health for all,\u201d said LaVarne A. Burton, President and CEO of the American Kidney Fund. \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) takes concrete steps to address the striking health disparities: Black people in the U.S. are four times more likely than their white counterparts to develop kidney failure, the prevalence of kidney failure among Hispanic/Latino Americans and Native Americans is more than twice the prevalence in the white, non-Hispanic population, and Asian Americans are 1.4 times more likely to develop kidney failure. The American Kidney Fund applauds the introduction of this important bill, which includes critical action steps to meaningfully reduce inequities in our health system. Through our Kidney Health for All initiative and our recently launched Rare Kidney Disease Action Network, with its initial focus on IgA nephropathy\u2014which disproportionately affects Asian Americans\u2014AKF has been fighting on all fronts on efforts to help eliminate disparities in kidney care access and outcomes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are proud to be a leading partner with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Mazie Hirono, and the Congressional TriCaucus in their steadfast leadership, bold vision, and unwavering commitment to creating a nation in which health equity is a reality,\u201d said Gary A. Puckrein, PhD, President and CEO of the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF). \u201cNMQF is particularly proud of our continuing work on Title IX - Accountability and Evaluation, which ensures the federal government is responsive to, and held accountable for, efforts to reduce health inequities and disparities by expanding civil rights protections for anyone operating with Federal financial assistance, ensuring populations in correctional facilities receive care, and requiring reporting regarding how those protections are enforced. The National Minority Quality Forum stands ready to help ensure that HEAA advances in Congress and becomes law.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs an antipoverty organization, the Center for Law and Social Policy knows that health equity is strongly tied to economic justice,\u201d said Isha Weerasinghe, Associate Director of Mental Health and Well-being at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). \u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act includes critical language around data equity, culturally and linguistically sensitive health care, restoring federal health benefits for immigrants, improving maternal health care, and ensuring mental health services are available. CLASP supports HEAA as a critical step in ensuring everyone has access to quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) is a critical initiative of the broader movement for health equity,\u201d said Adam Beddawi, Policy Manager at the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC). \u201cIn every Congress, HEAA outlines an agenda for equitable policymaking in the health sector. These goals are only as achievable as we are willing to challenge our own limitations. On behalf of the racially, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse communities represented in the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), we were honored to participate in the development of HEAA in this Congress. Title I in particular outlines how the recent revision to the federal standards for data on race and ethnicity can be leveraged to improve the quality of health disparities analysis in the federal government. By passing this and other key provisions of HEAA, Congress can take an important step toward the development of a more equitable and evidence-based system of healthcare service provision.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here. A one-pager is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/chair-schatz-appropriations-committee-passes-transportation-housing-and-urban-development-fiscal-year-2025-appropriations-bill", "Chair Schatz: Appropriations Committee Passes Transportation, Housing And Urban Development Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill", "2024-07-25", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 The Senate Appropriations Committee today passed the Fiscal Year 2025 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The legislation, led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chair of the subcommittee, will provide $98.737 billion in total discretionary funding.\n\n\u201cThis bill makes important investments to strengthen our nation\u2019s transportation infrastructure and address the housing crisis affecting so many people across the country,\u201d said Senator Schatz, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. \u201cThe funding in this bill will help make homes more affordable, reduce homelessness, improve air traffic safety, and reduce flight delays. Importantly, this bill also makes record investments in Native housing, which will help Native people in Indian Country, Hawai\u2018i, and Alaska buy and keep their homes. I\u2019m proud of the work this subcommittee has done on a bipartisan basis to produce a strong bill and urge my colleagues to pass it as soon as possible.\u201d\n\nKey Points & Highlights \u2013 Transportation\n\nDepartment of Transportation (DOT): The bill provides $110 billion in total funding for the Department of Transportation, of which $81.6 billion is from obligation limitations and $28.5 billion is from discretionary funding. This amount includes significant new resources to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is able to maintain the safest, most efficient, and most complex air traffic control system in the world; to strengthen the safety of our rail network; and to make critical capital investments and improve the state of good repair of our transit systems.\n\nRAISE Grants: The bill provides $550 million for the RAISE Grant program. When combined with the $1.5 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) advanced appropriations, the RAISE Grant program will see $2.05 billion in total funding in fiscal year 2025. As the only multimodal DOT program available to local governments, the program allows communities to make transformative investments in their transportation infrastructure that help improve mobility and safety.\n\nFAA Staffing and Modernization: The bill provides $22 billion for the FAA, an increase of $1.931 billion over fiscal year 2024. This includes:\n\n$13.603 billion for FAA operations, which will allow the FAA to continue its air traffic controller hiring surge by adding 2,000 new controllers, improving training facilities at the air traffic controller academy, and hiring 55 new aviation safety inspectors to strengthen oversight of Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems. In addition, the bill fully funds the FAA\u2019s critical telecommunications and IT systems to prevent flight delays or disruptions.\n\n$3.6 billion for FAA facilities and equipment, which will help address the backlog of facility, radar, and equipment repair and replacement, as well as accelerate critical next-generation programs.\n\n$4.52 billion for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants to improve airport infrastructure and safety, while also reducing emissions. Of this amount, $70 million is for a new PFAS Replacement Program for Airports. This also includes $4 billion in AIP from the Trust Fund, consistent with the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.\n\nHighways and Bridges: The bill provides $63.171 billion for federal-aid highways, which includes $61.314 billion in funding from the Highway Trust Fund, and an additional $1.118 billion for Highway Infrastructure Programs. The bill provides $400 million for the competitive bridge bundling grant program, $150 million for the Tribal Transportation Program, $100 million for the Appalachian Development Highway System, $25 million for the Active Transportation program, $20 million for Scenic Byways, and other critical investments.\n\nAmtrak and Rail Safety: A total of $3.46 billion is provided for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This includes $2.63 billion for Amtrak to sustain operations, maintain a state of good repair, and safely get passengers to their destinations\u2014an increase of $210 million over fiscal year 2024. A total of $100 million is allocated to the Fed-State Partnership Program, and $475 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant program.\n\nThe bill increases funding for FRA\u2019s Safety and Operations budget to $292.8 million, which will meet the President\u2019s budget request of increasing rail safety inspectors to a record 400 positions, and increases funding for Research and Development to $54.75 million. To address the NTSB\u2019s investigation of the East Palestine derailment and the subsequent safety recommendations released last month, the report directs FRA to: (1) continue research to inform industry-wide standards for wayside detection technology deployment and rail carrier response protocols; (2) update its 2007 vent and burn guidance and distribute to first responders; and (3) continue to utilize the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee working group to propose new regulations.\n\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): The bill provides $401 million for the PHMSA, which includes $235 million for pipeline safety and $87 million for hazardous materials safety, including to address NTSB recommendations related to the East Palestine incident.\n\nTransit Infrastructure: The bill provides $17 billion for the Federal Transit Administration\u2014including $2.262 billion for Capital Investment Grants, a $57 million increase over fiscal year 2024. When combined with the $1.6 billion in IIJA advanced appropriations, a total of $3.862 billion is available for Capital Investment Grants in fiscal year 2025, which is sufficient to accommodate all projects with full funding grant agreements and those expected to enter into a grant agreement this year. In an effort to improve access to financing for transit-oriented development, the bill establishes an interagency task force between DOT and HUD to leverage the expertise of each agency and accelerate housing development opportunities.\n\nMaritime Administration: The bill provides $1.14 billion for the Maritime Administration, $202 million above fiscal year 2024. This includes:\n\n$191 million for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, of which $64 million is for capital improvement projects to fully meet the President\u2019s budget request to modernize the service academy\u2019s facilities and train the next generation of mariners;\n\n$178.4 million for State Maritime Academies, of which $132.7 million is for the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program;\n\n$20 million for the Small Shipyard Grant Program to modernization our domestic commercial ship construction capacity;\n\n$200 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, which when combined with the $450 in IIJA advanced appropriations makes a total of $650 million available for fiscal year 2025; and\n\n$448 million to fund the defense vessel programs, including:\n\n$318 million for the Maritime Security Program;\n\n$10 million for the Cable Security Fleet Program; and\n\n$120 million for the Tanker Security Fleet Program.\n\nTransportation Infrastructure for Tribes: The bill includes $25 million to supplement the Rural and Tribal Infrastructure Advancement Pilot Program to deliver financial, legal, technical, and project development assistance in an effort to improve Tribal access to transportation infrastructure programs at DOT. It provides $150 million in FHWA\u2019s Tribal Transportation Program and $500,000 for transit technical assistance for Tribes. The bill also includes a cost share waiver for the Rural and Tribal Formula Program as proposed in the budget request, and a cost share waiver for Tribes in the Low and No Emission Vehicle Grant Program.\n\nKey Points & Highlights \u2013 Housing and Urban Development\n\nDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The bill provides $78.2 billion in programmatic funding for HUD, which is offset by $8.4 billion in receipts and collections for a net funding level of $69.8 billion. This funding will maintain all existing rental assistance and help build more affordable housing, reduce homelessness, connect people to both housing and health care, and rehabilitate distressed properties to preserve the existing affordable housing stock.\n\nReduces Homelessness and Improves Connections to Health Care: The bill provides $4.32 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $268 million increase above fiscal year 2024. In addition to sustaining investments for existing projects, the bill provides:\n\n$100 million for new permanent supportive housing;\n\n$107 million for new investments to address youth homelessness;\n\n$52 million for new support for survivors of domestic violence;\n\n$47 million for an inflationary adjustment for supportive service projects so that providers can hire and retain qualified personnel; and\n\n$30 million for one-time capacity-building grants and direct technical assistance to communities that are leveraging other funds, like Medicaid, to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to housing-related services and behavioral healthcare.\n\nIncreases the Supply of Affordable Housing: As communities across the nation continue to face a shortage of affordable homes, the bill makes critical investments to increase the supply of housing so that Americans can keep a roof over their head. The bill includes:\n\n$1.425 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a $175 million increase above fiscal year 2024. The HOME Program is the primary federal tool for state and local governments to produce affordable rental and owner-occupied housing. This funding level will allow for construction of more than 8,400 new affordable homebuyer and rental units.\n\n$100 million for the third year of the \u201cYes In My Back Yard\u201d grant program. State and local zoning and land use laws and regulations that limit the number of units that can be built are a significant contributor to the lack of housing supply and production. These restrictions on development are driving up housing costs. While some communities have made progress in removing barriers to affordable housing production to keep up with market demand, the federal government must play a supporting role to strengthen these efforts and help jurisdictions increase their housing stock and lower housing costs.\n\n$4.6 billion for local community development and affordable housing needs through the Community Development Block Grant formula program and Economic Development Initiatives.\n\n$115 million for Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Capital Advance grants, which will lead to over 900 new units of affordable, supportive rental housing for low-income seniors.\n\nExpands Access to Housing Assistance for Tribes: The bill provides a record $1.455 billion for the Native American Housing Block Grant program, a $111 million increase over fiscal year 2024. Through this historic level of funding and the sustained investment in the Tribal Housing and Related Agency Infrastructure Interagency Task Force, the bill will make significant progress in addressing the dire housing needs of Indian Country, where residents are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty and nearly three times more likely to live in overcrowded conditions compared to other U.S. households.\n\nPreserves and Strengthens Investments in Rental Assistance Programs: The bill maintains critical support for HUD\u2019s rental assistance programs, which help nearly 5 million vulnerable households\u2014more than half of whom are elderly or have disabilities\u2014keep a roof over their heads. It also provides new funding for rehabilitation efforts to help preserve the project-based affordable housing stock and improve living conditions for tenants. This includes:\n\n$35.3 billion for tenant-based Section 8 vouchers, a $2.9 billion increase above fiscal year 2024, which includes funding to make 3,000 new incremental vouchers available to youth aging out of foster care and veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness.\n\n$16.7 billion for the project-based rental assistance (PBRA) program to renew housing contracts, a $644 million increase above fiscal year 2024.\n\n$8.8 billion to operate and address the capital needs of public housing.\n\n$10 million for HUD to make rent adjustments to 20-30 PBRA properties that have been renewed through the mark-to-market program and are distressed or at risk of becoming distressed.\n\n$25 million for a new loan program to assist in the rehabilitation of 15-20 PBRA properties that are already at market rate rents but need additional capital.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-meets-with-white-house-science-and-tech-director-participates-in-dialogue-with-center-for-ai-safety-to-discuss-emerging-benefits-challenges-of-ai", "Schatz Meets With White House Science And Tech Director, Participates In Dialogue With Center For AI Safety To Discuss Emerging Benefits, Challenges Of AI", "2024-07-23", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today met with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Arati Prabhakar to discuss the potential benefits and emerging safety concerns from artificial intelligence (AI). Later in the day, Schatz participated in a discussion at the Center for AI Safety DC launch reception to discuss his work on AI legislation. Today\u2019s discussions followed a new effort led by Schatz to demand answers from OpenAI on reports of safety, transparency, and whistleblower protection concerns\n\n\u201cAI presents us with exciting new possibilities, but it also carries immense risk,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cAs the AI industry rapidly grows, it\u2019s critical that we work to ensure the technology is safe for people to use and that companies are holding up their end of the bargain by following through on their safety commitments.\u201d\n\nSchatz has been a leader on AI legislation. In 2018, Schatz first introduced the AI in Government Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve the federal government\u2019s use of AI. It was signed into law in 2020, making it one of the first AI bills to be enacted. Since then, Schatz had led legislation to provide more transparency on AI-generated content and protect people from scams through labeling and help improve extreme weather forecasting using AI technology.\n\nSenator Schatz meets with Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy\n\nSenator Schatz discusses his work on AI policy at the Center for AI Safety DC launch reception\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-president-biden", "Schatz Statement On President Biden", "2024-07-21", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden.\n\n\u201cFor over 50 years, Joe Biden has been a selfless patriot and dedicated public servant who\u2019s given everything to the country he so dearly loves. As a senator, vice president, and now president, he has spent most of his life working to make people\u2019s lives better and the world safer. Today, yet again, he has put the country before himself, making the best choice for the American people in this uniquely consequential moment. For that, and for his lifetime of service, we should all be deeply grateful.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not an overstatement to say Joe Biden has been and is the most consequential president of our lifetimes. His legislative accomplishments speak for themselves and will endure for generations to come. He took the biggest climate action in human history. He cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and made our communities safer by passing long-overdue gun reform. He\u2019s also revitalized our nation\u2019s infrastructure and strengthened our alliances around the world.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no question Americans today are better off because of Joe Biden.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-unprecedented-supreme-court-decision-hirono-releases-constitutional-amendment-to-clarify-no-one-is-above-the-law", "Following Unprecedented Supreme Court Decision, Hirono Releases Constitutional Amendment to Clarify No One is Above the Law", "2024-07-19", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a discussion draft of a constitutional amendment making clear that no one in the United States is above the law, including the President.\n\n\u201cThe rule of law is what separates democracy from other forms of government,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cFor centuries, Americans have understood the rule of law to apply to all Americans, including the President. But in a misguided and ahistorical decision, the Supreme Court majority massively weakened the rule of law as it applies to presidents. This constitutional amendment would make clear that the rule of law applies to everyone, including presidents.\u201d\n\nIn response to the Supreme Court\u2019s unprecedented decision last month that Presidents are immune from prosecution for \u201cofficial\u201d actions, Senator Hirono\u2019s amendment would clarify that Presidents are, in fact, accountable to the law for their actions. Specifically, the amendment states that the President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the U.S. government are criminally liable for actions both official and unofficial under any generally-applicable criminal laws they violate.\n\nThe full text of Senator Hirono\u2019s amendment is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/07/19/2024/statement-from-senator-schatz", "Statement From Senator Schatz", "2024-07-19", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s scheduled address to a joint session of Congress next week.\n\n\u201cNine months after the atrocities of October 7 and the ensuing conflict, negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages are ongoing \u2013 and that should be the focus. Instead, Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to deliver what is clearly a partisan address to Congress just months ahead of our elections. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I welcome a substantive discussion about the future, not political rhetoric that will do nothing to bring peace in the region. I therefore will not attend Wednesday\u2019s address.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/two-years-after-dobbs-hirono-joins-colleagues-in-releasing-report-on-nationwide-impact-of-abortion-bans", "Two Years After Dobbs, Hirono Joins Colleagues in Releasing Report On Nationwide Impact of Abortion Bans", "2024-07-16", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "~ In new interviews and discussions with more than 80 doctors, educators, and advocates across the country, dire post-Dobbs trends emerge: Longer wait times, onerous travel, worsening health care deserts, a thinning workforce pipeline, & harrowing cases of patients airlifted out of state ~\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Two years after the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 14 other women Democratic senators in releasing a new report, Two Years Post-Dobbs: The Nationwide Impacts of Abortion Bans. The report details how the Dobbs decision is harming women\u2019s health care in states across the U.S.\u2014whether those states have abortion bans or not.\n\n\u201cThis report illustrates the state of our strained reproductive health care system and the nationwide impact of Republicans\u2019 extremist ideological agenda to exert power and control over women\u2019s bodies,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cTwo years after the Supreme Court\u2019s devastating Dobbs decision, women continue to face attacks on their fundamental reproductive rights\u2014from being denied life-saving emergency care to being forced to travel long distances for abortion care\u2014and I will continue fighting for reproductive freedom for all.\u201d\n\nThe report is based on interviews and discussions with more than 80 health care providers and advocates from across the country. These front-line workers describe how overturning Roe v. Wade has harmed care for women across America. The key findings of the report include that:\n\nWomen are being denied emergency health care. In some cases of women requiring emergency abortion care, patients are being airlifted to protective states to receive the care they need.\n\nPatients are traveling far distances for the abortion care they need. The report contains new data on how Florida\u2019s abortion ban is burdening patients across the South, forcing some to travel as far as Illinois for care.\n\nHealth care workers are avoiding states with abortion bans, contributing to health care deserts throughout the country. The report also details the effects on health care providers, as OB/GYNs and other health care providers are fleeing abortion ban states, and some medical students are refusing to train in them.\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Cantwell, and Schumer, the report was also released by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).\n\nA long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive health care for all. This week, Senator Hirono voted to advance the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, legislation that expresses support for women\u2019s reproductive freedom and protecting access to reproductive health care. The vote failed on the Senate floor with a final tally of 49-44\u2014with nearly every Republican voting against it. Prior to the vote, Senator Hirono delivered a speech in which she highlighted the horrifying consequences of the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision for women across the country. Last month, Senator Hirono released a statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in United States v. Idaho, a case concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Last month, Senator Hirono also voted in support of the Right to IVF Act, legislation to protect the right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, as well as expand insurance coverage of IVF treatment for those who struggle with infertility. Prior to the vote\u2014which failed on the Senate floor, with only two Republicans voting to advance it\u2014Senator Hirono delivered a speech blasting Republicans for blocking IVF protection bills twice this year and highlighted that IVF treatment has been provided safely for over 45 years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-hirono-votes-to-pass-reproductive-freedom-for-women-act-blasts-republicans-on-senate-floor", "VIDEO: Hirono Votes to Pass Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, Blasts Republicans on Senate Floor", "2024-07-11", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) voted to advance the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, legislation that expresses support for women\u2019s reproductive freedom and protecting access to reproductive health care. The vote failed on the Senate floor with a final tally of 49-44\u2014with nearly every Republican voting against it. Prior to the vote, Senator Hirono delivered a speech in which she highlighted the horrifying consequences of the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision for women across the country.\n\n\u201cWe often refer to the states as \u2018laboratories of democracy,\u2019\u201d said Senator Hirono during her remarks. \u201cSadly, these laboratories are now experimenting on women, with dystopian results. This hellish experimentation has resulted in devasting consequences for millions of women and families across the country, who are now subject to state-imposed abortion bans.\u201d\n\nSince the overturn of Roe v. Wade, over 20 states have enacted abortion bans, some without exception for rape or incest. This has forced women throughout the country to travel far distances for abortion care or risk continuing their pregnancies despite health concerns. It has also threatened health care workers in states with abortion bans, preventing doctors from providing emergency treatment and causing them to flee their practices, contributing to reproductive health care deserts across the country.\n\nDuring her remarks, Senator Hirono criticized Republicans for enacting dangerous reproductive policy changes, despite their claims to support women\u2019s health, and called on them to stand behind their rhetoric and vote for the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear\u2014abortion bans aren\u2019t about protecting anyone. They\u2019re about the Right\u2019s obsession with power and control, plain and simple,\u201d continued Senator Hirono. \u201cTime after time, Republicans have come to this floor insisting that they support women\u2019s health, only to turn around and vote against bill after bill that would do just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis should be a no-brainer for anyone who actually supports women, and our right to control our own bodies,\u201d concluded Senator Hirono. \u201cBut if past is prologue, it is safe to say Republicans will vote against this bill today, only to insist tomorrow that they are the party of freedom. Give me a break.\u201d\n\nA transcript of Senator Hirono\u2019s floor speech is below and video is available for download here.\n\nM. President, after Dobbs came down, we worried about what a post-Dobbs America would look like. Would other reproductive freedoms be attacked and stripped away piece-by-piece across the country? Now, two years later, we know the answer is yes.\n\nIn Dobbs, the Supreme Court \u201creturn[ed] the issue of abortion to [the States]\u201d and eliminated a constitutional right women in our country had relied on for nearly 50 years. We often refer to the states as \u201claboratories of democracy.\u201d Sadly, these laboratories are now experimenting on women, with dystopian results. This hellish experimentation has resulted in devasting consequences for women and families across the country, who are now subject to state-imposed abortion bans.\n\nAs a result of over 20 states enacting abortion bans\u2014some without exception for rape or incest\u2014women all over our country are being forced to travel far distances for abortion care\u2014or worse, to continue pregnancies regardless of the risks. Their stories are horrifying\u2014stories like that of Kate Cox, a mother of two in Texas whose pregnancy was threatening her life, and her ability to have more children in the future. Despite her deteriorating physical condition, Texas officials ruled that she wasn\u2019t sick enough to get an abortion, forcing her to travel out of state to receive the life-saving care she needed.\n\nWhile Kate had the ability to travel, so many other women in her condition do not\u2014and are forced to suffer the unimaginable consequences of Republicans\u2019 obsession with power and control. What\u2019s more, health care workers in states with abortion bans are living under a constant threat of criminal prosecution. When patients in states with abortion bans present with signs of a miscarriage, doctors are unable to provide emergency treatment, going against their legal and professional duty of care and years of expert training. As a result, many of these providers are fleeing their practices, contributing to reproductive health care deserts all across the country.\n\nThe cruelty of Dobbs has also resulted in an increase in infant mortality in states with abortion bans, as women are forced to carry fetuses with fatal birth defects to term. Let\u2019s be clear\u2014abortion bans aren\u2019t about protecting anyone. They\u2019re about the Right\u2019s obsession with power and control, plain and simple. But while Republicans continue their march toward a nationwide abortion ban, they refuse to be honest with the American people.\n\nTime after time, Republicans have come to this floor insisting that they support women\u2019s health, only to turn around and vote against bill after bill that would do just that. Despite their rhetoric, they voted en masse against the right to contraception, the right to IVF, and have consistently blocked any effort in this chamber to protect women\u2019s fundamental rights. But still, my Republican colleagues insist they stand with women.\n\nToday, they have the opportunity to put their money where their mouths are. The Reproductive Freedom for Women Act is straightforward \u2013 it simply expresses support for protecting access to reproductive health care. The bill is one page long, and does not codify Roe or enact any policy changes. This should be a no-brainer for anyone who actually supports women and our right to control our own bodies. But if past is prologue, it is safe to say Republicans will vote against this bill today, only to insist tomorrow that they are the party of freedom. Give me a break.\n\nDemocrats, meanwhile, are determined to restore, protect, and strengthen reproductive rights. And we will not stop fighting until we succeed in this. That is why, today, I am proud to stand with my fellow Democrats in voting for the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act to support reproductive rights and health care for all.\n\nThank you and I yield.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-schatz-colleagues-call-for-protections-for-hawaii-under-north-atlantic-treaty", "Hirono, Schatz, Colleagues Call for Protections for Hawaii Under North Atlantic Treaty", "2024-07-10", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), along with a bipartisan group of eleven other senators, urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take steps to rectify Hawaii\u2019s exclusion from the North Atlantic Treaty as military threats in the Indo-Pacific grow. In their letter to Secretary Blinken, the senators raised concerns about the omission of Hawaii under Article 6 of the Treaty, meaning an armed attack on Hawaii would not be seen as an attack on all NATO countries and therefore not necessitate collective self-defense.\n\n\u201cWhen the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the Senate ratify the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, it was with the understanding that overseas territories would not be covered by Article 6,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAt the time, Hawai\u2018i was a U.S. territory and the drafters of the Treaty were reluctant to include all territories of the Treaty Parties under the NATO security umbrella. However, the world has changed significantly since 1949. Not only did Hawai\u2018i become a U.S. state, the importance of the Indo-Pacific to U.S. security has increased tremendously. Although since 1949, NATO\u2019s footprint has expanded from 12 founding members to 32, the alliance has not accounted for the inclusion of Hawai\u2018i as the 50th state of the union. The alliance also has not accounted for the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific \u2013 and the need to deter destabilizing regional conflict \u2013 or the need to be more responsive and respectful toward Hawai\u2018i residents.\u201d\n\nIn order to deter potential future conflict in the Indo-Pacific and protect Hawaii\u2019s residents, as well as U.S. and allied interests, the senators called on the State Department to pursue a range of diplomatic measures to address the issue, including ultimately formally amending the North Atlantic Treaty. Potential short-term measures include clarifying statements from the North Atlantic Council regarding the Treaty language, for which there is precedent.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cAllies and adversaries alike must understand now, before potential hostilities erupt, that an attack against Hawai\u2018i will be seen as an attack on NATO. Silence on whether NATO allies would come to the defense of Hawai\u2018i undermines our strategy of deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Formally amending the North Atlantic Treaty would be the clearest and most just course of action to rectify this shortcoming.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Schatz, and Schmitt, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Todd Young (R-IN), Tim Scott (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe write to you today about the importance of clarifying that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would consider an armed attack against the State of Hawai\u2018i to be an attack against all NATO countries, because of the significant implications for U.S. national security interests and regional and global stability, as well as the imperative that Hawai\u2018i residents are treated in a respectful and just manner.\n\nHawai\u2018i is not covered by the geographical parameters set out in Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO\u2019s founding document. Article 6 of the Treaty defines the bounds of the protected territory for the purposes of Article 5, which commits all members to collective self-defense. Under Article 6, an armed attack would trigger a response if one were to occur \u201con the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of Turkey or on the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer,\u201d thereby excluding Hawai\u2018i. Although Article 4 allows the United States to \u201cconsult\u201d with NATO allies in the event of an armed attack against Hawai\u2018i, it is an insufficient mechanism to address either of the deep concerns about deterring an adversary\u2019s attack or treating residents as equals to those in the other 49 states.\n\nWhen the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the Senate ratify the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, it was with the understanding that overseas territories would not be covered by Article 6. At the time, Hawai\u2018i was a U.S. territory and the drafters of the Treaty were reluctant to include all territories of the Treaty Parties under the NATO security umbrella. However, the world has changed significantly since 1949. Not only did Hawai\u2018i become a U.S. state, the importance of the Indo-Pacific to U.S. security has increased tremendously. Although since 1949, NATO\u2019s footprint has expanded from 12 founding members to 32, the alliance has not accounted for the inclusion of Hawai\u2018i as the 50th state of the union. The alliance also has not accounted for the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific \u2013 and the need to deter destabilizing regional conflict \u2013 or the need to be more responsive and respectful toward Hawai\u2018i residents.\n\nAs you confirmed during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in 2022, any attack on the United States or its territories would \u201calmost certainly, in my judgement, draw allied reaction to include via the consultation procedures that exist under Article 4 of the Treaty.\u201d However, the gravity of the Indo-Pacific threat environment requires that we do more. Admiral Harry Harris Jr., a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and a former Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) recently advocated for including Hawai\u2018i as a part of NATO during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, arguing that doing so would help deter future attacks on Hawai\u2018i. Hawai\u2018i is the center of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, geographically located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, and home to USINDOPACOM headquarters and critical component commands and defense installations. As Admiral Harris said, Hawai\u2018i is on \u201cthe front line of any attack if we were to suffer an attack from China or North Korea.\u201d\n\nThe fact that Hawai\u2018i is not covered under Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty is not a new concern. Six years after Hawai\u2018i became a state, Senator Daniel Inouye wrote to Secretary of State Dean Rusk asking whether Hawai\u2018i would be covered by Article 6 and was told \u201cthe absence of formal guarantees for Hawai\u2018i under the North Atlantic Treaty is obviously but a technicality.\u201d The rising threats in the Indo-Pacific make clarifying NATO\u2019s role in relation to Hawai\u2018i all the more important today. Admiral John Aquilino, another former USINDOPACOM commander, recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that \u201cthe People\u2019s Republic of China, Russia, and the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea are taking unprecedented actions that challenge international norms and advance authoritarianism\u201d and becoming increasingly more aggressive. Allies and adversaries alike must understand now, before potential hostilities erupt, that an attack against Hawai\u2018i will be seen as an attack on NATO. Silence on whether NATO allies would come to the defense of Hawai\u2018i undermines our strategy of deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nFormally amending the North Atlantic Treaty would be the clearest and most just course of action to rectify this shortcoming. There is precedent for amending the Treaty. Aside from the Treaty being effectively amended each time there is a protocol of accession for new alliance members, the Treaty language itself was altered in 1951 by the protocol adding Greece and Turkey. We, of course, recognize it may take time for the Department to navigate the challenges the amendment process may present. However, you may consider interim approaches that help address Hawai\u2018i\u2019s formal exclusion that are more practical in the short-term. There is precedent for the North Atlantic Council to make clarifying statements regarding Treaty language that is no longer accurate or operative. For example, the North Atlantic Council recognizes the literal wording of the Article 6 phrase \u201cthe Algerian departments of France\u201d as being effectively inoperative. In 1963, the French Representative issued a declaration to the Council stating that the President of the French Republic had formally recognized the independence of Algeria on July 3, 1962, and thus \u201cthe Algerian departments of France\u201d no longer existed. The Council subsequently issued the following short press release: \u201cFollowing a statement by the French Representative, the Council notes that insofar as the former Algerian Departments of France are concerned, the relevant clauses of the North Atlantic Treaty became inapplicable as of 3 July 1962.\u201d We strongly encourage you to seriously consider a range of diplomatic options that will best protect and promote U.S. and allied interests.\n\nThe scars of the attack on Pearl Harbor are still visible today. We understand the threat that any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific would pose to Hawai\u2018i and are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the state from future aggression.\n\nAccordingly, we request a response to the following questions by September 1:\n\nHas the State Department raised the issue of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s exclusion from Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty with NATO allies?\n\nIf so, what courses of action, if any, have NATO allies considered to legally and formally ensure that an armed attack on Hawai\u2018i would trigger Article 5 obligations?\n\nWhat options, if any, have they considered that would fall short of formal amendment of the North Atlantic Treaty, but still bolster deterrence and treat Hawai\u2018i residents as equal to those in the other 49 states?\n\nHas the State Department sought to amend the North Atlantic Treaty to include Hawai\u2018i?\n\nIf not, what are the Department\u2019s reasons for failing to do so?\n\nIf so, what challenges do you anticipate arising from any formal amendment process?\n\nHas the State Department sought assurances from NATO allies?\n\nIf not, what are the Department\u2019s reasons for failing to do so?\n\nIf so, what assurances have this and previous administrations received from NATO allies that have caused the United States to not seek to alter Article 6 to include Hawai\u2018i, and what form did they take (for example, written or oral commitments to treat an armed attack against Hawai\u2018i as an armed attack against all NATO members)?\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and your ongoing work to protect our nation and deter potentially devastating conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-republicans-blocking-bill-expressing-support-for-reproductive-rights", "Schatz Statement On Republicans Blocking Bill Expressing Support For Reproductive Rights", "2024-07-10", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to block the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act which expresses support for women\u2019s reproductive rights in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s absurd that Republicans couldn\u2019t bring themselves to even express support for protecting access to reproductive care for women across America. Time and again, at every turn, Republicans have chosen to decimate reproductive freedoms and control women\u2019s bodies. Today\u2019s failure to pass this very simple bill is yet more proof that we need to codify Roe for good as soon as we can.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/with-nato-summit-underway-schatz-schmitt-lead-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-calling-for-protections-for-hawaii-under-north-atlantic-treaty", "With NATO Summit Underway, Schatz, Schmitt Lead Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Calling For Protections For Hawai\u2018i Under North Atlantic Treaty", "2024-07-10", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) today led a bipartisan group of 12 senators in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take steps to rectify Hawai\u2018i\u2019s exclusion from the North Atlantic Treaty as military threats in the Indo-Pacific grow. In a letter to Secretary Blinken, the senators raised concerns about the omission of Hawai\u2018i under Article 6 of the Treaty, meaning an armed attack on Hawai\u2018i would not be seen as an attack on all NATO countries and therefore not necessitate collective self-defense. In addition to Schatz and Schmitt, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.).\n\n\u201cWhen the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the Senate ratify the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, it was with the understanding that overseas territories would not be covered by Article 6,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cAt the time, Hawai\u2018i was a U.S. territory and the drafters of the Treaty were reluctant to include all territories of the Treaty Parties under the NATO security umbrella. However, the world has changed significantly since 1949. Not only did Hawai\u2018i become a U.S. state, the importance of the Indo-Pacific to U.S. security has increased tremendously. Although since 1949, NATO\u2019s footprint has expanded from 12 founding members to 32, the alliance has not accounted for the inclusion of Hawai\u2018i as the 50th state of the union. The alliance also has not accounted for the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific \u2013 and the need to deter destabilizing regional conflict \u2013 or the need to be more responsive and respectful toward Hawai\u2018i residents.\u201d\n\nIn order to deter potential future conflict in the Indo-Pacific and protect Hawai\u2018i\u2019s residents, as well as U.S. and allied interests, the senators called on the State Department to pursue a range of diplomatic measures to address the issue, including ultimately formally amending the North Atlantic Treaty. Potential short-term measures include clarifying statements from the North Atlantic Council regarding the Treaty language, for which there is precedent.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cAllies and adversaries alike must understand now, before potential hostilities erupt, that an attack against Hawai\u2018i will be seen as an attack on NATO. Silence on whether NATO allies would come to the defense of Hawai\u2018i undermines our strategy of deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Formally amending the North Atlantic Treaty would be the clearest and most just course of action to rectify this shortcoming.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe write to you today about the importance of clarifying that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would consider an armed attack against the State of Hawai\u2018i to be an attack against all NATO countries, because of the significant implications for U.S. national security interests and regional and global stability, as well as the imperative that Hawai\u2018i residents are treated in a respectful and just manner.\n\nHawai\u2018i is not covered by the geographical parameters set out in Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO\u2019s founding document. Article 6 of the Treaty defines the bounds of the protected territory for the purposes of Article 5, which commits all members to collective self-defense. Under Article 6, an armed attack would trigger a response if one were to occur \u201con the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of Turkey or on the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer,\u201d thereby excluding Hawai\u2018i. Although Article 4 allows the United States to \u201cconsult\u201d with NATO allies in the event of an armed attack against Hawai\u2018i, it is an insufficient mechanism to address either of the deep concerns about deterring an adversary\u2019s attack or treating residents as equals to those in the other 49 states.\n\nWhen the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended the Senate ratify the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, it was with the understanding that overseas territories would not be covered by Article 6. At the time, Hawai\u2018i was a U.S. territory and the drafters of the Treaty were reluctant to include all territories of the Treaty Parties under the NATO security umbrella. However, the world has changed significantly since 1949. Not only did Hawai\u2018i become a U.S. state, the importance of the Indo-Pacific to U.S. security has increased tremendously. Although since 1949, NATO\u2019s footprint has expanded from 12 founding members to 32, the alliance has not accounted for the inclusion of Hawai\u2018i as the 50th state of the union. The alliance also has not accounted for the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific \u2013 and the need to deter destabilizing regional conflict \u2013 or the need to be more responsive and respectful toward Hawai\u2018i residents.\n\nAs you confirmed during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in 2022, any attack on the United States or its territories would \u201calmost certainly, in my judgement, draw allied reaction to include via the consultation procedures that exist under Article 4 of the Treaty.\u201d However, the gravity of the Indo-Pacific threat environment requires that we do more. Admiral Harry Harris Jr., a former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, and a former Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) recently advocated for including Hawai\u2018i as a part of NATO during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, arguing that doing so would help deter future attacks on Hawai\u2018i. Hawai\u2018i is the center of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, geographically located in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, and home to USINDOPACOM headquarters and critical component commands and defense installations. As Admiral Harris said, Hawai\u2018i is on \u201cthe front line of any attack if we were to suffer an attack from China or North Korea.\u201d\n\nThe fact that Hawai\u2018i is not covered under Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty is not a new concern. Six years after Hawai\u2018i became a state, Senator Daniel Inouye wrote to Secretary of State Dean Rusk asking whether Hawai\u2018i would be covered by Article 6 and was told \u201cthe absence of formal guarantees for Hawai\u2018i under the North Atlantic Treaty is obviously but a technicality.\u201d The rising threats in the Indo-Pacific make clarifying NATO\u2019s role in relation to Hawai\u2018i all the more important today. Admiral John Aquilino, another former USINDOPACOM commander, recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that \u201cthe People\u2019s Republic of China, Russia, and the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea are taking unprecedented actions that challenge international norms and advance authoritarianism\u201d and becoming increasingly more aggressive. Allies and adversaries alike must understand now, before potential hostilities erupt, that an attack against Hawai\u2018i will be seen as an attack on NATO. Silence on whether NATO allies would come to the defense of Hawai\u2018i undermines our strategy of deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nFormally amending the North Atlantic Treaty would be the clearest and most just course of action to rectify this shortcoming. There is precedent for amending the Treaty. Aside from the Treaty being effectively amended each time there is a protocol of accession for new alliance members, the Treaty language itself was altered in 1951 by the protocol adding Greece and Turkey. We, of course, recognize it may take time for the Department to navigate the challenges the amendment process may present. However, you may consider interim approaches that help address Hawai\u2018i\u2019s formal exclusion that are more practical in the short-term. There is precedent for the North Atlantic Council to make clarifying statements regarding Treaty language that is no longer accurate or operative. For example, the North Atlantic Council recognizes the literal wording of the Article 6 phrase \u201cthe Algerian departments of France\u201d as being effectively inoperative. In 1963, the French Representative issued a declaration to the Council stating that the President of the French Republic had formally recognized the independence of Algeria on July 3, 1962, and thus \u201cthe Algerian departments of France\u201d no longer existed. The Council subsequently issued the following short press release: \u201cFollowing a statement by the French Representative, the Council notes that insofar as the former Algerian Departments of France are concerned, the relevant clauses of the North Atlantic Treaty became inapplicable as of 3 July 1962.\u201d We strongly encourage you to seriously consider a range of diplomatic options that will best protect and promote U.S. and allied interests.\n\nThe scars of the attack on Pearl Harbor are still visible today. We understand the threat that any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific would pose to Hawai\u2018i and are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect the state from future aggression.\n\nAccordingly, we request a response to the following questions by September 1:\n\nHas the State Department raised the issue of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s exclusion from Article 6 of the North Atlantic Treaty with NATO allies?\n\nIf so, what courses of action, if any, have NATO allies considered to legally and formally ensure that an armed attack on Hawai\u2018i would trigger Article 5 obligations?\n\nWhat options, if any, have they considered that would fall short of formal amendment of the North Atlantic Treaty, but still bolster deterrence and treat Hawai\u2018i residents as equal to those in the other 49 states?\n\nHas the State Department sought to amend the North Atlantic Treaty to include Hawai\u2018i?\n\nIf not, what are the Department\u2019s reasons for failing to do so?\n\nIf so, what challenges do you anticipate arising from any formal amendment process?\n\nHas the State Department sought assurances from NATO allies?\n\nIf not, what are the Department\u2019s reasons for failing to do so?\n\nIf so, what assurances have this and previous administrations received from NATO allies that have caused the United States to not seek to alter Article 6 to include Hawai\u2018i, and what form did they take (for example, written or oral commitments to treat an armed attack against Hawai\u2018i as an armed attack against all NATO members)?\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and your ongoing work to protect our nation and deter potentially devastating conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-maui-to-receive-5-million-in-federal-funding-for-new-electric-buses", "Schatz: Maui To Receive $5 Million In Federal Funding For New Electric Buses", "2024-07-03", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that the Hawai\u2018i Department of Transportation, on behalf of the County of Maui, will receive $5 million in federal funding to purchase hybrid electric buses and replace older diesel models. By adopting zero-emissions buses, Maui will help the state advance its goal of achieving a fully electric bus fleet. The new funding comes from the infrastructure law Congress passed in 2021.\n\n\u201cThis new funding will help bring cleaner, more efficient buses to Maui while also moving us closer to achieving the state\u2019s critical clean energy goals,\u201d said Senator Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-supreme-courts-trump-immunity-decision", "Schatz Statement On Supreme Court\u2019s Trump Immunity Decision", "2024-07-01", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "HONOLULU \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Trump v. United States, ruling that former President Donald Trump is partially immune from prosecution. In sending the case back down to the lower court, the decision is poised to delay the pivotal criminal trial on charges against Trump of attempting to overthrow the 2020 election.\n\n\u201cDespite today\u2019s ruling from the MAGA Court, no one is above the law, including former presidents. We all saw with our own eyes Trump\u2019s repeated \u2013 and in the case of January 6th, violent \u2013 efforts to overturn the completely legitimate results of the 2020 election. He deserves to be held accountable for his crimes, just as any other American would.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:24:45Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-statement-on-president-bidens-supplemental-request-for-additional-disaster-aid", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation Statement on President Biden\u2019s Supplemental Request for Additional Disaster Aid", "2024-06-28", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI) released the following statement on President Joe Biden\u2019s new supplemental appropriations request, which includes funding for disaster recovery on Maui and across the country.\n\n\u201cAlmost a year since the devastating fires on Maui, the people of Lahaina still need help. Their lives are nowhere near back to normal and it will take sustained support from the federal government to get them fully back on their feet. President Biden\u2019s new supplemental appropriations request is an important and necessary investment in them and disaster survivors across the country. Now Congress needs to pass this funding quickly and get people the help they urgently need.\u201d\n\nPresident Biden\u2019s new request for disaster response funding includes a $4 billion increase from the request made last October. Among other things, this $4 billion request includes an additional $700 million for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which will continue to support Maui\u2014and other states impacted by disasters\u2014in its recovery efforts following the wildfires last August.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-supreme-courts-ruling-in-chevron-cases", "Hirono Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Ruling in Chevron Cases", "2024-06-28", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, a case concerning the Chevron doctrine. Earlier this month, Senator Hirono spoke on the Senate floor to raise alarm about the Court\u2019s then-pending Chevron doctrine decision.\n\n\u201cAnother day, another longstanding precedent cast aside by a radical Supreme Court majority hellbent on rewriting the rules to suit their corporate sponsors. By overturning Chevron, the conservative majority on this Court has jeopardized the entire regulatory system on which much of our country and our economy rests.\n\nAs Justice Kagan wrote in her dissent, Chevron \u2018has formed the backdrop against which Congress, courts, and agencies\u2014as well as regulated parties and the public\u2014all have operated for decades. [\u2026] It has become part of the warp and woof of modern government, supporting regulatory efforts of all kinds\u2014to name a few, keeping air and water clean, food and drugs safe, and financial markets honest.\u2019\n\nShe continued, \u2018In every sphere of current or future federal regulation, expect courts from now on to play a commanding role. It is not a role Congress has given to them, in the [Administrative Procedure Act] or any other statute. It is a role this Court has now claimed for itself, as well as for other judges.\u2019\n\nAt its core, this case was about who should be making policy decisions on issues that affect our lives\u2014subject matter experts, or federal judges? Congress created federal agencies to implement informed, evidence-based regulations that protect the American people and small businesses across the country. By eliminating Chevron, the Court has empowered hundreds of individual federal judges to overrule carefully-considered decisions made by agency experts, turning a consistent regulatory framework into a chaotic mess of conflicting opinions\u2014just as big business has long hoped. Today\u2019s decision is yet one more component of the far-right\u2019s broader mission to capture the courts, advance their conservative ideological agenda, and hollow out our regulatory system.\u201d\n\nThe Chevron doctrine, a 40-year-old doctrine\u2014with roots that go back to our country\u2019s founding\u2014is critical to a functioning federal government. The Chevron doctrine recognized that Congress delegated authority to technical experts at federal agencies, so that those agencies could effectively and efficiently implement federal laws in their areas of expertise, in line with Congressional intent. As a result, courts had generally deferred to reasonable interpretations by administrative agencies when the law is unclear or ambiguous.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-statement-on-president-bidens-supplemental-request-for-additional-disaster-aid", "Hawai\u2018i Congressional Delegation Statement On President Biden\u2019s Supplemental Request For Additional Disaster Aid", "2024-06-28", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden\u2019s new supplemental appropriations request, which includes funding for disaster recovery on Maui and across the country.\n\n\u201cAlmost a year since the devastating fires on Maui, the people of Lahaina still need help. Their lives are nowhere near back to normal, and it will take sustained support from the federal government to get them fully back on their feet. President Biden\u2019s new supplemental appropriations request is an important and necessary investment in them and disaster survivors across the country. Now, Congress needs to pass this funding quickly and get people the help they urgently need.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-supreme-court-chevron-deference-decision", "Schatz Statement On Supreme Court \u2018Chevron Deference\u2019 Decision", "2024-06-28", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, overruling the Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council precedent set four decades ago.\n\n\u201cThe corrupt MAGA Court\u2019s disastrous decision to kneecap federal agencies from doing their jobs means Americans will have weaker protections on everything from the climate to health care to food safety. The Constitution is clear: Congress makes laws and the executive branch \u2013 through federal agencies \u2013 implements them, making sure they\u2019re responsive to the country\u2019s ever-changing needs. In upending decades of precedent, this extreme court has once again tried to make it more difficult for the federal government to serve and defend the public\u2019s interests. But make no mistake: the progress we\u2019ve made in protecting our environment and making health care more affordable cannot be undone by a single decision from a group of unelected justices. Instead, outrageous decisions like this one should deepen our resolve to continue fighting for enduring progress on the issues that matter to people, whether it\u2019s cleaner skies or healthier food or fairer workplaces.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-supreme-courts-ruling-in-emtala-case", "Hirono Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Ruling in EMTALA Case", "2024-06-27", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in United States v. Idaho, a case concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Following the Dobbs decision in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Idaho, arguing that the state\u2019s anti-abortion law is preempted by EMTALA, which requires Medicare-funded hospitals to provide abortion care, not just when it is necessary to prevent the death of a patient, but also when an abortion is deemed necessary to stabilize a patient during emergency medical treatment.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court has avoided cleaning up its own mess. When the conservative justices on the Court overturned Roe, chaos followed by enabling states to implement draconian abortion bans\u2014such as the law in Idaho where patients have to be at death\u2019s door before a doctor can treat without being criminally prosecuted.\n\nToday, the Supreme Court shirked its responsibility to patients and providers across the country. Justice Jackson said it best, \u2018This Court had a chance to bring clarity and certainty to this tragic situation and we have squandered it.\u2019\n\nPatients will continue to suffer and doctors will remain hamstrung in their ability to provide care for fear of prosecution. This situation will continue to sow chaos and confusion and is just one more example of the consequences of the Dobbs decision, giving control of our bodies to far-right politicians and judges.\u201d\n\nA long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive health care for all. This month, Senator Hirono led eleven of her colleagues in speaking on the Senate floor in support of the Right to Contraception Act\u2014legislation she leads with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)\u2014and calling out Republicans for blocking the bill. This legislation would guarantee the right for people to obtain and use contraceptives and for health providers to prescribe contraceptives, and give information related to contraception, free from government interference. In May 2024, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Access to Birth Control Act, legislation that would guarantee patients\u2019 timely access to birth control at pharmacies nationwide\u2014including by addressing pharmacies\u2019 refusals of contraception that prevent patients from obtaining their preferred form of birth control medication. In March 2024, Senator Hirono reintroduced a bicameral resolution honoring abortion providers and staff by designating March 10, 2024 as \u201cAbortion Provider Appreciation Day.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-supreme-courts-ohio-v-epa-decision", "Schatz Statement On Supreme Court\u2019s Ohio v. EPA Decision", "2024-06-27", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency.\n\n\u201cAir pollution doesn\u2019t recognize borders\u2014that\u2019s exactly why Congress gave EPA the authority to regulate it. This ruling delays critical action to support the health of our communities and our planet.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/more-than-66-million-in-federal-funding-from-new-schatz-created-grant-program-heading-to-hawaii-to-build-more-housing", "More Than $6.6 Million In Federal Funding From New Schatz-Created Grant Program Heading To Hawai\u2018i To Build More Housing", "2024-06-26", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development, today announced Hawai\u2018i has been awarded more than $6.6 million in new federal grant funding to help build more housing. The funding comes from a new grant program based on Schatz\u2019s bipartisan \u2018Yes In My Backyard\u2019 legislation and was first funded in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill. The new Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program rewards state and local governments that reform land-use policies and other local barriers that constrain the supply of affordable housing. In Hawai\u2018i, lack of infrastructure has been cited as an important obstacle to building more housing. With this PRO Housing grant, Hawai\u2018i will create a State Infrastructure Bank as long-term infrastructure financing solution to unlock housing production at a larger, more impactful scale than existing initiatives. The state also recently passed a landmark pro-housing package to allow more homes in urban areas and in commercial zones.\n\n\u201cSolving our state\u2019s housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges of this generation. It will take our collective efforts \u2013 federal, state, and county \u2013 to solve it. That\u2019s why we created this grant program and are helping reward states like Hawai\u2018i that are doing the right thing to build more housing and help local families find an affordable home,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\nFor decades, local zoning and land use regulations as well as lack of necessary housing-related infrastructure have prevented housing production from keeping pace with population and economic growth, resulting in a nationwide housing shortage. The PRO Housing program, a first-of-its-kind federal program, will help reverse this trend by rewarding state, local, and regional jurisdictions that address exclusionary zoning practices, land use policies, and housing infrastructure to increase the supply of affordable housing. These policies include increasing density, reducing minimum lot sizes, creating transit-oriented development zones, streamlining or shortening permitting processes and timelines, expanding by-right multifamily zoned areas, allowing accessory dwelling units on lots with single family homes, eliminating or relaxing residential property height limitations, eliminating or reducing off-street parking requirements, and allowing the conversion of vacant retail and office space into residential housing. In this first round, applications were submitted from more than 175 communities \u2013 representing a wide variety of demographics, geographies and population sizes \u2013 across 47 States and territories.\n\nSchatz secured an additional $100 million for the new grant program in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill, which was signed into law in March.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-president-bidens-pardon-of-wrongly-convicted-lgbtqi-veterans", "Schatz Statement On President Biden\u2019s Pardon Of Wrongly Convicted LGBTQI+ Veterans", "2024-06-26", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), lead author of the bipartisan Restore Honor to Service Members Act, released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced he has pardoned former service members who were wrongly convicted because of their sexual orientation.\n\n\u201cThe president\u2019s action today will give thousands of brave veterans a chance to correct their military records\u2014to remove an unwarranted discharge that was given to them for no other reason other than being gay. It would remove the mark of shame they carry, give them access to benefits they have earned, and finally give them the respect and honor they rightly deserve.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-42-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-improve-roads-sidewalks-traffic-lights-in-hilo-honolulu", "Schatz: Hawai\u2018i Set To Receive More Than $42 Million In New Federal Funding To Improve Roads, Sidewalks, Traffic Lights In Hilo, Honolulu", "2024-06-24", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today announced that the Hawai?i Department of Transportation (HDOT) and the City and County of Honolulu will receive a total of more than $42.5 million in new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support a improvements to roads, sidewalks, and infrastructure in Hilo and Honolulu.\n\n\u201cThis new federal funding will help make streets in Hilo and Honolulu safer for everyone \u2013 drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians,\u201d said Senator Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.\n\nSchatz\u2019s office worked closely with HDOT throughout the grant application process to ensure the state submitted a strong, competitive application. The DOT funding, which comes from two Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, includes the following:\n\nHilo Bayfront Highway and Waianuenue Avenue Intersection in Hilo \u2013 $17.5 million | The funding will be used to reconstruct roadways adjacent to and at the intersection of Bayfront Highway and Waianuenue Avenue to allow for a single-lane roundabout, ADA-compliant sidewalks and roadway crossings, drainage improvements, reconfiguration of parking, and other roadway improvements including new highway lighting, electrical infrastructure relocations, signage, pavement markings, pedestrian signals, raised crosswalks, landscape, traffic management devices, and other utility adjustments. In the past two years, this intersection saw three collisions and one tragic death, in which the police cited lack of bicyclist infrastructure as the reason for the cyclist\u2019s unfortunate death.\n\nSalt Lake Boulevard Complete Streets in Honolulu \u2013 $25 million | The funding will be used to add an additional lane and execute a complete streets redesign of a 1.5-mile segment of Salt Lake Boulevard near the newly opened Halawa Rail Station. The project includes expanding the roadway from 2-lanes to 4-lanes, turning lanes, dedicated bicycle lanes, widened ADA sidewalks, waterlines, utility relocations, stormwater drainage system, bioswale, lighting, and traffic signal upgrades. This is the final segment of a project started in the 1970s, and as such acts as a traffic bottleneck for the corridor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-murray-reed-whitehouse-pocan-scott-introduce-bill-to-double-pell-grant-make-college-more-affordable", "Hirono, Murray, Reed, Whitehouse, Pocan, Scott Introduce Bill to Double Pell Grant, Make College More Affordable", "2024-06-21", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (D-VA) introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, index the maximum award for inflation, and make other changes to expand the award for working students and families. The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of federal financial aid for postsecondary education, serving over 6 million undergraduate students.\n\n\u201cPell Grants help to make postsecondary education more affordable for thousands of students in Hawaii and millions across the country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cHowever, as the cost of attending college has continued to rise over the years, the purchasing power of the Pell Grant has steadily declined. I\u2019m proud to reintroduce this legislation to restore the value of Pell Grants and enable more students to access higher education.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy siblings and I were able to go to college thanks to federal support, and students today deserve to know the federal government has their back and will help them pursue their dreams, too. Pell Grants cover far less than they used to, but this bill will help fix that\u2014and provide long-term stability for Pell\u2014by doubling the maximum award and indexing it to inflation,\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cI'm going to keep pushing to pass this legislation and help ensure every student can pursue a higher education\u2014no matter how much money their family has.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pell grant is the cornerstone of our federal financial aid programs. But over the years, the grant has covered a shrinking percentage of the actual cost of college, requiring students to take on more debt or, even worse, not continue their education. This legislation would help expand access to Pell grants, lower student debt, strengthen our workforce and economy, and help deserving students achieve their full potential,\u201d said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.\n\n\u201cPell Grants, one of Senator Claiborne Pell\u2019s great legacies, have helped make college more affordable for generations of Rhode Islanders,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cOur bill would increase the maximum Pell Grant award and expand eligibility for the program, giving more students the opportunity to make their dreams of higher education a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pell Grant is the most important tool we have to help students afford college. Unfortunately, due to the rising cost of college, the purchasing power of Pell Grants has severely eroded over time,\u201d said Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce. \u201cBy doubling the maximum Pell award, and adjusting future awards for inflation, the Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act will go a long way to restore the purchasing power and help millions of students earn a quality degree, without being forced to take on excessive debt.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one should be denied a chance at a higher education if they are smart and capable enough but are unable to afford it. As a recipient of the Pell Grant myself, I know just how instrumental of a tool it is to make college accessible for all,\u201d Congressman Pocan said. \u201cUnfortunately, skyrocketing tuition costs and perpetual underfunding continue to undermine this critical program. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act would not only double the maximum Pell Grant, it would protect the program from future cuts, expand eligibility to include DREAMers, and ensure that postsecondary education is attainable for every student\u2014regardless of their socioeconomic status.\u201d\n\nIn addition to doubling the Pell Grant maximum award and indexing the maximum award for inflation, the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act also makes the Pell Grant funding fully mandatory to protect it from funding shortfalls, expands the program to include DREAMers, and restores lifetime eligibility for the program to 18 semesters, among other changes that will benefit students.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education, no matter the size of their parent\u2019s paycheck,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cAs a proud first-generation college graduate, I know the challenges students face in accessing an affordable education, especially as the cost of education continues to climb. Congress must take action to make higher education more accessible for all families and students, including the Dreamers who call America home and strengthen our workforce and communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery year, millions of students rely on Pell Grants to afford higher education,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this bill to increase the Pell Grant award, boost funding for the program, and allow more students to access this crucial support. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill to help future generations get the education and training they need to pursue their dreams.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal Pell Grants are a critical financial lifeline for students working toward a college degree, but their value has been far outstripped by the runaway cost of higher education. It\u2019s long past time that we take action to strengthen the Pell Grant to open the doors to greater educational and economic opportunity for students across the nation,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\n\u201cPell Grants open the door to higher education for millions of students who otherwise wouldn\u2019t have access to college. But it\u2019s vital that Pell Grants track with the true costs of obtaining a college degree,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI\u2019m joining my colleagues to introduce the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act to double the Pell Grant award to support students as they continue their education, regardless of their financial situation.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigher education should be a ticket to the middle class\u2014not a barrier to opportunity,\u201d Duckworth said. \u201cEvery American deserves the opportunity to enroll in college and complete a degree, and expanding and strengthening Pell Grants is one important way to help. I\u2019m proud to join Senators Hirono and Murray in introducing this legislation to do just that and help ensure more students have access to higher education.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal Pell Grant program opens the door to higher education opportunities, helping millions of students and families access education\u2014including many here in Vermont. But chronic underfunding has prevented the program from keeping up with inflation and fully meeting students\u2019 needs\u2014and undocumented students like Dreamers are cut out entirely,\u201d said Senator Welch. \u201cThis bill improves the Pell Grant program to help make higher education more attainable and affordable for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll Granite Staters deserve access to affordable higher education. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act to increase the impact of Pell Grants, which serve as a lifeline to higher education and economic mobility for millions of students across the country,\u201d said Senator Shaheen.\n\n\u201cThe only prerequisite for secondary education opportunities should be a passion for learning. The Pell Grant program is a proven pathway for more diversity on college campuses and ensures that higher education is not reserved for those with generational wealth,\u201d said Senator Ben Cardin.\n\n\u201cPell Grants make it possible for every student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, to pursue higher education and earn a quality degree without being burdened by excessive debt. This critical legislation restores the purchasing power of the Pell Grant and ensures that this instrumental tool continues to make college accessible for all. With the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, we can be sure that more students are supported in their academic endeavors and are provided with the opportunity to succeed,\u201d said Blumenthal.\n\n\u201cEach year, Pell Grants help make college more affordable for millions of students and families across the country, including hundreds of thousands in New York,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand. \u201cI am proud to cosponsor the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024, which will double the maximum Pell Grant award and expand Pell Grant eligibility to help make college more affordable for low-income and first-generation college students. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill passed to ensure that all students have access to higher education, regardless of socioeconomic status.\u201d\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be where I am today without Pell Grants and low-interest student loans, and by strengthening these federal investments, we can help break down barriers for low-income students across the country who may otherwise be prevented from pursuing higher education because of the daunting financial burden,\u201d said Senator Reverend Warnock. \u201cThis legislation will bolster Pell Grants for generations of students to come, unlocking opportunity for countless Americans. I am proud to work with Senator Hirono on this and look forward to getting it done.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a proud recipient of the Pell Grant, I know the transformative power of the program in turning the dream of higher education into a reality for students in California and across the nation,\u201d said Senator Butler. \u201cWe must expand the Pell Grant Program to put higher education in reach so that every student has the opportunity to succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pell Grant has long been an incredible resource for students and it's important we ensure future generations can continue to benefit from the program,\u201d said Klobuchar. \u201cThis legislation will expand the Pell Grant, double the maximum award, and protect its true value from eroding over time to make college more affordable for students from all walks of life.\u201d\n\n\u201cEducation is the great equalizer, and it's essential that everyone has access to quality education, regardless of their economic situation,\u201d said Senator Fetterman. \u201cThe Pell Grant has been a crucial asset in helping underserved communities keep up with the rapidly climbing costs of higher education. This legislation enhances that initiative, balancing the scale in support of working students and families in achieving their professional goals. I am proud to join my colleagues in expanding this vital resource to ensure higher education remains within reach for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery student in America should be able to access higher education without the fear of being saddled with a lifetime of crushing debt,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cI was the first in my family to go to college, and I know that high tuition costs can be an insurmountable barrier for many students. Expanding and preserving Pell Grants\u2014a key federal financial aid program\u2014will help put this dream within reach for millions and unlock the doors of opportunity for current and future generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cPell Grants make college possible for millions of first-generation, low-income, immigrant, Black, brown, and non-traditional students every year. As we face a college affordability and student debt crisis, now is the time to strengthen and expand Pell,\u201d said Senator Markey.\n\n\u201cPell Grants help millions of students afford higher education, but as the cost of college has skyrocketed since the Pell Grant was established in 1973, the maximum award hasn\u2019t come close to keeping up. In fact, the Pell Grant once covered most of the cost of attending a public or community college, but today it covers less than a quarter of those costs. This legislation would give the program a much-needed boost and help ensure that all students can afford college if that's the pathway that best suits their academic and career goals,\u201d said Murphy.\n\n\u201cThe federal Pell Grant has enabled generations of Americans to pursue a college degree. But the Pell Grant\u2019s purchasing power has not kept up with rising tuition costs, leaving the high price of a college education out of reach for many Americans,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cI am proud to be a part of this legislation that will revitalize the Pell Grant and help make higher education more affordable for Americans.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Murray, Reed, and Whitehouse, the bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nIn addition to Representatives Scott and Pocan, the bill is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Cori Bush (D-MO), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Alma Adams (D-NC), Andre Carson (D-IN), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).\n\nThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act is endorsed by American Association of Community Colleges (AACC); Association of Community College Trustees (AACT); American Association for State College and Universities (AASCU); Association of American Universities (AAU); American Association of University Professors (AAUP); American Association of University Women (AAUW); American Council on Education (ACE); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC); Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars (APIA Scholars); Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU); Arizona Students\u2019 Association; Associated Students of the University of California: Berkeley; Center for American Progress (CAP); Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Denver Scholarship Foundation; The Education Trust (Ed Trust); Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP); Jobs for the Future (JFF); Menlo College; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU); National College Attainment Network (NCAN); National Education Association (NEA); New American Higher Education Policy Program; National Skills Coalition (NSC); Partnership for the Future; Phi Beta Kappa; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Southern California College Attainment Network; State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO); The Hope Center at Temple University; Third Way; The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS); Today\u2019s Students Coalition (formerly HLA); uAspire; United Negro College Fund (UNCF); UNITE-LA; and Young Invincibles.\n\n\u201cAPLU applauds Senators Hirono, Reed, and Whitehouse, Ranking Member Scott, and Representative Pocan for their leadership on Double Pell. This legislation to substantially boost Pell, index it to inflation, and expand eligibility would help millions more students. Pell Grants are critical to helping students afford and complete a life-changing college education while strengthening the nation\u2019s workforce to compete globally,\u201d said Mark Becker, President of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re proud to endorse the PGPEA, an important step forward in the fight to ensure equitable and affordable access to higher education for all students. Progress has been made in the past fifty years in overcoming discriminatory barriers and opening doors to students, but the rapidly increasing cost of college and high levels of student debt are curtailing access for many students. While the Pell grant remains an important aid for low-income students, inflation has eroded its value. The enhancements proposed in this bill will help guarantee that all students can access higher education--invaluable for building prosperity; advancing social, racial, and economic justice; strengthening democracy and civil society; and fostering knowledge and innovation,\u201d said the American Association of University Professors (AAUP).\n\n\u201cCLASP firmly believes in the transformative power of education as a pathway to economic mobility and social equity. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act is a critical step toward ensuring that all students, regardless of their financial background, can access and complete higher education. By doubling the maximum Pell Grant award, shifting the Pell Grant program to fully mandatory funding, and allowing Dreamers to access federal financial aid, this legislation addresses the urgent needs of individuals with low incomes and communities of color. We wholeheartedly support this Act and urge lawmakers to prioritize its passage, as it represents a significant investment in our nation's future,\u201d said India Heckstall, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for Law & Social Policy.\n\n\u201cEd Trust is proud to support the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, a transformative proposal to enhance the accessibility and affordability of higher education for millions of low-income students and students of color across the United States. By increasing the maximum Pell award, ensuring the grants keep pace with inflation, and expanding eligibility to undocumented students, this act addresses the growing financial barriers that impede educational attainment. Supporting this act is essential for fostering educational equity and ultimately ensuring that higher education remains a viable pathway to upward mobility for all Americans,\u201d said Wil Del Pilar, Senior Vice President of EdTrust.\n\n\u201cThe Pell Grant is the cornerstone of federal financial aid, but the only way we can ensure its long-term survival is to treat it just like other permanent, or \u2018mandatory\u2019 programs that aren\u2019t subject to the whims of a tumultuous annual appropriations process,\u201d said Bryce McKibben, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy at The Hope Center at Temple University. \u201cThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act would do just that\u2014ensuring this vital grant covers more students with financial need, grows with college costs, and will be around for generations to come. It is a vision for a better and more inclusive future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pell Grant program is our nation\u2019s foundational investment in college affordability, but the award has not kept pace with rising costs, and the program\u2019s funding structure leaves it vulnerable to annual cuts,\u201d said Michele Zampini, Senior Director of College Affordability at TICAS. \u201cWe strongly support the PGPEA, which not only doubles the maximum Pell award to make college far more affordable for millions of low- and moderate-income students but expands, protects, and strengthens the program for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cStaggering tuition costs, state disinvestment and the diminished purchasing power of the Pell Grant have made higher education increasingly unattainable\u2014stifling the dreams of a generation and stymieing economic growth. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act is a bold solution that will double the Pell Grant, make sure the award keeps up with inflation, restore additional semesters of eligibility, and relieve the annual budgetary pressures with mandatory funding. This act is a critical investment in the future of our country, and it is not one that can wait. I urge Congress to quickly adopt these important improvements to the Pell Grant program,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, AFT President.\n\n\u201cSHEEO is proud to endorse the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act,\u201d said Rob Anderson, SHEEO President. \u201cPell Grants remain the cornerstone federal program for college affordability, and this legislation will revitalize and expand Pell to make college more affordable for students in the years ahead. We urge Congress to take up and pass this important bill without delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act takes critical and long overdue steps to strengthen and stabilize the Pell Grant, restore its purchasing power to better meet student need today and into the future, and ensure that Pell can truly deliver on its promise of making college dreams accessible and affordable,\u201d said Michelle Dimino, Director of Education at Third Way. \u201cThird Way applauds Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) for championing this important legislation to invest in student success for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cPell Grants are life-changing, opening doors for students to pursue their academic and career goals without the burden of excessive debt. Higher education associations, organizations, and advocacy groups have long advocated for doubling the maximum Federal Pell Grant award; this is an essential step in ensuring students from low- and moderate-income communities can access a more affordable college education. Furthermore, expanding Pell Grant eligibility to DACA recipients is a critical investment in the future of young adults and their well-being. Young Invincibles is proud to endorse the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act and continue to advocate for a debt-free path to higher education,\u201d said Satra D. Taylor, Director of Higher Education and Workforce Policy and Advocacy at Young Invicibles.\n\n\u201cAPIA Scholars supports the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2024 as a crucial step toward ensuring educational accessibility and equity for all students, particularly those from underserved communities. The cost of higher education remains a top barrier preventing students from enrolling in college and a significant factor in why currently enrolled students drop out. APIA Scholars\u2019 data disaggregation work has further shown that many Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students rely heavily on the Pell Grant to pursue higher education,\u201d said Dr. No\u00ebl S. Harmon, President and Executive Director, APIA Scholars. \u201cPreservation and expansion of the Pell Grant strengthens a lifeline for many underserved AANHPI students and reaffirms our commitment to breaking down financial barriers and empowering AANHPI students who are in need across the nation. Especially now, we believe that an expansion of the Pell Grant program is critical given stagnant completion rates across the country due to the lingering impact of the pandemic. We believe in the transformative power of education and bolstering the Pell Grant program represents a pivotal move toward making higher education accessible and achievable for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cPell Grants are a much-needed lifeline for students and workers pursing a postsecondary education,\u201d said Karishma Merchant, Associate Vice President of Policy & Advocacy at JFF. \u201cThe Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act would help modernize the Pell Grant program by expanding the maximum grant award, broadening access to part-time students and Dreamers, and helping streamline eligibility across federal benefit programs. These are critical steps in supporting postsecondary affordability and ensuring more individuals can obtain a postsecondary credential and ultimately good jobs.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here. A fact sheet is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-announce-legislation-to-establish-a-commission-on-federal-boarding-school-policies-heading-to-senate-floor-for-consideration", "Schatz, Murkowski Announce Legislation To Establish A Commission On Federal Boarding School Policies Heading To Senate Floor For Consideration", "2024-06-20", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, today announced the release of S.1723, Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act from Committee. The legislation, authored by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would establish a federal commission to investigate, document, and acknowledge past injustices of the federal government's former Indian Boarding School policies. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.\n\n\u201cFor more than a century, the federal government\u2019s Indian Boarding School policies and practices sought to destroy Native languages, cultures, and identities. The Committee has heard from and reflected on over 100 comments from survivors, descendants, Tribal leaders, Tribal citizens, advocates, religious organizations, local governments, and experts about the need for Congress to act and help address the intergenerational impacts of the shameful history of Indian Boarding Schools,\u201d said Chairman Schatz. \u201cIt\u2019s long past time that we reckon with this painful history. Now that this bill is ready for floor action, I look forward to moving it through the Senate quickly.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is the responsibility of the U.S. government to come to terms with the dark legacy of the Indian boarding school era, and to help all those affected to find healing. That\u2019s why I introduced legislation with Senator Warren to create this formal truth and healing commission,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cBy acknowledging past wrongs and actively working toward transparency and justice, we can begin to rebuild trust with Indigenous communities who still feel the repercussions of these federal assimilationist policies. The details and the work documented in today\u2019s committee report further demonstrate the need for this legislation. I encourage my colleagues to act quickly to enact this legislation into law before the end of the year.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor over a century, the cruel Indian Boarding School policies ripped children from their homes, and forced them into schools where they faced abuse, neglect, trauma, and even death. A Truth and Healing Commission will help us fully investigate the effects of these policies and propose ways to heal the harms caused. Today marks a critical step toward passing my bill to create that commission, and I urge Congress to pass this bill,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\nAn amended version of S. 1723 passed out of Committee, reflecting extensive bipartisan review, analysis, and debate of comments from the Administration, Native people and communities, Faith groups, and others. The Committee has prepared a comprehensive committee report reflecting this feedback.\n\nThe full Committee report of S.1723 is available here, and the reported text is available here. A summary and overview of the bill is available here. Answers to frequently asked questions are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/photos-and-video-hirono-and-chamber-of-commerce-hawaii-host-8th-annual-hawaii-on-the-hill-in-washington-dc", "PHOTOS & VIDEO: Hirono and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Host 8th Annual \u201cHawaii on the Hill\u201d in Washington, D.C.", "2024-06-18", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, hosted several events as part of the 8th Annual Hawaii on the Hill (HOH) in Washington, D.C. Hawaii on the Hill, a partnership between Senator Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce (CoC) Hawaii, was a four-day event that provided members of the Hawaii business community with the opportunity to meet directly with Congressional leaders and Administration officials, while also showcasing Hawaii businesses and products to Members of Congress, their staff, and the D.C. community. This year, dozens of individuals from across the islands, representing nearly 60 Hawaii businesses and nonprofits from the state, were in attendance.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s Hawaii on the Hill events were a huge success\u2014from the welcome reception to the policy summit, local business owners and members of the Hawaii community had many opportunities to connect with federal policymakers, experts, and my colleagues here in D.C.,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cMahalo to all of the people and businesses who made these events possible, especially our popular \u2018Taste of Hawaii on the Hill\u2019 event\u2014it is no small task to prepare perishable products and supplies, then ship them thousands of miles across the country. I am grateful for the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii\u2019s partnership in hosting a successful 8th Annual Hawaii on the Hill, and I look forward to continuing our work together to support Hawaii\u2019s small businesses and business owners.\u201d\n\n\u201cTaste of Hawaii on the Hill is one of our greatest ambassadors of culture during our visit to Washington, D.C.,\u201d said Chamber of Commerce Hawaii CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara. \u201cThis served as a signature event to bring the capitol community together, in unity, around a shared love for the products and services of Hawaii. This year more than a thousand people came from offices from across the nation to celebrate the culture of Hawaii. Our 2024 delegation of proprietors represented the delicious diversity of our business community from across the state.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono and CoC Hawaii, Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi served as an Honorary Co-Chair of Hawaii on the Hill.\n\nAt the beginning of the week, Senator Hirono participated in a fireside chat and talk story event moderated by Sherry Menor-McNamara, CoC Hawaii President and CEO. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Senator Hirono about her work in the Senate to support Hawaii businesses and communities and also engaged with the Senator in a Q&A.\n\nSenator Hirono and Sherry Menor-McNamara during the Fireside Chat.\n\nLater that day, Senator Hirono and CoC Hawaii hosted the highly anticipated Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill. More than 1,000 people attended this year\u2019s event, which allowed Members of Congress and their staff to experience and learn more about Hawaii\u2019s unique culture through cuisine, music, and more. The venue was decorated with beautiful flowers and foliage from Hawaii, and each guest received a fresh orchid lei upon arrival. Attendees also enjoyed live music performed by Hawaii artists as they visited each table and sampled delicious food and drink from across the islands. Some of this year\u2019s exhibitors included: Kauai Coffee; The Orchid Lei Company; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Department of Agriculture; Hawaiian Chip Company; Kauai Kookie; Koloa Rum; Hawaiian Airlines; Alaska Airlines; and the University of Hawaii.\n\nSenator Hirono, Sherry Menor-McNamara, and Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami, join others in singing \u201cHawaii Aloha\u201d at the conclusion of the event.\n\nOn Tuesday morning, Senator Hirono hosted the Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit, which featured remarks from Susan Collins (R-ME), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Dilawar Syed, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration; Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce; David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); and Jennifer DeCesaro, Senior Director for Resilience at the White House. The speakers discussed a variety of issues important to businesses in Hawaii and across the country, including the unique challenges local businesses in Hawaii face, federal assistance for those affected by last year\u2019s wildfires in Lahaina, programs that provide support for businesses and nonprofits in Hawaii, and building community resilience and partnerships.\n\nSenator Hirono, Sherry Menor-McNamara, Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi, and Hawaii on the Hill attendees in the Russell Rotunda.\n\nPhotos of the Fireside Chat are available here.\n\nPhotos of the Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill are available here and videos are available here.\n\nPhotos of the Policy Summit are available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-on-senate-floor-hirono-raises-alarm-about-pending-scotus-chevron-doctrine-decision", "VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Hirono Raises Alarm About Pending SCOTUS Chevron Doctrine Decision", "2024-06-18", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the Supreme Court\u2019s pending decision in Loper Bright Enterperises v. Raimondo, which threatens to upend the federal regulatory system by eliminating the Chevron doctrine. In her speech, Hirono laid out the disastrous impacts overturning Chevron could have on everyday decisions that federal agency experts have to make, jeopardizing the regulatory system of our country.\n\n\u201cTo be clear, this case is not about the so-called major questions doctrine, but about the sorts of day-to-day decisions that federal agency experts have to make when implementing programs to protect the American people,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cIt would empower the hundreds of individual federal judges to overrule carefully-considered rule-making decisions by agency experts, turning a consistent regulatory framework into a chaotic mess of conflicting opinions.\u201d\n\nThe Chevron doctrine, a 40-year-old doctrine\u2014with roots that go back to our country\u2019s founding\u2014is to a functioning federal government. The Chevron doctrine recognizes that Congress delegates authority to technical experts at federal agencies, so that those agencies can effectively and efficiently implement federal laws in their areas of expertise, in line with Congressional intent. As a result, courts have generally deferred to reasonable interpretations by administrative agencies when the law is unclear or ambiguous.\n\nThe Chevron doctrine was originally favored by conservative judges who viewed it as a check against judicial activism. In recent years, however, many conservatives have turned against the Chevron doctrine, viewing it as an impediment to their efforts to consolidate power and enable far-right judges to legislate from the bench. Now, the same far-right ideologues that fought to end Roe are all in for ending Chevron as well.\n\n\u201cEliminating Chevron now, after more than four decades, would sow chaos and confusion on agency actions moving forward, as well as the nearly 18,000 federal cases that have been decided based on the Chevron doctrine,\u201d continued Senator Hirono. \u201cAnd even if the Court stops short of fully eliminating Chevron, significantly narrowing it will have much the same effect. Overturning Chevron is yet one more component of the far-right's broader agenda to capture the courts, advance their conservative ideological agenda, and hollow out our regulatory system.\u201d\n\nA transcript of Senator Hirono\u2019s floor speech is below and video is available for download here.\n\nM. President, I rise today deeply concerned that the far-right majority on the Supreme Court is preparing to sow further chaos in our country. Any day now, the Court is expected to rule on two cases pertaining to the Chevron doctrine, a 40-year-old doctrine\u2014with roots that go back to our country\u2019s founding\u2014that is critical to a functioning federal government.\n\nThe Chevron doctrine is pretty simple\u2014it recognizes that Congress delegates authority to technical experts at federal agencies, so that those agencies can effectively and efficiently implement federal laws in their areas of expertise, in line with Congressional intent. As a result, for nearly four decades, courts generally have deferred to reasonable interpretations by administrative agencies when the law is unclear or ambiguous.\n\nIn fact, before 1984, lower-court judges were criticized for overriding agency experts and imposing their own policy views\u2014that is why the Court handed down the Chevron decision in the first place. The Chevron doctrine was originally favored by conservative judges, including the conservative majority on the Supreme Court during the Reagan Administration, who viewed it as a check against judicial activism. In recent years, however, many on the right have turned against the Chevron doctrine, viewing it as an impediment to their efforts to consolidate power and enable far-right judges to legislate from the bench. Now, the same far-right ideologues that fought to end Roe are all in for ending Chevron as well.\n\nJustice Gorsuch, one of the most outspoken critics of Chevron, has gone so far as to call for the Court to give the doctrine \u201ca tombstone no one can miss.\u201d And the so-called Alliance Defending Freedom, the same group leading the charge to eliminate access to mifepristone, as approved by the FDA, has called for the Chevron doctrine to go, asserting without evidence that it allows agency experts to \u201cimpos[e] personal political agendas that Congress has not authorized.\u201d\n\nTo be clear, this case is not about the so-called major questions doctrine, but about the sorts of day-to-day decisions that federal agency experts have to make when implementing laws. Overturning Chevron would undermine these sorts of everyday decisions, and in doing so, jeopardize the regulatory system on which much of our country, and our economy, rests. It would empower the hundreds of individual federal judges to overrule carefully-considered rule-making decisions by agency experts, turning a consistent regulatory framework into a chaotic mess of conflicting opinions.\n\nAt its core, this case is about who should be making policy decisions on issues that affect our lives \u2013 subject matter experts, or federal judges?\n\nWho gets to determine the safety of the air we breathe \u2013 environmental scientists at the EPA or federal judges?\n\nWho decides whether or not a new drug is actually effective \u2013 doctors at the FDA or federal judges?\n\nWho determines whether nursing homes are meeting safety standards \u2013 elder care experts at HHS or federal judges?\n\nWith no disrespect to our federal judges, they lack the expertise to make these kinds of decisions. And while Congress enacts legislation at a high level, it recognizes that the institutional capacity and expertise to implement legislation exist within executive agencies. That is why federal agencies exist\u2014to implement informed, evidence-based regulations that provide a level of regulatory certainty and stability.\n\nEliminating Chevron now, after more than four decades, would sow chaos and confusion on agency actions moving forward, as well as the nearly 18,000 federal cases that have been decided based on the Chevron doctrine. And even if the Court stops short of fully eliminating Chevron, significantly narrowing it will have much the same effect.\n\nOverturning Chevron is yet one more component of the far-right's broader agenda to capture the courts, advance their conservative ideological agenda, and hollow out our regulatory system. The Court will hand down a decision in this highly important case in a matter of days. And we will see whether this case becomes yet another cautionary tale for a Court that has been busy overturning decades of precedent and sowing chaos left, right, and center.\n\nThank you and I yield.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/06/14/2024/hirono-secures-key-priorities-for-hawaii-and-pacific-region-in-committee-markup-of-annual-defense-bill", "Hirono Secures Key Priorities for Hawaii and Pacific Region in Committee Markup of Annual Defense Bill", "2024-06-14", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, secured several key priorities for Hawaii and the U.S. military during the Committee\u2019s markup of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nSince the fuel leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2021, Senator Hirono has continued to work closely with Department of Defense (DOD) leadership, community leaders in Hawaii, and her Senate colleagues to help ensure the safe and timely defueling and closure of Red Hill. In the FY 2023 NDAA, Senator Hirono also helped secure $1 billion for the defueling and closure of Red Hill. Building on that progress, she secured additional Red Hill-related provisions in this year\u2019s NDAA, including the creation of a new \u201cmajor mishaps\u201d classification within the DOD.\n\n\u201cWhile we have made progress in defueling the Red Hill facility, we must address the long-term issues surrounding the health and safety of our servicemembers, families, and communities impacted by the fuel leaks,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs we continue to work towards the permanent and safe closure of Red Hill, it is crucial that transparent, open communication with the community is maintained and that systemic changes are made to prevent future incidents. That is why I have prioritized making improvements to the DOD\u2019s processes for handling major mishaps, and I\u2019ll continue working to ensure the impacted communities are protected and supported throughout this process.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the bill includes Red Hill-related provisions introduced by Senator Hirono that:\n\nInvests $505 million for the Water Treatment Plant at Red Hill, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam;\n\nContinues the Hawaii delegation\u2019s work to hold the DOD accountable for the Red Hill fuel leak by including language acknowledging the ongoing, long-term responsibility the Department has regarding Red Hill.\n\nSpecifically, it encourages the DOD to finalize a memorandum of agreement with the State of Hawaii formalizing a long-term commitment to environmental restoration and remediation as well as a research program to determine the total volume and location of any contaminated soil; and\n\nEstablishes a new DOD-wide classification system for \u201cmajor mishaps,\u201d defined as those incidents that surpass $500,000,000 in damage or result in the loss of five or more lives.\n\nIf an incident meets these criteria, the DOD will be required to assign a two-star Admiral or General as the investigating officer and complete the investigation in 12 months. For those persons in the military who are found responsible for the incident, the provision requires mandatory discharge processing and follow-on reports to Congress until all disciplinary actions are completed.\n\nAs Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Senator Hirono has also made modernizing DOD infrastructure in Hawaii and across the country a top priority. The NDAA markup includes numerous provisions secured by Senator Hirono focused on infrastructure; delivering for communities in Hawaii; supporting servicemembers and their families; strengthening DOD\u2019s capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region; and prioritizing sustainability within the DOD.\n\n\u201cBy investing in the construction and improvement of infrastructure projects in the state, across the country, and throughout the Pacific region, this bill will help ensure the readiness of our military and the health and safety of our servicemembers, their families, and surrounding communities,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m also proud to have secured provisions that invest over $2.5 billion for military construction projects in Hawaii, increases pay for military servicemembers and DOD civilian employees, and aims to strengthen partnerships with the DOD, state and local governments, and community members. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this passed and signed into law in the coming months.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the bill includes provisions introduced by Senator Hirono that:\n\nInvests in Critical Infrastructure:\n\nRequires the Navy to conduct more extensive planning on large military construction projects to more accurately identify operational mission need dates, and to routinely brief Congress on the status of the Pearl Harbor dry dock construction project until it is completed, including an assessment of the likelihood and steps being taken to avoid further cost increases.\n\nIncreases to $30 million the threshold of authority for the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to conduct military construction projects throughout the Region.\n\nRequires DOD to designate an official responsible for the coordination of infrastructure projects with the state and local government and community to support additional servicemembers and their families who will be stationed in Hawaii over the next 10 years.\n\nDirects DOD to implement all of the Inspector General Report recommendations related to issues at Defense Fuel Support Points around the world to help prevent future fuel leaks.\n\nDirects the Navy to brief Congress on its plan to repair the surface ship piers at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\nEqualizes the structure of jointly based services (such as those at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) by requiring each military department with responsibility for a joint base to submit a prioritized list of military construction projects to Congress. This will help to ensure tenant Services receive equitable prioritization for infrastructure funds from the host Service.\n\nAuthorizes increased funding to repair and improve enlisted barracks.\n\nDelivers for Hawaii:\n\nInvests over $2.5 billion for military construction projects in Hawaii:\n\n$1.2 billion for Dry Dock 3 replacement at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\n$231 million for Wheeler Army Airfield Aircraft Maintenance Hangar.\n\n$203.5 million for Hangar and Parking Apron at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay).\n\n$36.6 million for a Hawaii Air National Guard Space Control Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\n$105 million for the planning and design of a Waterfront Production Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.\n\n$94.2 million for Electrical Distribution and Modernization at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay).\n\n$64.1 million for the Main Gate Entry Control Facility at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay).\n\n$20 million for an Airfield Operations Building at Bradshaw Airfield on Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).\n\n$17 million for an Aircraft Refueling Pit at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay).\n\nAuthorizes over $100 million for the procurement of a dual-use, FAA aviation safety and missile defense radar in support of the defense of Hawaii.\n\nAuthorizes an additional $5 million above the President\u2019s budget for the Pacific Intelligence and Innovation Initiative (P3I), which creates a local skilled workforce to meet DOD demand for intelligence, IT, and cyber professionals in Hawaii.\n\nDirects DOD to create a pilot program for advanced manufacturing (3D printing) in the Indo-Pacific to expedite the manufacturing of repair parts and autonomous systems.\n\nRequires DOD to provide an update on coordination efforts with the State of Hawaii to maintain or extend the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.\n\nRequires the Army and Navy to coordinate a plan for the repair and maintenance of Kolekole Pass for emergency egress.\n\nDirects an update from DOD on providing training for cultural adaptation and community orientation for servicemembers assigned to Hawaii and Joint Region Marianas.\n\nExtends the public shipyard worker exemption from DOD\u2019s integrated lodging pilot program.\n\nSupports People:\n\nIncludes a 4.5 percent pay increase for military servicemembers and a 2 percent pay raise for DOD civilian employees. The military increase is the third highest pay raise in over 20 years and includes a separate additional basic pay increase for junior enlisted servicemembers.\n\nRequires DOD to provide basic coverage through TRICARE of artificial reproductive technology for active duty servicemembers and their families, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and cryopreservation of eggs and sperm. This would greatly support military families who experience challenges with natural conception.\n\nIn response to concerns about female uniform supply and availability, directs the Secretary of the Military Departments, in coordination with the Defense Logistics Agency, to develop a plan to allow for the quick access of all required uniform items.\n\nRequires DOD to include an explanation of patient-centered contraceptive counseling in its annual health assessment and pre-deployments forms to support family planning.\n\nIncludes multiple provisions to improve DOD efforts related to traumatic brain injury, including treating and researching injuries related to blast overpressure or exposure.\n\nCodifies the authority to hire military spouses into noncompetitive appointments in the civil service.\n\nAuthorizes an increase of $80 million of Impact Aid to support schools located near DOD concentration areas, including $30 million for children with severe disabilities.\n\nAuthorizes free high-speed internet access and wireless network connections for servicemembers who reside in unaccompanied housing within the United States.\n\nAuthorizes the military departments to provide payments to victims of designated criminal offenses, including health care, travel, and property loss or damage.\n\nEncourages the Defense Department to implement recommendations contained in three separate Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports related to improving the Department\u2019s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and directs a briefing detailing the progress in implementing all of the outstanding GAO recommendations.\n\nRequires the Air Force to transfer certain space functions of the Air National Guard to the Space Force, with the caveat that such transfer shall not reduce the end strength for the affected state Air National Guard organizations.\n\nAdditionally, requires the Secretary of the Air Force to afford at least one year for Air National Guard members to decide on whether they want to transfer to the Space Force. Additionally, for those members who do volunteer to transfer, requires the Secretary of the Air Force to provide 3 years of geographic stability in Hawaii.\n\nImproves on Senator Hirono\u2019s work on the Stayskal Act by adjusting the DOD medical malpractice claims process to require that a medical expert be board-certified in the medical specialty related to the underlying claim.\n\nStrengthens Our Ability to Protect the Pacific Region:\n\nAuthorizes the full budget request for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) and requires a plan for more effectively budgeting for PDI in future years.\n\nRequires a plan for the establishment of joint force headquarters subordinate to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Japan and Australia.\n\nAuthorizes an Indo-Pacific Security Assistance Initiative and authorizes DOD to provide or replenish defense articles and services to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nAuthorizes increased funding to enhance the submarine industrial base and support the construction of a second Virginia-class submarine in FY25 to provide additional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\nAuthorizes the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to carry out campaigning exercises that will strengthen alliances and partnerships, deter aggression by adversaries, and allow the U.S. Armed Forces to coordinate and operate with foreign military partners in the region.\n\nAuthorizes over $12 billion in additional military construction funds to rebuild Guam following Typhoon Mawar.\n\nEstablishes a cross-functional team to implement the recommendations of the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) reform.\n\nIncludes a variety of DOD acquisition reform proposals to streamline the delivery of critical weapons system procurement and save taxpayer money.\n\nDirects the DOD to examine the feasibility and advisability of providing resources and personnel to support construction and infrastructure maintenance on the Marshall Islands and Micronesia and directs a report on restoring the presence of civic action teams in these locations.\n\nEstablishes a medical readiness program with Indo-Pacific partner nations to ensure access to foreign medical facilities during peacetime and wartime operations.\n\nRequires a multi-year plan for DOD activities to establish a regional contingency stockpile for Taiwan.\n\nRequires a report on the military cooperation between China and Russia and the implications of such for U.S. national security.\n\nPrioritizes Sustainability and the Environment:\n\nIncludes $12.8 million of Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program funding for solar panel covered parking and EV charging station at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\nDirects the Army to provide a briefing regarding Hawaiian Homelands that surround DOD testing facilities that assesses advanced surveillance technologies to locate munitions and unexploded ordnance (UXO) and a schedule of upcoming surveying events.\n\nDirects the Navy to mitigate the further spread of the invasive octocoral found in Pearl Harbor.\n\nRequires DOD to prioritize the recycling of critical materials.\n\nAdds $20 million in Defense-wide Operations and Maintenance for the Readiness and Environmental Integration Program (REPI) which has funded several projects in Hawaii since its inception.\n\nAuthorizes $7 billion for the Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) defense environmental cleanup activities.\n\nRequires DOD to improve efforts to manage invasive species that exacerbate the risk of wildfires that can affect the health and safety of servicemembers, their families, and surrounding communities.\n\nDirects a briefing on DOD efforts to enhance military installation resilience through the scaling and adaptation of the DOD Climate Assessment Tool.\n\nDirects a briefing on the risks related to flooding and other natural disasters that threaten military installations and surrounding civilian infrastructure.\n\nRequires the Defense Department to brief Congress on policies for situations where an environmental release at an overseas base migrates off the installation.\n\nCodifies existing DOD policy that compels the military services to act to address any release or threatened release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and authorizes increased funding for PFAS clean-up effort and the ongoing CDC assessment of human health impacts from PFAS.\n\nCommittee approval is the first step in the process to establish defense funding levels and set policies for the DOD. The bill will next be debated and voted on by the full Senate. Once both the Senate and House pass their versions of the NDAA, they must be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee, and then approved by each chamber before a final version is sent to the President to be signed into law.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-announces-more-than-189-million-to-expand-access-to-safe-drinking-water-in-west-oahu", "Hirono Announces More Than $18.9 Million to Expand Access to Safe Drinking Water in West Oahu", "2024-06-14", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced more than $18.9 million in funding for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply\u2019s \u201cKalaeloa Seawater Desalination Project.\u201d The funding for this project will go toward designing and building a desalination facility that will remove dissolved mineral salts in seawater to obtain fresh drinking water, creating a new sustainable water source on Oahu.\n\n\u201cAs we work to combat the impacts of climate change, it is important that we protect Hawaii\u2019s natural resources and strengthen our water infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis project will help reduce reliance on our finite groundwater, while also creating a new reliable and sustainable water source on Oahu to meet increasing demand. Hawaii\u2019s families deserve access to clean, safe drinking water and I am glad this funding will support our sustainability efforts and community growth in West Oahu.\u201d\n\nThe new desalination facility will use reverse osmosis to remove salt from seawater, effectively creating a sustainable water source that can be used during periods of drought\u2014for climate change resilience\u2014and will reduce water transfers from Central Oahu to Ewa. The facility will also help meet increased demand for safe, potable drinking water and reduce reliance on groundwater as a water source. It will produce 1.7 million gallons of potable water per day, with provisions for future expansion to 5 million gallons of potable water a day. This funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of the Interior\u2019s Bureau of Reclamation Title XVI Program, which identifies and investigates opportunities to reclaim and reuse wastewaters and impaired ground and surface water in the 17 Western states and Hawaii.\n\nSenator Hirono, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has championed legislation to protect Hawaii\u2019s environment and natural resources, while also working to support local farmers and agriculture, and speed the transition to clean, renewable energy in Hawaii and across the country. In June 2024, Senator Hirono introduced the National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center Establishment Act, legislation that would create and fund a National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to promote the conservation and restoration of native plant communities across the U.S. In May 2024, Senator Hirono announced that the U.S. Forest Service is awarding more than $5.6 million to help plan for and prevent wildfires in Hawaii. The funding, made available through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program, will be allocated to nine projects across the state to help at-risk communities plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire. In October 2023, Senator Hirono announced $2 million in federal support for three projects working to advance environmental justice across Hawaii. The projects will ensure that disadvantaged communities, who have historically suffered from underinvestment, have access to clean air and water and climate resilience solutions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-supreme-courts-ruling-in-mifepristone-case", "Hirono Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Ruling in Mifepristone Case", "2024-06-13", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, a case concerning access to mifepristone.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision has preserved access to mifepristone for now, however, the door remains open so that this access could be challenged again in the future. Let\u2019s be clear\u2014we are in this position because the far-right super majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe and sowed chaos for millions of people across the country. Our rights should not be dependent on the ideological whims of this Court\u2014we must secure the fundamental rights of all Americans to access abortion and make decisions about their own bodies and futures. That is why we need to pass the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act and protect access to reproductive health care for all.\u201d\n\nA long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to abortion care for all. Last April, Senator Hirono joined over 200 of her colleagues in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, in support of the Biden administration\u2019s appeal of federal district court judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk\u2019s Friday ruling that suspends the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) more than 20-year-old approval of mifepristone\u2014threatening access to mifepristone for patients nationwide, as well as FDA\u2019s Congressionally-mandated authority and drug approval process. That month, she also released a statement in response to a Trump-appointed, right-wing U.S. District Court Judge\u2019s decision that would effectively ban mifepristone nationwide. The lawsuit, which was filed in November 2022 by the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine\u2014a coalition of anti-abortion medical associations and doctors\u2014sought a preliminary and permanent injunction ordering the FDA to withdraw approval for mifepristone, which it issued over 20 years ago. Last March, she also joined her colleagues in sending a letter to Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer, expressing concern regarding recent reports that the company would not dispense medication abortion in 21 states where Republican Attorneys General threatened the company. In February, Senators Hirono, Hassan, and Warren led a group of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Danco Laboratories, a manufacturer of mifepristone, urging them to submit an application to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to add miscarriage management to the medication\u2019s label\u2014which currently only includes medication abortion but can also be safely and legally used for miscarriage management.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-hirono-votes-to-protect-access-to-ivf-blasts-republicans-on-senate-floor", "VIDEO: Hirono Votes to Protect Access to IVF, Blasts Republicans on Senate Floor", "2024-06-13", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) voted in support of the Right to IVF Act, legislation to protect the right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, as well as expand insurance coverage of IVF treatment for those who struggle with infertility. Prior to the vote\u2014which failed on the Senate floor, with only two Republicans voting to advance it\u2014Senator Hirono delivered a speech blasting Republicans for blocking IVF protection bills twice this year and highlighted that IVF treatment has been provided safely for over 45 years.\n\n\u201cFor decades, IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, have helped people, who otherwise couldn\u2019t, start families of their own,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cWhile some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so. The first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world.\u201d\n\nIn her remarks, Senator Hirono spoke to the importance of Senate Democrats\u2019 legislation to protect the right to IVF, amid rising attacks on IVF from Republicans across the country.\n\n\u201cThe last thing people trying to conceive need to worry about is being criminalized by some of the states I mentioned like Alabama because of the whims of far-right jurists and politicians,\u201d continued Senator Hirono. \u201cThat\u2019s why this bill is so important. It would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other ART services, and a right for doctors to provide IVF treatment. And, crucially, it would require and expand health insurance coverage of IVF, because we know access without affordability is not true access.\u201d\n\nSenator Hirono also called out Republican colleagues for voting against the legislation, despite claiming to support IVF access.\n\n\u201cMy Republican colleagues appear blinded by their obsession with power and control over women\u2019s bodies that they\u2019re unable to support even this common-sense bill\u2014again indicating how out of touch Republicans are with the needs of particularly women in our country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cIt is disappointing, but not surprising.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, the Supreme Court of Alabama invoked a \u2018fetal personhood\u2019 law, ruling that frozen embryos have the same rights as children, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state. Following this ruling, Senator Hirono joined over 40 of her colleagues in introducing the Access to Family Building Act, legislation\u2014also blocked by Republicans\u2014that would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other ART services without prohibition, limitation, or interference, and a right for doctors to provide IVF treatment.\n\nA transcript of Senator Hirono\u2019s floor speech is below and video is available for download here.\n\nM. President, as we approach the two-year anniversary of the disastrous Dobbs decision, I am struck by the chaos it has sown across our country. Last week, on this floor, I was joined by a number of my Democratic colleagues in speaking out against Republicans\u2019 attacks on contraception. Despite the relentless attacks from my colleagues across the aisle that they support the right to contraception, when it came down to it, nearly every Republican voted against a bill protecting the right to access contraception.\n\nToday, I rise in defense of another tool that has helped millions of people across our country start or grow their families \u2013 this tool is called IVF or in-vitro fertilization. For decades, IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, have helped people, who otherwise couldn\u2019t, start families of their own. While some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so. The first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world. In fact, as a State Representative in the Hawaii legislature in the 1980s, I led the passage of a bill making Hawaii one of the first states in the nation to require health insurers to cover IVF treatment. That was in 1987\u2014years before the iPhone, before email, before some of my colleagues in Congress were even born. And yet, thanks to the chaos created by Dobbs, a whole range of reproductive rights are on the chopping block.\n\nLook at Alabama, where the state Supreme Court invoked a \u2018fetal personhood\u2019 law to call into question the legality of IVF, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state. In this very chamber\u2014earlier this year, Republicans blocked our attempt to pass a bill protecting IVF. The impacts of these concerted attacks are being felt far beyond red states. In Hawaii, an OBGYN on Oahu, reported that he\u2019s \u201c[O]bserved an increasing level of anxiety among both [his] fertility patients and staff.\u201d So, Hawaii being one of the first states to protect IVF and promote IVF, this doctor is saying that even his patients are seeing the impact of all of these attacks on reproductive rights.\n\nIVF is a complicated process as it is, even under the best of circumstances. The last thing people trying to conceive need to worry about is being criminalized by some of the states I mentioned like Alabama because of the whims of far-right jurists and politicians. That\u2019s why this bill is so important. It would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other ART services, and a right for doctors to provide IVF treatment. And, crucially, it would require and expand health insurance coverage of IVF, because we know access without affordability is not true access.\n\nBut my Republican colleagues appear blinded by their obsession with power and control over women\u2019s bodies that they\u2019re unable to support even this common-sense bill\u2014again indicating how out of touch Republicans are with the needs of particularly women in our country. It is disappointing, but not surprising. They continue to show us just how out of step they are with the American people. Today, Democrats will vote to protect the right to IVF as we continue working to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government interference. Thank you.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-quigley-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-create-national-seed-and-restoration-center-conserve-and-restore-native-plant-species-across-us", "Hirono, Quigley Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Create National Seed and Restoration Center, Conserve and Restore Native Plant Species Across U.S.", "2024-06-07", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) introduced the National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center Establishment Act, legislation that would create and fund a National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to promote the conservation and restoration of native plant communities across the U.S.\n\n\u201cIn Hawaii, native plants are not just significant to our state\u2019s history and culture, they also provide restorative benefits to our local ecosystems and habitats,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cNative plants also play a crucial role in strengthening the landscape resilience and biodiversity in every region of our country. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to help combat harmful invasive species, and protect and restore native plant communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs our earth braces for more climate disasters, native plants are the key to protecting our landscapes and the precious ecosystems within them. Not only are native plants more resilient to climate change, they are actively removing carbon dioxide from our air, protecting us in the process,\u201d said Quigley. \u201cThis bill ensures we can research the most effective methods for native plant restoration. It also invests in our future by building an archive of seeds to guarantee these plants are protected for generations to come. It is clear that if we are to defend our environment from climate change, native plants are at the heart of this mission.\u201d\n\nNative plant communities across the country are at-risk or going extinct as a result of invasive species and climate change-related impacts, including extreme weather events such as wildfires. In order to conserve and restore these native plant communities, a robust native seed and plant material supply chain is necessary. The National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center Establishment Act would codify the establishment of a National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center, as well as ecoregional hubs representing all states\u2019 and territories\u2019 local needs, and authorize funding in support of the Center ($100 million per fiscal year over five years).\n\nA National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center would serve as the scientific, logistical, and support hub for the country\u2019s restoration and seed needs and would support interagency native plant programs. Specifically, the Center would:\n\nResearch the development and use of native plants, restoration of native plant communities, and propagate/store native plants;\n\nProvide native plant materials to land managers;\n\nCreate resilient native plant communities;\n\nEnhance interagency coordination; and\n\nCoordinate shared use/enhancement of infrastructure for native plant material development.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Chicago Botanic Garden; Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; California Native Seed Supply Collaborative; National Wildlife Federation; Defenders of Wildlife; Western Watersheds Project; Institute for Applied Ecology; Native Seed Network; and Garden Club of America.\n\n\u201cThe Garden Club of America, with its long history of working to restore, improve, and protect our environment, highly commends Senator Hirono and Representative Quigley for their vision and leadership in championing legislation to advance native plants and combat invasive species,\u201d said Marilyn Donahue, The President of the Garden Club of America. \u201cNative plants are the backbone of biodiversity, on which our life on this planet depends. This forward-looking legislation not only supports biodiversity but also assures a coordinated federal approach to providing managers with the science, funding, and adaptable, resilient native plant materials that will aid in the preservation of existing ecosystems and also assure the restoration of landscapes decimated by natural disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill addresses the urgent need to ensure a national supply of native seeds is available for restoration of public lands after fires and other disasters,\u201d said Jean M. Franczyk, executive director and president, Chicago Botanic Garden. \u201cCoordination among multiple stakeholders and research is needed to better restore our public lands. This is game changing legislation, and the time is now to establish a National Interagency Seed and Restoration Center and regional hubs.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-collins-smith-bacon-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-close-loophole-and-grant-citizenship-to-international-adoptees", "Hirono, Collins, Smith, Bacon Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Close Loophole and Grant Citizenship to International Adoptees", "2024-06-06", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) led their colleagues in introducing the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024, which would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.\n\n\u201cFor years, thousands of internationally-adopted children from American families across the country have had to live with uncertainty and fear without U.S. citizenship due to an oversight in the Child Citizenship Act,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe Adoptee Citizenship Act would provide a long overdue solution to fix this oversight by simply confirming the citizenship status of international adoptees who had already turned 18 when the Child Citizenship Act took effect. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to help ensure these adoptees are afforded the rights they deserve as U.S. citizens.\u201d\n\nFamilies who adopted children from abroad were previously required to go through a lengthy process to naturalize and gain U.S. citizenship for their adopted children. Sometimes, the necessary paperwork was not entirely completed, and significant numbers of adoptees grew up for years unaware that they were living in the U.S. as non-citizens. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) eliminated the need for many adoptive families to apply to naturalize their newly adopted children. Unfortunately, the 2000 CCA law only applied to future adoptees and adoptees who were under the age of 18 on its effective date; it did not apply retroactively to those adoptees who faced the same dilemma but aged into adulthood before the CCA took effect.\n\nFor these international adoptees, the U.S. is the place they grew up and the place they call home. Yet, through no fault of their own, they never received their citizenship and are living in uncertainty about their future. Without citizenship, these international adoptees face many barriers, such as having trouble applying for a passport, license, or student financial aid. In some cases, they have been deported to the country in which they were born, where they may have never lived and have no known family or friends. The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024 corrects this gap in the law by confirming international adoptees\u2019 U.S. citizenship status, regardless of when they were adopted or their age. This important bill provides much needed certainty to adopted Americans who have had difficulties attending college, accessing banking services, and starting their careers simply because of paperwork and process oversights during their childhood.\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Collins, the bill is cosponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Mike Braun (R-IN).\n\nThe Adoptee Citizenship Act is endorsed by Adoptee Rights Campaign, Adoptees for Justice, Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Family Coalition for Adoptee Citizenship, Korean American Grassroots Conference, National Alliance for Adoptee Equality, Niskanen Center, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National Council for Adoption, National Immigration Forum, Center for Adoption Policy, and National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC).\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here. A one-pager is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-on-senate-floor-hirono-leads-colleagues-in-calling-out-republicans-for-blocking-right-to-contraception-act", "VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Hirono Leads Colleagues in Calling Out Republicans for Blocking Right to Contraception Act", "2024-06-05", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) led eleven of her colleagues in speaking on the Senate floor in support of the Right to Contraception Act\u2014legislation she leads with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)\u2014and calling out Republicans for blocking the bill. This legislation would guarantee the right for people to obtain and use contraceptives and for health providers to prescribe contraceptives, and give information related to contraception, free from government interference. The bill failed on the Senate floor, with only two Republicans voting to advance it.\n\n\u201cAs Republican states across the country roll back fundamental reproductive rights, including the right to contraception, it is critical we protect access to contraceptives at the federal level,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThe Right to Contraception Act is a straightforward bill that would do exactly that, protecting patients\u2019 right to access contraception, as well as providers\u2019 right to provide it. But once again, Republicans have shown they\u2019re more interested in controlling women\u2019s bodies than protecting our freedoms. Senate Democrats will continue working to protect reproductive rights and ensure that every person can access the health care they need.\u201d\n\nThe vote comes at a crucial time as right-wing judges, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and Republican-led state governments work to restrict contraception access across the country. Some states have attempted to ban some or all contraceptives, and others have defined abortion so broadly so as to include contraceptives in abortion bans.\n\nDespite nine out of ten voters believing that birth control should be legal, Senate Republicans have blocked the bill from passing twice already, once in 2022 and again in 2023. Passage of the Right to Contraception Act would codify the right to contraception and ensure that extremist Republicans would no longer be able to hide their position on reproductive rights from the American people. Contraception is essential not only for sexual and reproductive health, but it can also be used to treat a wide array of medical conditions and decrease the risk of certain cancers. The Right to Contraception Act would guarantee that people\u2013including historically marginalized groups\u2013can get the care they need.\n\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Markey, and Duckworth, the Right to Contraception Act is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), John Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Krysten Sinema (I-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nLink to download video of Senator Hirono\u2019s floor speech is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-full-federal-government-cost-share-will-deliver-millions-for-mauis-recovery", "Schatz: Full Federal Government Cost Share Will Deliver Millions For Maui\u2019s Recovery", "2024-06-05", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced that he has made additional disaster assistance available to the State of Hawai\u2018i following the Maui fires. Biden\u2019s authorization increases the federal cost share for federal assistance to 100 percent for an additional 90-day period.\n\n\u201cThis extension means tremendous savings for the state. By covering the full cost of recovery efforts for another three months, the federal government will help the West Maui community rebuild and save the state and county millions of dollars in non-federal matching funds,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cWe will keep working as hard as we can to help to bring more federal resources to help restore Lahaina.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 318, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "HI", "p2": "2024"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=HI&year=2024", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "HI", "label": "HI", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2024", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024", "results": [{"value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 318, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2024-06-05,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eschatz~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fschatz-full-federal-government-cost-share-will-deliver-millions-for-mauis-recovery", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=HI&year=2024&_next=2024-06-05%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eschatz~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fschatz-full-federal-government-cost-share-will-deliver-millions-for-mauis-recovery&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 146.224498283118, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}