url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-call-on-vaccine-manufacturers-to-immediately-step-up-vaccination-efforts-in-other-countries-fight-global-covid-19-pandemic,"Senators Call On Vaccine Manufacturers To Immediately Step Up Vaccination Efforts In Other Countries, Fight Global COVID-19 Pandemic",2021-12-21,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and nine other senators called on Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna to increase COVID-19 vaccines to low- and middle-income countries to help tackle the global disparities in accessing the vaccine. This follows a bipartisan letter that Schatz and Brown led in October calling on President Biden to provide more U.S. leadership and step up efforts to increase global vaccine access to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Vaccines represent the world’s best hope at containing the COVID-19 pandemic, but our goals for effectively responding to the pandemic will remain out of reach unless we successfully ramp up our global vaccination effort and get more shots in arms as quickly as possible,” the senators wrote.

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also joined the letter.

The full text of the letters is available here: Letter to Johnson & Johnson | Letter to Pfizer | Letter to Moderna

A copy of the letter to Pfizer can be found below:

Dear Dr. Bourla,

We write with grave concerns about Pfizer’s commitment to providing vaccines for low-income and middle-income countries. We commend the company on its ground-breaking work in developing and manufacturing one of the most effective mRNA vaccines currently on the market, and we urge you to take immediate action to work with the Biden Administration, our international allies, and global public health experts to make the Pfizer vaccine immediately more widely available to communities around the globe and to tackle the ongoing significant disparities in global COVID-19 vaccine supply and access. Without a stronger commitment from you and your company, millions of preventable deaths will occur.

Vaccines represent the world’s best hope at containing the COVID-19 pandemic, but our goals for effectively responding to the pandemic will remain out of reach unless we successfully ramp up our global vaccination effort and get more shots in arms as quickly as possible. While more than 6.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered around the world, they have been concentrated in high-income countries. Less than 10 percent of people living in low-income countries have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and efforts to expand low-income and middle-income countries’ access to vaccines have stalled. Despite a significant contribution from the United States, the COVAX international vaccine aid program has fallen hundreds of millions doses short of its vaccine distribution goals. All vaccine manufacturers outside China missed their 2020 production targets by 96 percent, and are projected to miss their initial 2021 targets by about 50 percent.

If global vaccination rates do not improve, the virus will continue to threaten lives and our global economy. This situation prolongs the need for booster shots to maintain the vaccines’ protection and creates dangerous conditions for the emergence of new variants that are potentially resistant to vaccines. In our global society, there is no question that these variants will spread to the United States; when that happens, our current vaccines may not be sufficient to protect the population. This is not just a hypothetical problem: the latest variant of concern—Omicron—clearly points to the need for swift and urgent action around the world.

If the pandemic is not controlled, there will be dire consequences in human and public health terms. Already, over five million people around the world have died of COVID-19. If current trends in vaccination rates and preventative measures such as mask wearing continue, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington projects that by March 1st 2022 there will be approximately 6.26 million reported deaths – and nearly 13.63 million reported and unreported deaths – due to COVID-19. Among the remaining 230 million people who contract COVID-19 and survive, almost 25 percent are likely to continue to experience chronic symptoms known as long covid, which will impact their long-term physical and psychological health as well as the health of our global economy.

Continuing to allow the global pandemic to run rampant will also hurt the United States’ economy. High rates of infection in low-income and middle-income countries have reduced their capacity to meet factory production targets and maintain global shipping networks, thus creating supply chain delays that contribute to inflation and damage American companies’ ability to deliver goods and services. Furthermore, American cities and states continue to lose tourism revenue due to the pandemic. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Americas saw a 68 percent drop in international tourist arrivals in 2020 and a 65 percent shortfall in 2021, with improvements not expected until 2023 or 2024 if current trends continue. Lastly, the pandemic has curtailed the entry of international university students and workers into the United States, with travel restrictions likely to remain in place for those who cannot access vaccinations. These limits mean that the American economy will miss out on substantial financial, intellectual, and social contributions from these groups.

As a pioneer in developing a highly effective mRNA vaccine, Pfizer is in a unique position to bring a swift end to the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. We appreciate Pfizer’s commitment to provide 1 billion vaccine doses to the U.S. government at not-for-profit prices for donation to low-income and middle-income countries, and the company’s efforts to ensure expanded and equitable access to its COVID-19 treatment pill.

However, more work is urgently needed in the short-term. Experts have estimated that another 4.5 billion doses are needed to fully vaccinate 80 percent of the world’s seven billion people over the age of five years, and up to 6 billion additional doses may be needed in 2022 for booster shots to reinforce the efficacy of vaccines given to individuals in 2021.

Pfizer is in a strong financial position to significantly increase its contribution to global vaccination efforts and has a responsibility to do so. Although the company did not accept any American federal funding while developing the vaccine, the German government provided a $445 million grant to Pfizer’s partner firm, BioNTech, to expand vaccine trials and production capacity. Furthermore, the United States government coordinated scientific expertise and research infrastructure, provided Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite the market launch of the vaccine, and pre-ordered doses early in the development process to ensure healthy sales.

Given all this public support, and the fact that Pfizer is expected to earn about $36 billion in 2021—and up to $54.5 billion in 2022 according to some projections—from sales of its COVID-19 vaccine, it is reasonable to expect the company to make a sizeable contribution to global vaccination efforts. By all accounts, Pfizer is able to do so without undercutting investment in the development of future mRNA technology or payouts to shareholders, as individual stock returns have increased by 52 percent since the end of 2019.

Working to increase global access to the COVID-19 vaccine is consistent with Pfizer’s Statement of Purpose, which includes a commitment to health equity in obtaining access to the vaccine. It is time to move beyond statements of principle and take more substantial concrete steps to get shots in arms around the world.

We are dismayed at Pfizer’s continued prioritization of vaccine orders for high-income countries, lack of transparency about where COVAX and other low and middle-income countries are in the queue for vaccine deliveries, and resistance to sharing its technology and immediately ramping up global vaccine production. There are many important ways in which Pfizer can make a more substantial contribution to global vaccination efforts and save countless lives. We call on the company to:

Provide more vaccine doses at not-for-profit prices to COVAX and low-income and middle-income countries as quickly as possible;

Increase the transparency of its processes and records, especially regarding the status of vaccine deliveries and the priority placed on fulfilling orders from COVAX compared to other countries;

Waive indemnification so that doses can be delivered to refugees and internally displaced persons to address urgent humanitarian needs;

Work with international partners such as COVAX to address financial and logistical challenges to equitable vaccine delivery;

Immediately increase manufacturing capacity and facilitate technology transfers with fair royalties, by engaging with international partners such as the World Health Organization to develop and resource additional mRNA facilities around the world; and

Engage with the Biden Administration to identify other barriers to global vaccination efforts beyond supply, and implement additional strategies to expand access to mRNA vaccines.

Thank you for your urgent attention to the matter of global disparities in vaccine supply and access. We stand ready to work with you to bring a swift end to the global pandemic.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-to-receive-nearly-5-million-for-school-meal-programs-to-help-feed-children-keep-kids-healthy,"Hawai‘i To Receive Nearly $5 Million For School Meal Programs To Help Feed Children, Keep Kids Healthy",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that Hawai‘i will receive $4,933,437 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fund school food programs. This new federal funding will provide meals for children, assisting families facing food insecurity and helping to address food shortages due to supply chain issues.

“Kids throughout Hawai‘i get a nutritious meal at school every day,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “While we work to address supply chain issues, this new federal funding will support Hawai‘i families by making sure their children continue getting these high-quality meals.”

This new funding is part of $1.5 billion in USDA grants for states and school districts to address supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and make sure increased food costs don’t harm school meal programs. It includes grants from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service program for school districts to improve the quality and consistency of school meals; from USDA Foods to purchase food products and offset supply chain disruptions; and from USDA’s Local Food for Schools program to purchase domestic foods and strengthen local food systems.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-congratulates-newly-named-commissioners-on-presidents-advisory-commission-on-asian-americans-native-hawaiians-and-pacific-islanders,"Schatz Congratulates Newly Named Commissioners On President’s Advisory Commission On Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, And Pacific Islanders",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement congratulating newly named commissioners to President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Commissioners with Hawai‘i ties include Amy Agbayani, Kimberly Chang, Kerry Doi, Michelle Kauhane, and Daniel Dae Kim.

“Amy, Kimberly, Michelle, Daniel, and Kerry are all well respected community leaders and will make excellent commissioners. They will bring strong, diverse voices to the commission and continue the important work of advocating for the AANHPI communities in Hawai‘i and across the country. I congratulate them and look forward to working with commission to support Hawai‘i’s AANHPI communities,” said Senator Schatz.

According to the White House, the commission will advise the president on ways to advance equity and opportunity for AANHPI communities. The commission will also advise the president on policies to address anti-Asian xenophobia, ways to build capacity in AANHPI communities through federal funding and policies to address the intersectional barriers that AANHPI women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities face.

The full list of commissioners follows:

Amy Agbayani

Dr. Amefil (Amy) Agbayani is an Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for student diversity and equity, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Agbayani was born in the Philippines and received her education from the University of the Philippines, East West Center and the University of Hawai‘i. She is a former chair of the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, conducts research on AANHPI in higher education, member of the Patsy T. Mink PAC and The Legal Clinic for immigrant justice Hawai‘i.

Teresita Batayola

Teresita Batayola is the President and Chief Executive Officer of International Community Health Services, Washington state’s largest Asian and Pacific Islander non-profit health center providing comprehensive health care to all those who need affordable care, especially immigrants and refugees. Batayola is an advocate for health care access, equity, and addressing social determinants of health. ICHS has received awards for its high quality of care and Batayola has been recognized in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Award for Outstanding Business & Philanthropic Contributions, Woman of Courage Undaunted from the University of Washington Women’s Center, and the Filipino Women’s Network’s Most Influential Filipino Woman in the World.

Ajay Bhutoria

Ajay Bhutoria is a Silicon Valley technology executive, community leader, speaker, and author that has been recognized for his work. He is a passionate advocate for the South Asian and AAPI communities in the areas of small businesses, educational opportunities, immigration issues, and technological advancement. His expertise in the areas of organizational transformations and change management has supported critical advancements within the AAPI community, and he is committed to the creation of a compassionate and empowering environment for all.

Luisa Blue

Luisa Blue retired from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in August 2020 after serving as an Executive Vice President for four years, one of the highest ranking AAPI officials in the labor movement. During her term was responsible for the SEIU Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Engagement and Leadership program, a member of the Racial Justice Task Force, chair of the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, and chair of the Ethical Culture Committee. She served on the SEIU Executive Board prior to her election as Executive Vice President. Luisa continues to be active in the community and serves on the Asian Health Services Community Board, a Trustee on Alameda County Health Systems Board of Trustees, and Vice President of the AAPI Victory Alliance Board. Luisa is the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren.

Kimberly Chang

Kimberly Seu Gin Chang, MD, MPH, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i in a six generation kama‘āina family, is a board-certified family physician in Oakland, California, at Asian Health Services, a federally qualified community health center. Dr. Chang has dedicated her 20+ year career to focusing on the health of the underserved AANHPI community, including people vulnerable to and affected by human trafficking and exploitation, developing national clinical and health policy recommendations for this issue. Dr. Chang has received numerous awards, most recently the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 2020 Emerging Public Health Professional Award and the 2021 UCSF Alumni Humanitarian Service Award. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbia College of Columbia University, her medical degree from the University of Hawai‘i, her MPH from Harvard with the Commonwealth Fund Minority Health Policy Fellowship, and her residency training at UCSF. Dr. Chang currently serves as the Vice Speaker of the House for the National Association of Community Health Centers, and as expert faculty for Health Partners on Intimate Partner Violence + Exploitation at Futures Without Violence.

Emily Chen

Emily Chen is Chief of Research at Olshan Realty and manages the Private Wealth Real Estate Services, providing brokerage expertise along with research and consulting capabilities. She co-founded the Olshan Luxury Market Report, a weekly real-time snapshot of the Manhattan residential real estate market, which became the industry standard and revolutionized how the market is analyzed and evaluated. A former National Big Sister of the Year, Chen serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and is on the Executive Committee. Chen is a graduate of Georgetown University and Co-Founder and Executive Producer of Stand Up for Georgetown.

Kerry Doi

A 4th generation Japanese-American born on a Hawai‘i plantation, Mr. Kerry Doi has spent his life combatting hate and solidifying his commitment to social and economic justice. For over 46 years, Mr. Doi has dedicated his work to the cause and the community development space through his leadership at Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) – one of the nation’s largest Asian-led community development organizations serving 40,000 minority, low income individuals annually through workforce, small business, environmental justice, affordable housing, and early childhood education. He has served on numerous local, state, and national boards including his current appointments as Chair of the CA Community Economic Development Association, Vice Chair and Treasurer of the LA Housing Partnership, and member of the LA County Small Business Commission.

Grace Huang

Grace Huang, J.D., is a Taiwanese-American attorney who has advocated on behalf of the rights of survivors of domestic and sexual violence for almost 30 years as a legal services lawyer, attorney in private practice, and policy advocate. She currently is the Director of Policy at the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, where she focuses on federal policy to address the needs of survivors in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Ms. Huang serves on the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, on the Washington State Women’s Commission. Ms. Huang also co-chairs the Alliance for Immigrant Survivors, working to address the needs of survivors of gender-based violence in the immigration system.

Victoria Huynh

Victoria Huynh is currently the Senior Vice President of the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS), the largest nonprofit in the Southeast to focus on issues and concerns of AANHPI communities, especially women, children, and families. For more than a decade, Huynh has advocated for equitable language access, promoted local civic engagement, protected immigrant rights, championed cultural competency, and developed vital social service programs within the immigrant and refugee communities in Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Huynh’s experiences in her limited English proficient (LEP) Vietnamese Refugee household, fuels her passion for community building, strategic planning, and policy work within immigrant and refugee spaces. She is an MBA candidate and currently serves as consultant, board member, and panelist on various boards influencing state and local funding, nominations, and programs that impact communities of color.

Mia Ives-Rublee

Mia Ives-Rublee, MSW, is currently the Director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. She obtained her Master’s in Social Work at University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill. She was also recognized as one of Glamour Women of the Year in 2017, She the People’s 20 Women of Color in Politics to Watch in 2020, and received the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award from the UNC School of Social Work. Ives-Rublee works at the intersection of disability, race, and gender, helping promote equity and opportunity for marginalized communities through policy and organizing.

Kamal Kalsi

Dr. Kamal Singh Kalsi, LTC, USAR is an emergency medicine physician from New Jersey that has served in the Army for 20 years and was awarded a Bronze Star medal for his work taking care of hundreds of combat casualties on the front lines in Afghanistan. He has transitioned into the Army reserves, and now serves as a senior advisor for Policy Vets and a Fellow of the Truman National Security Project’s Defense Council. He founded the Sikh American Veterans Alliance (SAVA) in order to promote diversity, religious freedom, and service.

Michelle Kauhane

Michelle Kauhane is the Senior Vice President of Community Grants & Initiatives at Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Previously, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement where she engaged in lending and investment services deploying capital in underserved native Hawaiian communities statewide. Michelle has a background in non-profit management, organizational leadership, community based economic development and public policy advocacy. She has served on numerous local and national boards and currently sits on the Community Advisory Council at the Federal Reserve of San Francisco to offer perspectives on the economic and financial service needs of low- and moderate- income populations in Hawai‘i. She is a graduate of Gonzaga University.

Daniel Dae Kim

Daniel Dae Kim is an award-winning actor, director and producer. In addition to his series regular roles on TV’s LOST and THE HOT ZONE: ANTHRAX, Kim starred as the King of Siam in Lincoln Center’s Broadway production of the KING AND I. In addition to his numerous credits as an actor, he is developing both film and television projects as a producer with his company, 3AD. His current projects include THE GOOD DOCTOR currently airing on ABC. Recently, he also turned to advocacy, joining the Asian American Foundation, where he serves a Co-Chair of the Advisory Council. Mr. Kim can next be seen as an actor in the live action adaptation of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. He currently lives in Hawai‘i with his family.

Kevin Kim

Kevin D. Kim is a seasoned attorney, entrepreneur, and public servant. He is a co-founder of Abakidz, a mental math program. In public service, Mr. Kim was the first Korean American to win a NYC primary election as a 2009 Democratic nominee for a NYC Council seat, then served as the first Asian American commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority (SLA), and now serves as the first Korean American Member of the Board of Trustees of the City University of New York (CUNY) where he chairs the Audit Committee. He has served on the boards of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), Korean American Association of Greater New York (KAAGNY), American Red Cross – Queens Chapter, Friends of THIRTEEN, International Student Conferences, Inc. (ISC), Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), and the Fordham Law School Voting Rights and Democracy Project (Advisory Board). Mr. Kim received his B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a member of the Columbia Law Review.

Sarah Min

Sarah Min is an advocate and former media executive. Min promotes the advancement of mission-driven organizations who are transforming how to use technology, media and person-to-person outreach to mobilize people and change perceptions about women and people of color. From 2013-2019, Min was an independent consultant, working with clients such as HBO, Penguin Random House and other nonprofits, Previously, she served as Executive Vice President for, Marketing & Corporate Development for ScrollMotion, an enterprise software company. Min also was the Managing Editor of Vibe and Domino magazines, a director at media company Bertelsmann, as well as President of literary publishing company McSweeney’s. She serves as a director on nonprofit boards, including Color of Change and EMILY’s List, and has been engaged in grassroots organizations, including the Korean American Community Foundation and the Asian American Power Network. Sarah holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Simon Pang

Emigrated from Singapore in late 1989, Pang has been in banking industry since 1981. Pang is currently an Executive Vice President and Co-Founder of Royal Business Bank. He is active in community service and was appointed to positions in statewide nonprofit organizations, including California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, California Highway Patrol Citizens Advisory Board member, Los Angeles County Sheriff Youth Foundation Board member, US-Sino Friendship Association President, US-Sino Aviation Heritage Foundation Honorable Chairman. He has also served as a National Governing Board Member and National Diversity Coalition Advisor with the national nonprofit Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs.

Ai-jen Poo

Ai-jen Poo is an award-winning organizer, author, and a leading voice in the women’s movement. She is the Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Director of Caring Across Generations, Co-Founder of SuperMajority, Co-Host of Sunstorm podcast and a Trustee of the Ford Foundation. Ai-jen is a nationally recognized expert on elder and family care, the future of work, and what’s at stake for women of color. She is the author of the celebrated book, The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America.

Naheed Qureshi

Naheed Qureshi is Head of Policy Partnerships at Instacart. Ms. Qureshi has had an extensive 20-year career in civil rights, including serving as a founding board member and later deputy director of Muslim Advocates and as co-chair of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Hate Crimes and Bigotry Task Force. Ms. Qureshi started her career in the U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General’s Honors Program and has also worked at the Civil Rights Division in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the City of Los Angeles, and the national legislative office of the ACLU. Ms. Qureshi received a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin and J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. The daughter of immigrants from Pakistan, she was raised in Wisconsin and is an avid Packers fan.

Raynald Samoa

Dr. Raynald Samoa is an endocrinologist at the City of Hope and his current research projects include a faith-based community-centered diabetes prevention program in the San Gabriel Valley investigating a social-connectedness modified approach. Dr. Samoa served as the Lead for the National Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team and has authored several manuscripts describing the impact of COVID-19 on Pacific Islander communities. He has testified to the House of Representative Ways and Means Committee during a session entitled The Disproportionate Impact Of Covid-19 On Communities Of Color. He currently is the technical assistance lead for the Healing Association of Pacific Islander Physicians, a professional organization associated with the National Association of Organization of Pacific Islander Organizations.

Sonal Shah

Sonal Shah is a social impact and innovation leader that has launched and led social impact efforts in academia, government, and the private and philanthropic sectors for over 25 years. She is the Founding President of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), starting the largest philanthropic effort to serve the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Prior to TAAF, Shah founded and led Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, providing students a first-hand opportunity to work on social impact projects in the public, private, and social sectors. She served as Deputy Assistant to President Obama and created the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, worked on international development at the Department of Treasury, and led social impact efforts at Google and Goldman Sachs. She serves on the boards of TAAF, Oxfam America, the Century Foundation, and the National Democratic Institute.

Smita Shah

Smita N. Shah is an engineer, entrepreneur, and civic leader serving as President and CEO of Chicago-based SPAAN Tech, Inc, a multi-disciplinary firm with expertise in public and private infrastructure projects including transportation, aviation, and facilities. Shah serves in various roles with the Chicago Plan Commission, M.I.T., the Museum of Science and Industry, After School Matters, Delhi Chicago Sister Cities Program, YPO, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, and the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. She is a member of the board of MacLean Fogg Company and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Economic Club of Chicago. Shah earned her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University, her Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from M.I.T., and a Post Graduate Certificate in Management Studies from Oxford University.

Robert Underwood

Robert A. Underwood is a former Member of Congress representing Guam for 10 years. He is also President Emeritus of the University of Guam and has the distinction of being the longest serving President of the university. He has served the nation as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and the founding Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Fund. As a scholar and activist, he has served his region and his people as a passionate advocate for the respect and maintenance of the Chamoru language and the empowerment of the peoples of Micronesia.

KaYing Yang

For more than three decades, KaYing has been a social justice advocate who has built and led community organizing, public policy engagement, and development efforts locally, nationally, and globally. She began her career as a community organizer and executive manager providing social services and advocacy for the protection of refugees and immigrants in Minnesota at the Women’s Association of Hmong and Lao. She then went on to defend and promote immigrant and human rights by serving in a number of organizations including the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, the International Organization for Migration, the International Finance Corporation, and the Coalition of Asian American Leaders in Minnesota. All of her work comes from a deep experience having come to the United States as a Hmong refugee at the age of seven in 1976 where she experienced firsthand the struggles faced by communities experiencing generational trauma and poverty.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-to-hawaii-k-12-schools-adopt-cdc-testing-guidance-keep-students-safely-in-school-stop-interruptions-in-learning,"Schatz To Hawai‘i K-12 Schools: Adopt CDC Testing Guidance, Keep Students Safely In School, Stop Interruptions In Learning",2021-12-20,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) called on the Hawai‘i Department of Education and the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) to adopt, as feasible, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “test-to-stay” (TTS) guidance which allows students to stay in school if they are exposed to COVID-19, reducing time away from school and stopping learning loss.

“With this new protocol, we can recoup thousands of days of learning. We have to be as aggressive as possible in preventing learning loss and giving every student an opportunity to learn as much as they can,” said Senator Schatz.

“TTS policies will allow students to stay in school even if they are exposed to COVID-19 thereby minimizing the number of days students would otherwise miss and helping to reduce the learning loss that can occur during traditional quarantine at home,” Schatz wrote in his letters to Hawai‘i Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi and HAIS Executive Director Philip Bossert. “Initial data from case studies show that schools with TTS policies have similar transmission rates as non-TTS schools.”

The full text of the letters can be found below and is available here.

Dear Interim Superintendent Hayashi/Dr. Bossert:

I write to make you aware of new “test-to-stay” (TTS) guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for K-12 schools. I encourage the Hawai‘i Department of Education/ Hawaii Association of Independent Schools to adopt TTS policies as appropriate and feasible, and to work with the Hawai‘i Department of Health in providing TTS guidance to complex areas and schools.

TTS policies will allow students to stay in school even if they are exposed to COVID-19, thereby minimizing the number of days students would otherwise miss and helping to reduce the learning loss that can occur during traditional quarantine at home. As the CDC notes, specific TTS policies may vary, but they follow the same principles: a combination of vaccination of eligible students and staff, frequent testing, contact tracing, masking inside schools, distancing between students, ventilation, handwashing, and staying home when sick. Taken together, exposed students can remain in school in lieu of quarantining at home. Initial data from case studies show that schools with TTS policies have similar transmission rates as non-TTS schools.

The CDC’s science brief with the recent TTS updates can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/transmission_k_12_schools.html

The CDC’s guidance on COVID-19 testing in schools can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/what-you-should-know.html

I appreciate your attention to this matter, and your collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-build-back-better-act,Schatz Statement On Build Back Better Act,2021-12-19,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the Build Back Better Act.

“The planet doesn’t have the flexibility for anyone to give up. The planet is heating up, and reacting in real time to increases in greenhouse gases by giving us more frequent and severe storms, drought, hurricanes in December, and 100 degree weather in the Arctic. The planet is not going to pause its warming process while we sort our politics out. We owe it to future generations to figure out what can pass, and pass it. And to keep doing that, every year, at every level of government, for the foreseeable future. Despair is not an option. Righteous indignation turned into action absolutely is. We keep fighting.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-to-noaa-proposed-bay-closures-on-hawaii-island-and-maui-will-needlessly-restrict-locals-from-ocean-recreation,Schatz To NOAA: Proposed Bay Closures On Hawai‘i Island And Maui Will Needlessly Restrict Locals From Ocean Recreation,2021-12-18,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to hold off on a new proposed rule for ""time-area closures"" that would close several bays on Hawai‘i Island and Maui from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day, and restrict local ocean access to residents during those hours.

“The proposed rule will foreseeably deny Hawai‘i residents and visitors access to the ocean, to protect dolphins that are already strongly protected under another, separate rule that went into effect on October 28, 2021. I believe NOAA owes it to the people of Hawai‘i to halt further action on time-area closures, and focus instead on how to implement its October 28th rule,” Senator Schatz wrote in his letter to NOAA Administrator and Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Rick Spinrad.

The full letter can be found below and is available here.

Dear Undersecretary Spinrad:

I am concerned that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed a new rule to impose time-area closures for five well-used bays on the islands of Hawai‘i and Maui (Kealakekua Bay, Hōnaunau Bay, Kauhakō Bay, and Makako Bay) to everyone between 6am and 3pm every day. This heavy-handed proposal will limit local access to the ocean, and I question whether it is necessary.

The time-area closures have been justified as protection for spinner dolphins, but the dolphins that use these bays are already protected by a recent NOAA rule that clearly and unambiguously prohibits swimming with, approaching, or remaining within 50 yards of a spinner dolphin within 2 nautical miles of the Hawaiian Islands. With this strong protection for the dolphins already in place, it is easy to understand criticism that the time-area closures needlessly duplicate existing rules.

Worse, the indiscriminate scope of the closures apply to residents and visitors alike, regardless of whether their actions will impact the dolphins or not. This means that a range of activities that do not harm spinner dolphins will effectively be forbidden during the hours of the closure, including: shore casting, spear fishing, free diving, exercise swimming, and surfing. In addition, I note that these restrictions will apply regardless of whether dolphins are present or not, which only substantiates concerns that the proposed rule is not necessary.

In conclusion, the proposed rule will foreseeably deny Hawai‘i residents and visitors access to the ocean to protect dolphins that are already strongly protected under another, separate rule that went into effect on October 28, 2021. I believe NOAA owes it to the people of Hawai‘i to halt further action on time-area closures, and focus instead on how to implement its October 28th rule. In addition to requesting your personal attention to this matter, I ask that my letter be included with the public comments on the proposed rule.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-law-brings-more-than-224-million-in-new-funding-to-strengthen-hawaiis-roads-and-bridges-improve-safety-for-hawaii-families,"New Law Brings More Than $224 Million In New Funding To Strengthen Hawai‘i’s Roads And Bridges, Improve Safety For Hawai‘i Families",2021-12-17,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that Hawai‘i will receive $224,069,212 in federal funding to improve the state’s roads, bridges, and highways and implement strategies to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries. The federal funding from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will also fund programs to cut traffic congestion, in turn reducing emissions and improving air quality.

“These crucial investments will rebuild our roads, bridges, and highways to make them safer and more resilient for everyone,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “The bipartisan infrastructure bill is already helping our state, and I’m proud to have supported it.”

This new funding is part of $52.5 billion in funding for Federal-aid Highway Program apportionments, an increase of more than 20 percent from last year. Federal-aid Highway Program funds are authorized by Congress to assist states in construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-aid routes and for other special purpose programs and projects. This annual funding is based on a statutory formula contained in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law in November. Hawai‘i is expected to receive at least $2.8 billion in funding from the new law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-delegation-calls-on-congressional-leaders-for-immediate-and-ongoing-federal-funding-to-respond-to-red-hill-water-contamination-crisis,Hawai‘i Delegation Calls On Congressional Leaders For Immediate And Ongoing Federal Funding To Respond To Red Hill Water Contamination Crisis,2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) today called on congressional leaders for their immediate assistance in securing federal funding to respond to the water contamination crisis at the Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility (RHBFSF).

“We must bring the full power of Congress to bear on the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that it is spending every dollar it has available to address this emergency right now,” the delegation wrote in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate and House Appropriations Committee Chairs. “We respectfully request your commitment to work with us to ensure that DoD senior leaders understand the gravity of the situation and commit whatever resources are required to identify, isolate, and remediate the source of the contamination; make impacted military and civilian families whole; and put in place water treatment and filtration to ensure the drinking water is safe for the public.”

The delegation made clear that resolving the water contamination crisis will take significant resources and federal funding must be robust and ongoing, writing, “We know that there are long-term questions that we must resolve around the future of RHBFSF. Whatever the final analysis on RHBFSF’s future, the immediate funding that Congress provides in the next available must-pass spending bill will ensure that we can deal with the future of the facility and its pipeline infrastructure in a responsible and safe manner, without any additional risks to public health or the environment.”

The full text of the delegation letter can be found below and is available here.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, and Chairs Leahy, DeLauro, Tester, McCollum, Heinrich and Wasserman Schultz:

We write to inform you of an ongoing emergency on the island of Oahu and request your immediate assistance to secure the federal funding necessary to prevent permanent damage to Oahu’s federally designated sole-source groundwater aquifer. Since November 20, 2021, fuel from the World War II-era Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility (RHBFSF) has contaminated the Navy’s water system that services the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Ford Island, Ewa Beach, and Aliamanu areas. This fuel leak has affected almost 100,000 residents, forcibly displaced more than 3,500 military families into temporary lodging, and sickened many with rashes, sore throats, stomach pain, headaches, diarrhea and vomiting, and oral chemical burns.

In the last twenty months, RHBFSF has experienced fuel leaks at an increasingly alarming rate. While the Navy has not identified the source of the most recent fuel contamination, two previous leaks provide some explanation. On May 6, 2021, approximately 1,618 gallons of jet fuel leaked from a distribution pipeline inside RHBFSF because of an operator error during the transfer of fuel. At the time, the Navy said that its catchment system collected all but 38 gallons of the fuel. However, the commander of Pacific Fleet has now called these facts into question and reopened the investigation to determine the total fuel that leaked and why the Navy could not accurately account for missing fuel. On November 20, 2021, the Navy reported another leak of approximately 14,000 gallons of a mix of water and fuel in RHBFSF’s lower tunnel. That water-fuel mix released after an operator collided with a fire suppression line and ruptured it. The Navy has not explained how fuel got into the fire suppression line, including if it is fuel associated with the May 2021 release or some other leak. Regardless, the Hawai‘i Department of Health tested the water in the Navy’s Red Hill shaft and well adjacent to the fuel facility, detected gasoline- and diesel-range hydrocarbons at levels up to 350 times what the state considers safe, and recommended that users stop using the water.

Importantly, these recent fuel leaks follow a years-long effort by state and federal regulators to improve the safety of RHBFSF following a January 2014 leak when about 27,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from a fuel tank. The Navy concluded that the cause of that specific leak was poor contractor performance during a routine tank repair. However, it also learned that the Navy ignored the alarm from its own leak monitoring system when it sounded. The 2014 accident and the leaks that followed are indicative of a Navy organizational culture at RHBFSF where safety and accountability are given inadequate attention—a culture that persists today.

We recognize that this is an ongoing public health emergency, and the Navy will need to continue to work with state and local regulators to address this crisis. It must also communicate its long-term needs to Congress so that we can provide the federal funding to protect the people of Hawai‘i and our service members and their families from continued threats to the drinking water. Nevertheless, we request your immediate assistance to make available all appropriate federal resources in the short-term to address this emergency. Specifically, we ask the following:

Demand the Department of Defense spare no expense to address the immediate crisis:

We must bring the full power of Congress to bear on the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that it is spending every dollar it has available to address this emergency right now. We are deeply concerned that despite this being a crisis of its own making, the Navy may be reluctant to spend the money required to meet the moment because of concerns about unknown future emergency needs or simply not wanting to own the long-term costs associated with this crisis.

We respectfully request your commitment to work with us to ensure that DoD senior leaders understand the gravity of the situation and commit whatever resources are required to identify, isolate, and remediate the source of the contamination; make impacted military and civilian families whole; and put in place water treatment and filtration to ensure the drinking water is safe for the public. Congress should assure the department that it will backfill its expenses in the next available funding bill so that it can continue to commit the serious resources needed to protect the people of Oahu from any continued public health threat, but DoD must act right away.

Fund future requirements as part of the next must-pass spending bill: We ask for your commitment that Congress will provide robust funding to support ongoing federal activities to improve safety and operations at RHBFSF. The next must-pass spending bill should provide the Navy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal agencies the resources they need to monitor, detect, and ultimately prevent future fuel leaks. While we will continue to work with federal, state, and local stakeholders to identify their precise needs, we see immediate funding requirements in three key areas:

Environmental protection: Congress must provide funding to maintain a local lab that can regularly test water samples at the concentration level that is necessary to ensure the drinking water remains safe. This lab should also have the capability to rapidly test contaminated soil to accurately assess any level of contamination. While the Navy has started the process to establish this lab at the University of Hawai‘i, we need to ensure it is well resourced for the long term. We also need to provide funding to strengthen EPA’s oversight of the Navy’s management of RHBFSF. Because it is clear that the Navy has failed to manage RHBFSF to a standard that protects the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i, the EPA should take on a more involved oversight role of the facility. It has the expertise and the public’s trust in terms of safely managing underground fuel storage tanks, but it needs funding for this expanded oversight mission.

Infrastructure improvements: Congress must provide funding to rapidly improve the safety of RHBFSF’s pipeline system and other critical facility infrastructure. While the Navy has provided sustainment dollars to repair and modernize the fuel tanks and fire suppression system, the department has woefully underinvested in the pipelines that move fuel between the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam piers and the fuel farm. Portions of this decades-old pipeline system date back to the Second World War and are not managed in accordance with federal pipeline standards. We need a massive investment of sustainment funds to harden the facility’s infrastructure against accidents that could happen in the short run even as we deal with the future of RHBFSF. We also need to install leak detection systems in the underground tunnel network; make other emergency repair actions to critical facility infrastructure; and bring the pipeline network into compliance with the standards set by other federal agencies to help guard against future fuel leaks.

Study future risks: Congress must fund an urgent, comprehensive investigation of the RHBFSF fuel system to map out the underground network used to transfer fuel from the refueling pier to the fuel tanks so we can identify other future vulnerable points within the system, even as we make improvements in the short term. The Navy currently uses 1940s schematics of the pipeline system to inform its understanding of the network, and it does not know the extent of the infrastructure or its vulnerabilities.

We also need an independent hydrology study and ground water flow mapping study that will give state and local regulators, and the Navy, better information about the immediate and long-term risks surrounding RHBFSF. The underground fuel tanks are 100 feet above the island of Oahu’s federally designated sole source aquifer, the southern Oahu basal aquifer, which provides 20 percent of Oahu’s drinking water. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has warned that a catastrophic fuel leak could cause a long-term contamination of the aquifer and threaten public health. Part of that concern stems from the uncertainty around how any fuel leak, including a catastrophic one, would move within the volcanic rock underneath RHBFSF, including if it would migrate in unpredictable ways toward groundwater aquifers or other drinking water wells.

These short-term investments are critical to address the ongoing contamination of the Navy’s drinking water system and to shore up RHBFSF to prevent future fuel leaks. We know that there are long-term questions that we must resolve around the future of RHBFSF. Whatever the final analysis on RHBFSF’s future, the immediate funding that Congress provides in the next available must-pass spending bill will ensure that we can deal with the future of the facility and its pipeline infrastructure in a responsible and safe manner, without any additional risks to public health or the environment.

Thank you for your support of our request and your effort to ensure that the people of Hawai‘i have access to safe drinking water, now and into the future.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/key-committee-advances-schatz-hirono-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-coral-reefs,"Key Committee Advances Schatz, Hirono Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Coral Reefs",2021-12-16,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) applauded the Senate Committee on Commerce’s unanimous passage of their Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 (S. 46). First introduced in August 2019, the bill would reauthorize and modernize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, strengthen NOAA’s Coral Reef program, and give new and innovative tools and resources to the non-federal partners who are closest to the crisis in American coral reefs: states, territories, and local communities. The bill unanimously passed the Senate in December 2020, but stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of the 116th Congress. The senators reintroduced the bill in January of this year.

“Our coral reefs have been pushed to the brink of extinction, and we need to act now to save them,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill would put federal funding in the hands of states and territories to manage and restore the coral reefs that our communities, oceans, and coasts depend on.”

“So much of Hawai‘i’s economy and culture rely on healthy coral ecosystems. With coral health declining due to outside pressures like pollution and climate change, our partners on the ground urgently need the tools provided by this bill to conserve and restore these important resources,” said Senator Hirono. “Now that the bill has passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee, I look forward to working with Senators Rubio, Schatz, and Scott to get this bill signed into law.”

The Coral Reef Conservation Act, which expired more than 15 years ago, was designed to promote the conservation of our nation’s reefs. In recent years, the decline in the nation’s coral reefs has only become more severe. The Restoring Resilient Reefs Act directs federal funding and technical assistance to states for the restoration and management of coral reef ecosystems, while incentivizing increased state and local investment in coral reef management capacity. The bill encourages innovative public-private Coral Reef Stewardship Partnerships among agencies, research centers, and community stakeholders; codifies and updates the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force; ensures that our national coral strategy is informed by a robust local stakeholder engagement process; and allows for emergency grants for coral disasters, among other measures.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-airports-set-to-receive-nearly-50-million-to-improve-infrastructure-safety,"Hawai‘i Airports Set To Receive Nearly $50 Million To Improve Infrastructure, Safety",2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that Hawai‘i airports will receive $49.3 million in new federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new funding will help support airport infrastructure projects that improve safety and operations efficiency, cut congestion, and reduce the airport’s impact on the environment and neighboring communities.

“Hawai‘i’s airports will soon be getting millions to help make it safer and easier for passengers to fly,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “The historic infrastructure law we passed last month is already delivering funding to support our airports, roads, and transit systems, and we expect even more in the coming months and years.”

The nearly $50 million in funding for Hawai‘i airports includes:

$5.9 million for airports on Kauai

$21.2 million for airports on Oahu

$1.2 million for airports on Molokai

$1 million for Lanai Airport

$9.5 million for airports on Maui

$10.4 million for airports on Hawai‘i Island

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-ftc-announcement-of-rulemaking-consideration-on-algorithmic-decision-making,Schatz Statement On FTC Announcement Of Rulemaking Consideration On Algorithmic Decision-Making,2021-12-15,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i) today released the following statement after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it was considering initiating a rulemaking under Section 18 of the FTC Act to ensure algorithmic decision-making does not result in unlawful discrimination. The announcement follows calls from Schatz to take action on this decision-making.

“Algorithms are used everywhere, and their malicious use causes real harm to Americans every day. I’m glad to see Chair Khan and the agency take this step to crack down on companies using discriminatory algorithms. It’s crucial that we address this. I encourage the FTC not only to pursue its Section 18 authority to ensure accountability for the use of these algorithms, but to consider additional enforcement under other statutes including the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.”

Last week, Senator Schatz led calls in the Senate Commerce Committee encouraging the FTC to use its authority to more closely scrutinize these algorithms. Earlier this year he reintroduced the Data Care Act, legislation which would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users’ data, and the Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency (PACT) Act, which would empower the FTC to make platforms’ manual and automated content moderation practices more transparent and prevent companies from using Section 230 as a defense against government, including the FTC and Department of Justice, civil actions to protect consumers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-hawaii-sees-rise-in-cyberattacks-schatz-legislation-to-help-fight-cybercrime-passes-senate,"As Hawai‘i Sees Rise In Cyberattacks, Schatz Legislation To Help Fight Cybercrime Passes Senate",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate last week passed the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that would help fight cybercrime and help keep people safe from online scams. The bipartisan bill will improve data collection on cybercrimes, giving law enforcement and policy makers more tools to understand the size and scope of cybercrime in the United States.

“To protect people and fight online crimes, including scams and hacks like those we’ve seen recently in Honolulu against our public transit and water systems, we need to understand how often, when, and where they’re happening. With our bipartisan bill now one step closer to becoming law, we’ll soon be equipped with the data we need to go after criminals and provide more support to victims of cybercrime,” said Senator Schatz.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are targets of cybercrime incidents that cost billions of dollars. Whether done through online scams and fraud, corporate data breaches, or ransomware attacks, the cost of cybercrime has been increasing annually, from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $4.2 billion in 2020, and impacts an estimated 300,000 to 700,000 victims each year. This month, cyberattacks against Honolulu’s TheBus and Handi-Van’s public transit systems and the Board of Water Supply have left passengers without rides and employees with their personal data exposed.

Unfortunately, these numbers are likely low, as there are no comprehensive metrics on the scale and impact of cybercrime in the United States, or on law enforcement efforts against them. Only 10 to 12 percent of all estimated cybercrime victims report cybercrime incidents in the United States, while other estimates have put that number much higher.

The Better Cybercrime Metrics Act will give law enforcement a clearer picture of online crimes in the United States by requiring the FBI to integrate cybercrime incidents into its current reporting streams to better understand all the types of crime that Americans face. As cybercriminals continue to target vulnerable populations, this data will help lawmakers make an informed case for policy changes to curtail the cybercrime wave, keep Americans safe, and bring these criminals to justice.

The Better Cybercrime Metrics Act will:

Require the FBI to report metrics on cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime categories, just as they do for other types of property crime;

Encourage local and federal law enforcement agencies to report incidents of cybercrime in their jurisdictions to the FBI;

Authorize a study at the National Academies of Science to create a taxonomy for cybercrime incidents in consultation with federal, state, local, and tribal stakeholders, criminologists, and business leaders that would inform the FBI’s reporting of cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime; and

Require the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Department of Justice and the Census Bureau to include questions related to cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime as part of its annual National Crime Victimization Survey.

The legislation is supported by the National White Collar Crime Center (NWC3), former U.S. Attorney and Los Angeles Police Commissioner Eileen M. Decker, the Cybercrime Support Network (CSN), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and the Major County Sheriffs of America.

The bill now heads to the House of Representation for consideration. The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-391-hawaii-health-care-providers-to-receive-nearly-37-million-in-federal-covid-19-relief-funding-to-respond-to-pandemic-help-families-get-health-care,"Schatz: 391 Hawai‘i Health Care Providers To Receive Nearly $37 Million In Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding To Respond To Pandemic, Help Families Get Health Care",2021-12-14,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that 391 health care providers in Hawai‘i will receive $36,994,939 in federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and continue providing health care for families across the state. The payments will support health care providers who have experienced revenue losses and expenses related to the pandemic. This funding, from the Department of Health and Human Services, focuses in particular on smaller providers and providers serving the most vulnerable communities.

“As we continue battling the pandemic, it’s incredibly important that our health care providers have the resources they need to provide high-quality care to families across Hawai‘i,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new federal funding will help these providers keep their doors open and keep people safe and healthy.”

This new funding is part of the $178 billion Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. The grants will allow health care providers to recruit and retain staff, purchase masks and other supplies, modernize facilities, or undertake other projects in response to COVID-19. Today’s announcement follows last month’s announcement of $43 million in federal funding under the American Rescue Plan for 240 rural health care providers to provide care for families across the state.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-island-selected-as-finalist-for-up-to-100-million-grant-to-support-local-farmers-help-grow-agricultural-economy,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Island Selected As Finalist For Up To $100 Million Grant To Support Local Farmers, Help Grow Agricultural Economy",2021-12-13,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Hawai‘i Island Coalition was named a finalist for the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge and will receive $500,000 to further develop a proposal for between $25 and $100 million in potential future grant funding. If successful, the coalition would use the funds to create jobs, train workers, and expand the market reach of Hawai‘i Island’s farmers.

“This announcement is great news for the Big Island and the state,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Investing in agriculture will create jobs, support families, and grow our local economy. I’ll do everything I can to get this application over the finish line and make sure Hawai‘i secures this federal funding.”

The Hawai‘i Island Coalition, led by Hawai‘i County, seeks to create a robust agricultural economy that corrects past systemic barriers to growth that are unique to islands, while also helping respond to economic downturns due to the pandemic and natural disasters. The coalition aims to divert 20 percent of Hawai‘i’s food import market to local producers, creating thousands of new jobs and stimulating the specialty export market. If successful in securing the larger grant, the coalition would build an industrial park, train workers, and increase food processing and production capacity.

The Economic Development Administration launched the Build Back Better Regional Challenge with funds provided by the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed – and Senator Schatz supported – earlier this year. The challenge leverages $1 billion to boost economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities, with 30 winners receiving grants worth between $25-100 million to develop local initiatives. The Hawai‘i Island Coalition is one of 60 finalists selected from 529 applications.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-oahu-health-center-to-receive-more-than-470000-to-help-train-more-local-doctors-expand-access-to-health-care,"Schatz: Oahu Health Center To Receive More Than $470,000 To Help Train More Local Doctors, Expand Access To Health Care",2021-12-10,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center will receive $472,834 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to establish a teaching health center primary care medical residency program on Oahu.

“This new residency program will train more local doctors and help Hawai‘i families get the health care they need,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Where someone lives shouldn’t be a barrier to seeing a doctor. That’s why programs like these are so critical for families living in rural areas.”

The new federal funding is part of the Health Resources and Service Administration’s Teaching Health Center Planning and Development Program (THCPD), and will support the establishment of a teaching health center primary care residency program at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. The new residency program will help train residents at community-based sites and help to address physician workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities. The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center has clinics in Waianae, Nanakuli, Kapolei, Waipahu, and Ewa.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-epa-must-take-lead-in-testing-analysis-public-communication-of-red-hill-water-contamination-crisis,"Schatz: EPA Must Take Lead In Testing, Analysis, Public Communication Of Red Hill Water Contamination Crisis",2021-12-09,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after the Navy disputed the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s analysis of water contamination at the Aiea Halawa well.

“The EPA must be the lead agency in the collection, testing, analysis, and public communication for water quality of the Navy’s water system. EPA must take a more active role in addressing this crisis. We can’t afford another day of the Navy and state and county agencies disagreeing on the basic question of whether the drinking water is safe. We need a trusted independent agency with deep expertise and a mission of environmental protection to take over.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-urges-governor-ige-to-request-emergency-declaration-epa-intervention-in-water-contamination-crisis,"Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation Urges Governor Ige To Request Emergency Declaration, EPA Intervention In Water Contamination Crisis",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) called on Governor David Ige to request that President Biden declare an emergency and direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to step in and assist with the water contamination crisis on Oahu.

“The EPA’s direct intervention in your request is essential,” the delegation wrote in their letter to Ige. “While the source of the contamination affecting the drinking water is still unknown, it is important that the public have confidence in the process that the Navy and Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) are using to draw samples from the Navy’s water system to ensure the results show the true extent of the problem that threatens the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i. The EPA has the expertise to validate the techniques and procedures that the Navy and DOH are using to draw their samples, and it can direct them to take corrective actions where appropriate. It can also draw its own samples to compare against as we work to identify, isolate, and fix the source of the contamination affecting the drinking water.”

The full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.

Dear Governor Ige:

We write regarding the contamination of drinking water impacting the communities of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation, and Red Hill and urge you to immediately request that President Biden declare an emergency and to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and all other appropriate federal agencies to respond to this crisis.

Including the EPA’s direct intervention in your request is essential. While the source of the contamination affecting the drinking water is still unknown, it is important that the public have confidence in the process that the Navy and Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) are using to draw samples from the Navy’s water system to ensure the results show the true extent of the problem that threatens the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i. The EPA has the expertise to validate the techniques and procedures that the Navy and DOH are using to draw their samples, and it can direct them to take corrective actions where appropriate. It can also draw its own samples to compare against as we work to identify, isolate, and fix the source of the contamination affecting the drinking water.

We are also troubled that the Navy has said that it does not have a “realistic timeline” for restoring safe drinking water, leaving impacted families in limbo as they continue to struggle with daily activities—such as cooking, bathing their children, and doing laundry. Given the indeterminate duration that this crisis could persist, the State of Hawai‘i must continue to assess additional potential areas for federal agency intervention as they are warranted.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this as we work together to address this ongoing crisis.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hirono-vote-to-confirm-clare-connors-to-serve-as-us-attorney-for-hawaii,"Schatz, Hirono Vote to Confirm Clare Connors to Serve as U.S. Attorney for Hawai‘i",2021-12-07,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted to confirm Hawai‘i Attorney General Clare Connors to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i. The Senate voted unanimously to confirm her nomination.

“Clare Connors is an excellent choice to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i, and her unanimous confirmation by the Senate is proof of that. With her strong background in public service and her proven commitment to justice, we were proud to support her nomination, and are confident she will serve the people of Hawai‘i well.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-governor-call-for-immediate-suspension-of-operations-at-red-hill,"Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation, Governor Call For Immediate Suspension of Operations At Red Hill",2021-12-05,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige and Hawaii’s congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i), released the following statement calling for the Secretary of the Navy to immediately suspend operations at Red Hill following the contamination of drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam:

“Test results confirming contamination of drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam show that the Navy is not effectively operating the World War II-era facility and protecting the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i. We are calling for the Navy to immediately suspend operations at Red Hill while they confront and remedy this crisis.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-discussion-with-white-house-chief-of-staff-biden-homeland-security-advisor-on-water-contamination-crisis,"Schatz Statement On Discussion With White House Chief Of Staff, Biden Homeland Security Advisor On Water Contamination Crisis",2021-12-04,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on his call with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and the President’s Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall to discuss the water contamination crisis at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

“Today, I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall to brief them on the water contamination crisis on Oahu and request the Biden Administration’s support for all federal resources available to the state and to affected residents, including mobilizing EPA and all relevant federal agencies. The White House agreed to work closely with me and state and military leaders to ensure Hawai‘i has the federal support it needs to clean up the water at Red Hill and help families get through this crisis.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-navy-has-failed-to-safely-manage-fuel-operations-must-provide-affected-families-with-safe-water-access-to-lodging-laundry-other-necessities,"Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation: Navy Has Failed To Safely Manage Fuel Operations, Must Provide Affected Families With Safe Water, Access To Lodging, Laundry, Other Necessities",2021-12-03,2021,2021-12,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after test results found petroleum contaminants in the Navy’s water system, which supplies water to thousands of Oahu families.

“While the test results leave many questions, it is clear that the Navy has failed to manage its fuel operations, including Red Hill, to a standard that protects the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i. The Navy must immediately identify, isolate, and fix the problems that have allowed the contamination of the drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. That includes a wholesale change in an organizational culture that has allowed too many accidents to occur without any accountability. We expect the Navy to also provide all affected residents with safe drinking water, and access to temporary lodging, laundry services, and other necessities that will help them get through this crisis. The Navy must also work with state regulators to identify and isolate other potential fuel leaks that risk further contamination of drinking water resources on Oahu. Finally, we urge the governor to request that the president declare an emergency as soon as possible so that the state has access to every resource available to make families whole and protect the people of Hawai‘i from future leaks. We will remain personally involved in applying the full resources of our offices and Congress to ensuring that the Navy fully resolves this crisis.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:37:48Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-to-navy-secretary-navy-must-act-immediately-to-test-protect-water-provide-hawaii-residents-with-access-to-safe-water,"Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation To Navy Secretary: Navy Must Act Immediately To Test, Protect Water, Provide Hawai‘i Residents With Access To Safe Water",2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after meeting with Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to discuss fuel operations in Hawai‘i.

“Today, we met with Secretary Del Toro to discuss our concerns with Red Hill and the Navy’s fuel operations in Hawai‘i. The Navy owes the community straightforward communications on all events that occur at Red Hill and a commitment to address concerns with the Red Hill infrastructure no matter the cost. Given the resources and engineering expertise available to the Navy, we made it clear that there is zero tolerance for endangering the health and safety of the public or the environment. Most recently, reports of fuel potentially contaminating the water supply at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam followed by a slow, inadequate response are especially troubling. The Navy must act immediately and do everything it can to expedite the testing being done on the mainland to determine any risks to the drinking water. It also needs to ensure that residents in all affected areas have access to safe drinking water until the Navy and state regulators can assure the public it is safe. We also expect clear and consistent communication with the public about all matters, but particularly those that impact health and safety.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-passing-of-former-honolulu-mayor-eileen-anderson,Schatz Statement On Passing Of Former Honolulu Mayor Eileen Anderson,2021-11-30,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the passing of former Honolulu Mayor Eileen Anderson.

“Mayor Anderson was a remarkable, trailblazing leader who helped inspire generations of women in Hawai‘i. While she will be greatly missed, her legacy of public service and work to move Honolulu forward will endure. My condolences and aloha go to Mayor Anderson’s ohana.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-to-receive-15-million-to-improve-waianuenue-avenue-bridge-in-hilo-protect-it-from-flooding-natural-disasters,"Hawai‘i To Receive $1.5 Million To Improve Waianuenue Avenue Bridge In Hilo, Protect It From Flooding, Natural Disasters",2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the State of Hawai‘i will receive $1.5 million in new federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to modernize the Waianuenue Avenue Bridge and protect it from flooding and earthquakes.

“This new federal funding will modernize the Waianuenue Avenue Bridge, making it safer for local families to use and get where they need to go,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “In addition to this funding, Hawai‘i is set to receive at least $2.8 billion from the new bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen roads and bridges across the state.”

The modernized bridge will be designed to withstand earthquake forces and erosive forces of flood waters as established by current national standards. The $1.5 million grant is being funded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments so they can rebuild in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses in their communities.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-to-receive-47-million-to-help-keep-families-in-their-homes-avoid-evictions,"Schatz: Hawai‘i To Receive $4.7 Million To Help Keep Families In Their Homes, Avoid Evictions",2021-11-29,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority will receive $4.7 million from the American Rescue Plan to keep Hawai‘i families using housing vouchers from being evicted due to increased costs.

“No one should lose their home during a pandemic,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Urban Development. “This new federal funding will help make sure families who are struggling to stay in their homes aren’t evicted and can continue to have safe and stable housing.”

The grants will support Housing Choice Vouchers and Mainstream Vouchers for non-elderly persons with disabilities that otherwise would have their rental assistance terminated as a result of insufficient funding.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-nomination-of-nani-coloretti-as-deputy-omb-director,Schatz Statement On Nomination Of Nani Coloretti As Deputy OMB Director,2021-11-24,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement on the nomination of Nani Coloretti as Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). When confirmed, Coloretti will become the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration. Coloretti hails from Kapahulu and graduated from Iolani School in 1987.

“The Office of Management and Budget will gain an outstanding, well-qualified Deputy Director in Nani Coloretti,” Senator Schatz said. “This is a proud moment for Hawai‘i and the Filipino American community. As a native of Kapahulu and the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration, Nani will bring strong leadership experience, as well as the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino American leaders in Hawai‘i and across the country. I am proud to call Nani a friend, and I look forward to voting for her confirmation in the Senate.”

Nani Coloretti is currently Senior Vice President at the Urban Institute. She previously served as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama Administration. Before that she served as Assistant Secretary for Management and Acting CFO of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Acting COO of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, Coloretti worked in the San Francisco Mayor’s office from 2005 until 2009, most recently serving as Budget Director. Previously, Coloretti served as the Director of Policy, Planning, and Budget for the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families from 1999 to 2005.

The Office of Management and Budget is the largest office within the Office of the President, overseeing the implementation of the president’s vision across the Executive Branch. Specifically, OMB’s mission is to assist the president in meeting his policy, budget, management and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-rural-health-care-providers-to-receive-more-than-43-million-in-federal-relief-funding-to-cover-costs-help-families-get-health-care,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Rural Health Care Providers To Receive More Than $43 Million In Federal Relief Funding To Cover Costs, Help Families Get Health Care",2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that rural health care providers in Hawai‘i will receive more than $43 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to provide health care for families across the state. The grants will support 240 Hawai‘i health care providers who serve rural Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medicare beneficiaries.

“This new federal funding will provide a lifeline for rural health care providers and help families across Hawai‘i get the health care they need as we continue to fight this pandemic,” said Senator Schatz. “Helping these providers keep their doors open will keep people in Hawai‘i healthy, create jobs, and improve our quality of life.”

The grants will support health care providers who suffered during the pandemic, and can be used to pay salaries or recruit workers, purchase supplies or equipment such as N95 or surgical masks or ventilators, make capital investments, or cover other expenses related to preventing or responding to COVID-19.

A full list of funding recipients can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-secures-extension-of-493-million-honolulu-rail-funding-grant-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal,Schatz Secures Extension Of $493 Million Honolulu Rail Funding Grant In Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal,2021-11-23,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Last week, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure deal into law, which includes a provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will extend the deadline for $493 million in grant funding for the Honolulu Rail Transit project. The federal funds, a portion of the $1.55 billion federal grant for the project, were set to expire at the end of the year if left unspent. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Schatz worked with congressional leaders to include the deadline extension and protect the project’s federal funding for another two years.

“My objective was to prevent the loss of these federal dollars. While this extension buys them more time, HART and the City still need to update their financial plan and come back with something that can actually work. They now have an opportunity to focus on what is most important – developing a clear-eyed plan for the people of Honolulu,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development.

The new spending deadline for these funds is December 31, 2023.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-2-million-to-protect-coastal-communities-across-the-state,Hawai‘i Set To Receive More Than $2 Million To Protect Coastal Communities Across The State,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Hawai‘i will receive more than $2 million to fund coastal resilience projects and protect communities from flooding across the state.

“These projects will restore or expand wetlands, beaches, and forests and will help keep homes and businesses safe from flooding and coastal erosion,” said Senator Schatz.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will administer the funding in partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and will leverage additional funding from the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense, Shell Oil, TransRe, Occidental, and AT&T.

Hawai‘i projects receiving federal grant funding include:

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Project: Developing Community Resilience for Molokai Coastal Homesteads

Grant amount: $203,940

Funding will be used to develop a resilience plan for homestead communities on the island of Molokai through scientific analyses and modeling of projected sea-level rise, flooding, groundwater upwelling and other increasing coastal hazards.

Malama Maunalua

Project: Utilizing a Traditional Framework to Minimize Floods in Maunalua Bay Watersheds

Grant amount: $262,312

Project will address the serious flooding issues confronting residential, commercial, and environmental resources surrounding Maunalua Bay by reducing the volume of the stormwater runoff in priority areas through increased filtration with revegetation in natural areas and by slowing down or capturing the water from urban areas.

Maui Nui Marine Resource Council

Project: Conducting Site Assessments and Planning to Address Recurring Coastal Flooding

Grant amount: $210,000

Project will create a workplan for site design, with the goal of preventing property and infrastructure damage due to stormwater flooding and protecting wetland bird habitat, native plant species, nearshore coral reef ecosystems and marine wildlife.

Department of Land and Natural Resources

Project: Enhancing Flood Mitigation Through Invasive Species Control for a Resilient Ala Wai Watershed

Grant amount: $1,640,830

Project will control and monitor an estimated 1,000 albizia trees across 669 acres, treat all miconia plants detected during surveys across 4,000 acres, and treat mule’s foot ferns across 200 acres.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-congratulates-suzanne-vares-lum-on-being-named-president-of-east-west-center,Schatz Congratulates Suzanne Vares-Lum On Being Named President of East-West Center,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today congratulating Suzanne Vares-Lum on her appointment to be the next president of the East-West Center.

“I congratulate Suzanne Vares-Lum on this well-deserved appointment to be the next president of the East-West Center,” said Senator Schatz. “As a Native Hawaiian woman, a former major general in the Army, and a community leader here at home, her unique experience and important perspective will serve her well in this new role. I look forward to working with her as the East-West Center continues to play an increasingly important role in strengthening our national security and improving cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-papahanaumokuakea-deserves-sanctuary-protections,Schatz: Papahanaumokuakea Deserves Sanctuary Protections,2021-11-19,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following an appropriations provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to designate Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today officially began the process for designation. Following this initiation, NOAA will begin public meetings and the formal legal process to complete the requirements to finalize an official designation.

“Papahanaumokuakea is a special place that deserves the strongest protections we can give it,” said Senator Schatz. “Designating the area as a sanctuary will allows its managers, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to better protect its cultural and environmental value while planning for the long term, so future generations of Native Hawaiians and Hawai‘i residents will be able to see Papahanaumokuakea the way we do today.”

Papahanaumokuakea was first established as a marine national monument in 2006. It was expanded by President Obama in 2016 following a formal proposal from Senator Schatz.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-braun-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-build-more-affordable-housing-address-americas-growing-housing-crisis,"Schatz, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Build More Affordable Housing, Address America’s Growing Housing Crisis",2021-11-18,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) today introduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act. The bipartisan legislation continues Senator Schatz’s efforts to address America’s housing shortage by offering federal benefits and encouraging local governments to build more high-density housing near transit-oriented urban spaces, where options are especially lacking.

“We have a national housing shortage crisis, and one thing is clear: we need to build more housing,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “Our bipartisan bill will make sure that when cities expand or redevelop their public transit systems, they are also building more affordable housing with it. This will help put more families in homes, grow local economies, and cut carbon pollution.”

“For too long, transit and housing issues have run in parallel. This bill finally marries the two by giving local governments the tools they need to encourage high density and mixed use development to help relieve the affordable housing crisis. This bill gives local communities the resources they need to build more housing near transit systems and encourages them to enable their economies to grow through more housing options for families,” said Senator Braun.

Specifically, the legislation directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide a scoring boost to the competitive grant application of public transit projects that include housing planning and development near new stations.

Currently, 47% of renter households are cost-burdened, and lack of housing options in transit-friendly areas is a major contributor to this. Moreover, transportation costs are often a household’s second-largest expenditure behind housing, meaning more housing in transit areas would have a two-fold benefit.

By offering easier access to transit centers, the Build More Housing Near Transit Act will connect more employees with jobs and boost economic output, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased public transit ridership. It will also make federal transportation projects more efficient and ensure federal dollars are used most effectively.

“America is experiencing a severe shortage of homes, and nowhere is this crisis more acute than in transit-served neighborhoods. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing and will help spur the creation of more walkable, livable, and equitable communities. The bill incentivizes early collaboration between transit agencies and local governments and will create closer alignment of land-use policies and transit investments through encouraging housing feasibility assessments. Additionally, the bill will shift program guidance to help drive additional resources towards affordable housing development, specifically in transit-served areas. If passed, this legislation will increase public transportation ridership and encourage the creation of housing that uses less land, take cars off the road, and allows people and their families to live closer to jobs and other opportunities. We applaud Senator Schatz and Senator Braun for introducing the Build More Housing Near Transit Act and their ongoing leadership on this critical issue,” said Mike Kingsella, Chief Executive Officer of Up for Growth Action.

“The nation’s housing crisis is also a crisis of economic opportunity and mobility. Effective planning that coordinates transit, housing, jobs, and land use is vital to tackling the challenge of housing affordability and availability. The Build More Housing Near Transit Act will spur better coordination of housing and transportation and promote public transit projects that also increase mobility options and access to housing and economic opportunity. With the passage of historic and much needed federal infrastructure legislation, this bill will ensure that these new investments provide the broadest and highest benefit. The American Planning Association is proud to support this legislation as an important tool for the recovery and reinvention of our communities,” said Leo Asuncion, AICP, President of the American Planning Association (APA).

“Providing critically needed public transportation access to affordable housing is a key step in addressing America’s housing crisis. Improving transit access is one of the most important actions we as a nation can take to address inequities in communities. Public transportation creates access to opportunities, including jobs, health care, and education, which can help disadvantaged communities address the equity challenges they face,” said Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-to-receive-22-million-to-improve-honoapiilani-highway-on-maui-protect-it-from-sea-level-rise,"Schatz: Hawai‘i To Receive $22 Million To Improve Honoapiilani Highway On Maui, Protect It From Sea Level Rise",2021-11-16,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) will receive $22 million in new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support a realignment of the Honoapiilani Highway in West Maui and protect it from sea level rise.

“This new federal funding will keep Honoapiilani Highway safe and functional by responding to coastal erosion caused by climate change and help local families get where they need to go in West Maui,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “In addition to this funding, Hawai‘i is set to receive at least $2.8 billion from the new bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen road and bridges and make them more resilient to climate change.”

Schatz’s 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 a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, will be used to realign 4.5 miles of Honoapiilani Highway from Ukumehame to Launiupoko. This realignment will connect to the previously constructed Lahaina Bypass, addressing the second priority location on the statewide report for coastal highway protection. HDOT will work closely with Maui County and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, which owns most of the land that the realignment will be constructed on.

The project will also receive federal funding from the new bipartisan infrastructure law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-signs-infrastructure-bill-into-law-at-least-28-billion-in-new-federal-funding-heading-to-hawaii-even-more-expected,"President Signs Infrastructure Bill Into Law, At Least $2.8 Billion In New Federal Funding Heading To Hawai‘i, Even More Expected",2021-11-15,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden signed the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law. The sweeping law, which U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass in the Senate in August, includes at least $2.8 billion for Hawai‘i to repair roads and bridges and make them more resilient to climate change, improve public transportation options for residents, and strengthen high-speed internet access in Native Hawaiian communities and across Hawai‘i.

“Billions of federal dollars are now on their way to Hawai‘i to help us improve our buses and public transit systems, fix up our roads and bridges, and create thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “This massive investment will make it safer and easier for Hawai‘i families to get around and benefit our local economy for many, many years to come.”

In addition to the billions of dollars in federal funding for Hawai‘i, the new law also includes a provision authored by Senator Schatz to improve road safety standards and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act, which Schatz worked to include in the deal, will help utilize technology, infrastructure, and design expertise to vastly reduce pedestrian and cyclist road deaths in Hawai‘i and across the United States.

Key provisions in the infrastructure bill for Hawai‘i include:

Roads, bridges, and major projects – at least $1.5 billion for Hawai‘i

At least $1.2 billion in estimated funding for Hawai‘i will be used to repair and rebuild roads with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, and safety for all road users

At least $339 million for Hawai‘i from the Bridge Program to repair and replace deficient or outdated bridges

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $16 billion in nationwide funding for major projects

Access to $7.5 billion for competitive RAISE grants which support surface transportation projects of local and/or regional significance

Public transit – at least $315.7 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to help repair and expand Hawai‘i’s public transit system, including a historic investment in cleaner and safer buses

Airports – at least $246 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to improve runways, gates, taxiways, and terminals and make investments that will reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies

Hawai‘i also has access to $5 billion in nationwide funding from the Airport Terminal Program for major terminal renovations and expansions

Broadband – at least $160 million for Hawai‘i

At least $100 million in funding will be used to help the state deploy and expand broadband access to more Hawai‘i families

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is set to receive at least $60 million to provide high-speed internet access to more Native Hawaiian families

At least 280,000 Hawai‘i residents will be eligible for a new benefit aimed at helping low-income families afford high-speed internet access

Funding will also support the construction of new broadband infrastructure, including undersea cables

Water infrastructure – at least $200.4 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes $112.4 million to Hawai‘i from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to improve drinking water treatment, pipes, and water storage tanks

An additional $88 million to Hawai‘i from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help support municipal wastewater facilities and treatment systems

Access to $10 billion to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Access to $250 million in grants for low-income households for the construction, repair, or replacement of individual decentralized wastewater treatment systems

Electric vehicles – at least $18 million for Hawai‘i

Funding to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Hawai‘i to enable long-distance travel and to provide convenient charging where people live and work

Access to an additional $2.5 billion in nationwide grant funding dedicated to EV and alternative fuels charging infrastructure

Access to $5 billion to replace existing school buses with zero emission and clean school buses, with a priority on low income, rural, and Tribal schools

Access to $5.25 billion in grants for state and local governments to purchase or lease zero- and low-emission transit buses

Clean energy and grid – at least $3 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes at least $3 million to Hawai‘i from the Department of Energy’s State Energy Program to pursue state-led initiatives that accelerate our clean energy transition

Hawai‘i has access to $3 billion in matching grants for smart grid investments, including energy storage

Access to $500 million in competitive grants to make energy efficiency, renewable energy, and vehicle upgrades at public schools

Access to an additional $550 million in nationwide funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

Resiliency – $11 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $1.3 billion in nationwide funding for coastal habitat restoration to increase resilience

Access to $1 billion for resilience infrastructure through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program

Access to $8.7 billion from the new Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, which provides formula and competitive funding for resilience improvement grants, community resilience and evacuation route grants, and at-risk coastal infrastructure grants

Street safety – $5 billion (nationwide)

Funds a new program to help state and local governments implement “vision zero” plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, especially for cyclists and pedestrians

Flood mitigation – $7 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $7 billion in nationwide funding to support flood control projects that protect vulnerable communities from sea level rise and extreme weather

Ports and waterways – $16.6 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to new funding for waterway and coastal infrastructure, inland waterway improvements, and port infrastructure

Addressing legacy pollution – $21 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $1.5 billion in nationwide funding for brownfields remediation

Access to $3.5 billion for Superfund cleanup

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-brown-senators-to-cfpb-fix-the-broken-credit-reporting-system-hold-credit-reporting-agencies-accountable,"Schatz, Brown, Senators To CFPB: Fix The Broken Credit Reporting System, Hold Credit Reporting Agencies Accountable",2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), urged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to take concrete steps to reform the credit reporting industry. Specifically, the senators urged Director Rohit Chopra to use the CFPB’s existing supervisory, rulemaking, and enforcement authority over the largest nationwide consumer reporting agencies, in order to improve the accuracy of credit reports, streamline the dispute resolution process, and hold consumer reporting agencies accountable for addressing persistent errors.

“In an industry that affects all Americans so directly, even a small error rate means tens of millions of people can be denied jobs or housing through no fault of their own. As a result of simple mistakes, consumers may pay more for credit or be denied loans altogether; they might face obstacles applying for a job, getting a mortgage, or renting an apartment,” the senators wrote in their letter to Director Chopra. “These impacts can persist for years, putting innocent people in positions that are nearly impossible to resolve. … Accordingly, we request you take immediate action to protect consumers and introduce much-needed accountability into the credit reporting system.”

The full text of the letter is available here and can be found below:

Dear Director Chopra:

Congratulations on your confirmation to serve as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). We write to urge you to take strong action to reform an industry that plays an integral role in deciding individuals’ access to credit, and whose errors can ruin lives.

A 2012 FTC study found that one in five consumers had an error in at least one of their credit reports, and five percent of consumers had errors that were economically damaging. A 2015 follow-up study by the FTC found that nearly 70 percent of the impacted consumers surveyed three years earlier continued to dispute information in their reports. More recently, a 2021 Consumer Reports survey found that more than one-third of 6,000 participating consumers found at least one mistake in their credit reports.

In an industry that affects all Americans so directly, even a small error rate means tens of millions of people can be denied jobs or housing through no fault of their own. As a result of simple mistakes, consumers may pay more for credit or be denied loans altogether; they might face obstacles applying for a job, getting a mortgage, or renting an apartment. These impacts can persist for years, putting innocent people in positions that are nearly impossible to resolve. Furthermore, these errors can exacerbate the racial wealth gap: according to new research from your agency, consumers residing in majority Black neighborhoods are twice as likely to have disputes appear on their credit reports compared to consumers in white neighborhoods. This is a disparity the CFPB observed across every credit category, including auto loans, student loans, and credit cards.

Consumers should not have to navigate lengthy, complicated processes to correct credit reporting errors, or to protect themselves against identity theft or fraud—a continuing risk for the hundreds of millions of Americans whose information has been compromised in corporate data breaches, such as the 2017 Equifax breach. It is no surprise that credit and consumer reporting complaints handily top the list of issues consumers report to the CFPB. Americans have more complaints with the credit reporting industry than any other type of consumer financial product or service, and the CFPB is empowered to improve this broken system.

The Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act gave the CFPB broad supervisory, rulemaking, and enforcement authority over the largest nationwide consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), representing the vast majority of the credit reporting market. Accordingly, we request you take immediate action to protect consumers and introduce much-needed accountability into the credit reporting system.

Specifically, we ask that you evaluate persistent errors in credit reporting and how CRAs consistently fail to resolve these errors, especially by failing to devote sufficient personnel and resources for dispute resolution—a shortcoming the CFPB could use its supervisory authority to remedy. You should also consider creating an ombudsperson position at the CFPB to facilitate the dispute resolution process and help ensure accuracy. CRAs engage in concerning practices that contribute to inaccuracies, including using partial Social Security numbers to match data from an information furnisher to a consumer’s file. We were encouraged by CFPB’s recent advisory opinion affirming that the practice of matching consumer records solely through the matching of names is illegal. Any additional action the CFPB takes could, with appropriate privacy and security measures, also require nationwide CRAs to instead match all nine digits of a consumer’s Social Security number. We also ask that you consider requiring nationwide CRAs to perform periodic accuracy audits on information furnishers. Additionally, we ask that you review the potential to codify provisions of the nationwide CRAs’ settlement with state attorneys general that delayed reporting of medical debt for six months and removed debts paid by insurance. Finally, algorithmic bias presents a risk of amplifying racial disparities in credit reporting, and a failure to provide reports in Spanish and other languages can impact consumers with limited English proficiency. We request that you require CRAs to address these concerns to ensure the credit reporting system equitably serves all consumers.

These concerns are not exhaustive, and we look forward to hearing more about your agenda for protecting consumers and working with you to improve this system.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-rounds-portman-coons-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-education-benefits-for-veterans,"Schatz, Rounds, Portman, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Education Benefits For Veterans",2021-11-10,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act. The bipartisan legislation would improve veterans’ access to information about higher education and allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to restore benefits that veterans use at schools subject to civil enforcement.

“The G.I. Bill benefit has helped open the doors to higher education for many veterans who otherwise would not be able to access it. But bad actors in the education community have taken advantage of those who have served, robbing them of the full value of their education benefits,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will ensure that veterans who have been deceived are able to recoup their benefits. It will also help veterans learn more about different schools and their benefits so that they have the information they need to find the right program.”

Along with providing VA the ability to reinstate benefits used at schools subject to civil enforcement, the bill requires VA to provide veterans up-to-date student outcome and financial information for all eligible institutions through its G.I. Bill Comparison Tool, and it requires all VA education counselors to be trained in using this tool to help beneficiaries so that veterans can make the best choices about where to use their education benefits.

“Our veterans, service members, and their families deserve full access to the educational benefits they’ve been promised,” said Senator Rounds. “Our bill will improve the GI Bill Comparison Tool to better inform eligible individuals in South Dakota, and nationwide, about their educational benefits and opportunities. Through timely data publication, this tool will help veterans and service members steer clear of predatory institutions and select the best programs available.”

“Veterans and servicemembers in Ohio, and across the country, deserve to use the educational benefits they’ve worked so hard to secure – not have them taken by bad actors,” said Senator Portman. “This bipartisan legislation would give the beneficiaries of these important educational assistance benefits the tools they need to obtain timely and accurate information about higher learning institutions, including those with poor outcomes.”

“It is incumbent upon Congress to ensure that service members and veterans get access to the full benefits they have earned and are empowered to use those benefits to receive a quality education,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing the Student Veterans Transparency and Protection Act, which will help veterans learn more about higher education opportunities and find the right program.”

The bill is supported by Veterans Educational Success, Student Veterans of America, the American Legion, Blind Veterans of America, the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled Veterans of America, the Military Officers Association of America, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Gold Star Wives of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, AMVETS, Higher Learning Advocates, The Institute for College Access & Success, and the Nimitz Group.

“Veterans Educational Success supports legislation drafted by Senator Schatz that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report outcome data for GI Bill beneficiaries… [the] bill will provide GI Bill beneficiaries and policy makers with information that is key to the informed use of the benefits and the oversight of the Post-9/11 GI Bill,” said Walter Ochinko, Research Director for Veterans Educational Success.

“This legislation fills critical information gaps in the current GI Bill Comparison Tool…these commonsense reforms will improve the overall student veteran experience by giving students more information to make better decisions and vital relief if they are negatively impacted by bad-actor schools,” said Jared Lyon, MPA, National President and CEO of Student Veterans of America.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-at-least-28-billion-to-improve-roads-bridges-expand-high-speed-internet-access-create-new-jobs-across-the-state,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive At Least $2.8 Billion To Improve Roads, Bridges, Expand High-Speed Internet Access, Create New Jobs Across The State",2021-11-06,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal that includes at least $2.8 billion in estimated funding for Hawai‘i. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass in the Senate in August, includes funding to repair roads and bridges and make them more resilient to climate change, improve public transportation options for residents, and strengthen high-speed internet access in Native Hawaiian communities and across Hawai‘i.

“Billions of federal dollars are heading to Hawai‘i to help us fix up our roads and bridges, and create thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “This massive investment will make it safer and easier for Hawai‘i families to get around, while helping grow our local economy.”

In addition to the billions of dollars in federal funding for Hawai‘i, the bill also includes legislation authored by Senator Schatz to improve road safety standards and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act, which Schatz worked to include in the deal, will help utilize technology, infrastructure, and design expertise to vastly reduce pedestrian and cyclist road deaths in Hawai‘i and across the United States.

The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Key provisions in the infrastructure bill for Hawai‘i include:

Roads, bridges, and major projects – at least $1.5 billion for Hawai‘i

At least $1.2 billion in estimated funding for Hawai‘i will be used to repair and rebuild roads with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, and safety for all road users

At least $339 million for Hawai‘i from the Bridge Program to repair and replace deficient or outdated bridges

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $16 billion in nationwide funding for major projects

Access to $7.5 billion for competitive RAISE grants which support surface transportation projects of local and/or regional significance

Public transit – at least $637.4 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to help repair and expand Hawai‘i’s public transit system, including a historic investment in cleaner and safer buses

Airports – at least $246 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to improve runways, gates, taxiways, and terminals and make investments that will reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies

Hawai‘i also has access to $5 billion in nationwide funding from the Airport Terminal Program for major terminal renovations and expansions

Broadband – at least $160 million for Hawai‘i

At least $100 million in funding will be used to help the state deploy and expand broadband access to more Hawai‘i families

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is set to receive at least $60 million to provide high-speed internet access to more Native Hawaiian families

At least 280,000 Hawai‘i residents will be eligible for a new broadband benefit aimed at helping low-income families afford high-speed internet access

Funding will also support the construction of new broadband infrastructure, including undersea cables

Water infrastructure – at least $200.4 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes $88 million to Hawai‘i from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to improve drinking water treatment, pipes, and water storage tanks

An additional $112.4 million to Hawai‘i from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help support municipal wastewater facilities and treatment systems

Access to $10 billion to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Access to $250 million in grants for low-income households for the construction, repair, or replacement of individual decentralized wastewater treatment systems

Electric vehicles – at least $18 million for Hawai‘i

Funding to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Hawai‘i to enable long-distance travel and to provide convenient charging where people live and work

Access to an additional $2.5 billion in nationwide grant funding dedicated to EV and alternative fuels charging infrastructure

Access to $5 billion to replace existing school buses with zero emission and clean school buses, with a priority on low income, rural, and Tribal schools

Clean energy and grid – at least $3 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes at least $3 million to Hawai‘i from the Department of Energy’s State Energy Program to pursue state-led initiatives that accelerate our clean energy transition

Hawai‘i has access to $3 billion in matching grants for smart grid investments, including energy storage

Access to $500 million in competitive grants to make energy efficiency, renewable energy, and vehicle upgrades at public schools

Access to an additional $550 million in nationwide funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

Resiliency – $11 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $1.3 billion in nationwide funding for coastal habitat restoration to increase resilience

Access to $1 billion for resilience infrastructure through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program

Access to $8.7 billion from the new Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, which provides formula and competitive funding for resilience improvement grants, community resilience and evacuation route grants, and at-risk coastal infrastructure grants

Street safety – $5 billion (nationwide)

Funds a new program to help state and local governments implement “vision zero” plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, especially for cyclists and pedestrians

Flood mitigation – $7 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $7 billion in nationwide funding to support flood control projects that protect vulnerable communities from sea level rise and extreme weather

Ports and waterways – $16.6 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to new funding for waterway and coastal infrastructure, inland waterway improvements, and port infrastructure

Addressing Legacy Pollution – $21 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $1.5 billion in nationwide funding for brownfields remediation

Access to $3.5 billion for Superfund cleanup

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-calls-on-navy-to-improve-accountability-to-public-on-hawaii-fuel-operations-plans-to-ensure-health-and-safety-of-oahu-residents,"Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation Calls On Navy To Improve Accountability To Public On Hawai‘i Fuel Operations, Plans To Ensure Health And Safety Of Oahu Residents",2021-11-02,2021,2021-11,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) today called on the Navy to provide more information on the March 2020 fuel leak near Hotel Pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the delegation also requested more details on the Navy’s response to discovering the leak, including its compliance with reporting requirements and any potential information that may have been withheld from the public as part of an oversight effort to improve the Navy’s accountability to the public on its broader fuel operations in Hawai‘i.

“We are particularly troubled about reports of a fuel leak near Hotel Pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) that occurred in March 2020 and allegations that the Navy was not appropriately forthcoming about the source and scale of the fuel leak with state regulators, federal officials, and the public—including our offices,” the delegation wrote. “These recent incidents, including the manner in which the Navy has responded to them and its lack of transparency with the public, raise questions about the seriousness with which the Navy takes its responsibility to communicate clearly with the public about matters concerning health and safety. The people of Hawai‘i deserve better from the Navy.”

The full text of the letter is available here and can be found below.

Dear Secretary Del Toro,

We write with increasing concerns about the safety of the Navy’s fuel operations in Hawai‘i. We are particularly troubled about reports of a fuel leak near Hotel Pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) that occurred in March 2020 and allegations that the Navy was not appropriately forthcoming about the source and scale of the fuel leak with state regulators, federal officials, and the public—including our offices.

The Navy made a commitment to engage the people of Hawai‘i through town halls and neighborhood boards, to brief state regulators and officials, and to keep lines of communication open with the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation about what the Navy is doing to remain good stewards of the environment. That is why we were disappointed to initially learn about the Hotel Pier fuel leak in the press instead of hearing from Navy leadership directly.

The Navy’s decision not to publically acknowledge the Hotel Pier fuel leak and explain what it is doing to prevent future leaks is inconsistent with the commitment past secretaries of the Navy have made to the people of Hawai‘i to remain transparent on all matters that could affect our environmental resources. Further, it follows a May 6 fuel leak at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in which the Navy initially told the public that no fuel released into the environment, a statement we learned not to be accurate once the Navy discovered the full extent of the spill. These recent incidents, including the manner in which the Navy has responded to them and its lack of transparency with the public, raise questions about the seriousness with which the Navy takes its responsibility to communicate clearly with the public about matters concerning health and safety. The people of Hawai‘i deserve better from the Navy.

As it relates to the Hotel Pier incident, we have specific concerns that call into question how the Navy is operating and conducting oversight of its fuel operations in Hawai‘i. We are requesting timely and thorough answers to the following questions:

What procedures did Navy officials use to discover the source and scope of the Hotel Pier leak and did those procedures follow Navy safeguards and testing standards that it has established to improve the safety of its fuel operations in response to other spills?

Did the Navy comply with all of its fuel release reporting requirements related to this incident and did it provide timely information to state regulators, including information that may have been relevant to the Red Hill operating permit hearing officer?

What is the total volume of fuel released at Hotel Pier and what has the Navy done to clean up and remediate the impacted area?

What evidence, if any, is there that Navy officials withheld information about the Hotel Pier leak that would have been material to the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s consideration to renew the Red Hill operating permit?

What follow-on actions is the Navy conducting to identify other potential points of failure in its fuel operations, including the pipeline systems at or around JBPHH, that could result in a hazardous fuel leak? and

What, if any, relationship does the Hotel Pier pipeline have to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and what implications could this have for the existing facility improvement plan, including those required by state and federal regulators?

The Navy must continue to improve the management and oversight of its operations, and provide timely and accurate information to state and federal regulators to ensure that its fuel activities do not pose a risk to the health and safety of the people of Hawai‘i. To that end, we expect that you will provide thorough and timely responses to the questions described above, and if any wrongdoing is uncovered, that you will subsequently take appropriate accountability action.

We respectfully request a member-level delegation meeting to discuss how the Navy is operating and conducting oversight of its fuel operations in Hawai‘i, including the steps it is taking to ensure public health and safety, no later than December 3, 2021. Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to discussing this matter further.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:30:49Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-group-of-9-senators-calling-for-reversal-of-previous-administrations-harmful-transgender-prison-policy,Schatz Leads Group Of 9 Senators Calling For Reversal Of Previous Administration’s Harmful Transgender Prison Policy,2021-10-29,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal to reverse the previous administration’s harmful BOP policy which increased transgender prisoners’ risk of sexual victimization. The letter follows a 2018 letter Schatz led urging for a reversal after the policy’s implementation.

“In 2018, BOP made substantive revisions to the Transgender Offender Manual (the Manual) that placed incarcerated transgender people at serious risk of sexual victimization by making it more difficult, if not impossible, to house incarcerated transgender people in facilities in accordance with their gender identity,” the senators wrote. “We strongly urge the BOP to reverse the previous administration’s policy and to consult with incarcerated transgender people and the legal, policy, and advocacy organizations who represent their interests before issuing a final revision of the Manual to develop a policy that is consistent with existing law and responsive to the needs of incarcerated transgender people.”

According to a survey by the National Center on Transgender Equality, transgender people are ten-times more likely to be sexual assaulted in prison, and five-times more likely to be sexually assaulted by prison staff.

The full text of the letter is available here and can be found below:

Dear Director Carvajal:

We write to urge you to reverse the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) harmful policy toward transgender people made by the previous administration. In 2018, BOP made substantive revisions to the Transgender Offender Manual (the Manual) that placed incarcerated transgender people at serious risk of sexual victimization by making it more difficult, if not impossible, to house incarcerated transgender people in facilities in accordance with their gender identity.

The most egregious change made to the revision was to import the novel and undefined term “biological sex” into the policy as the initial consideration when making housing and programming assignments. But the term “biological sex” is an imprecise term that is often used to redefine “sex” to exclude transgender people from legal protections and considerations. The term is not defined in the Manual or defined or supported by federal law. In fact, the modifier “biological” is inconsistent with existing federal law. For example, the standards established under the Prison Rape Elimination Act requires prison officials to make a genuine, individual, case-by-case assessment of whether a transgender person is most safely and appropriately housed with members of their own, self-identified gender. The law also forbids the dangerous practice of automatically segregating transgender people. Yet the revisions to the Manual made designating individuals to a facility based on their gender identity “appropriate only in rare cases.”

In response to the revisions, a group of senators wrote to the BOP in 2018 to express concerns in light of the alarming rates of sexual victimization incarcerated transgender people experience. According to data collected by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), a staggering 40% of incarcerated transgender people experience sexual abuse each year. The letter requested evidence demonstrating the justification for the changes, clarification regarding why these changes do not undermine the BOP’s goal of ending sexual victimization, and an explanation of why the changes do not conflict with the BOP’s obligations under federal law and the U.S. Constitution.

The BOP responded by dismissively asserting—despite the DOJ data—that they have no statistical data regarding the risk of harm to incarcerated transgender people. The BOP then speculated that housing transgender people with non-transgender people could “disrupt the orderly operation of the facility” and that housing transgender prisoners in accordance with their gender identity could “create a risk of harm” when non-transgender prisoners oppose their placement. The BOP’s disregard for the serious risks of sexual victimization incarcerated transgender people experience and BOP’s prioritization of the discomfort of non-transgender people are revealing and disquieting.

Unfortunately, the 2018 changes to the Manual remain in place. Therefore, we strongly urge the BOP to reverse the previous administration’s policy and to consult with incarcerated transgender people and the legal, policy, and advocacy organizations who represent their interests before issuing a final revision of the Manual, to develop a policy that is consistent with existing law and responsive to the needs of incarcerated transgender people. Such consultation will prove helpful in reducing the rate of sexual victimization in federal prisons and will help ensure that transgender people are housed appropriately and based on their individual needs.

We applaud the Biden Administration’s commitment to ensuring that LGBTQ people experience equal treatment under the law, and we thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. We look forward to your written response.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-reintroduces-legislation-to-expand-social-security,Schatz Reintroduces Legislation To Expand Social Security,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security (SAFE Social Security) Act, legislation to expand Social Security for seniors and families in Hawai‘i and across the country. The bill would increase benefits on average by more than $115 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.

“In Hawai‘i, more than 280,000 people depend on Social Security, the most successful safety net program in American history,” said Senator Schatz. “My bill will expand Social Security and 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. After a lifetime of hard work, seniors deserve to retire with the dignity and benefits they have earned.”

In Hawai‘i, more than 280,000 people, or over 1 in 6 residents, rely on Social Security benefits. In 2040, the number of Hawai‘i 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.

Specifically, the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act would:

Phase out the payroll tax cap so that payroll taxes apply fairly to every dollar of wages earned;

Adjust current benefits calculations to increase average monthly benefits by over $100;

Provide an additional 5% increase in benefits for older seniors to ensure they can make ends meet as their retirement savings are exhausted;

Guarantee a new minimum benefit so that lower income seniors receive enough to survive;

Provide a credit for caregivers that would be added to an individual’s earnings to calculate their future Social Security benefits;

Ensure that any increase in benefits under this legislation would not harm an individual’s eligibility or cause a reduction in their SSI, Medicaid, or CHIP benefits;

Eliminate the waiting period for disability insurance and surviving spousal benefits;

Include an increase of 5.7% in the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) to extend the solvency of the Trust Fund to 2050; and

Update 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.

“The Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act will make a world of difference for older Americans,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director for the Alliance for Retired Americans. “Because Senator Schatz’s bill requires the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share into Social Security, benefits will not only go up but cost-of-living adjustments will better reflect the things seniors spend their money on. This legislation will also strengthen the Social Security Trust Fund, ensuring that current and future generations will receive all the benefits they have earned through a lifetime of work.”

“Social Security Works enthusiastically endorses Senator Schatz’s Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act of 2021. This essential legislation substantially increases benefits for all current and future beneficiaries while ensuring that all benefits can be paid in full and on time for the foreseeable future. Through this visionary legislation, Senator Schatz demonstrates his keen 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,” said Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works

The SAFE Social Security is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and is supported by the Strengthening Social Security Coalition, Social Security Works, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the American Federation of Teachers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-reintroduces-legislation-to-promote-educational-opportunities-for-incarcerated-americans,Schatz Reintroduces Legislation To Promote Educational Opportunities For Incarcerated Americans,2021-10-26,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced legislation to expand access to education for Americans in federal prisons. The Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons (PREP) Act would create an office within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) focused on correctional education and fund a new program to address the lack of educational opportunities currently offered.

“Research shows that one of the best ways to break the cycle of recidivism is through education,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill would make it easier for people in the federal prison system to pursue a better life through learning, in turn improving our public safety and saving taxpayers’ money.”

Education programs in prison can dramatically help formerly incarcerated individuals by providing the tools to rebuild their lives, while at the same time lowering correctional spending. These programs also have a clear public safety benefit, reducing recidivism rates by over 43 percent. People in federal prisons, however, do not have access to consistent or adequate education opportunities, and the BOP lacks resources needed to administer such programs.

The PREP Act would address this by establishing both an Office of Prison Education within the BOP to standardize educational programs across all federal prisons and a new program focused on partnerships between federal prisons and local education providers. It would also provide training and resources for state and local prisons to use in their own education programs. Additionally, it would create a centralized hub for research, policies, and best practices on correctional education. Finally, the bill would ensure that eligible veterans in prison are notified of their ability to access their education benefits and are connected with available education programs in their federal or state correctional facility.

“It’s in everyone’s interest that when people re-enter society, they do so with the skills they need to build decent futures for themselves and their families,” Representative Dean said. “Educational opportunities make all the difference in helping to break the cycle of recidivism and reincarceration – and create more positive outcomes for all.”

In the Senate, this legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives has been introduced by U.S. Representative Madeline Dean (D-Pa.).

“The value of prison education cannot be underestimated. As corrections leaders, we know the impact it has on people and how it can transform their lives for the better,” said Anne Precythe, President of the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) and Director of Corrections for Missouri.

The PREP Act is supported by the Correctional Leaders Association, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), Dream Corps JUSTICE, FAMM, NAACP, The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), National CURE, College and Community Fellowship, Center for Disability Rights, Operation Restoration, Second Chance Education Alliance Inc., Prison Scholar Fund, and Record Clearance Project of SJSU.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-new-legislation-to-keep-workers-safe-hold-companies-accountable-for-workplace-violations,"Schatz Introduces New Legislation To Keep Workers Safe, Hold Companies Accountable For Workplace Violations",2021-10-22,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Andy Levin (D-Mich.) introduced new legislation to keep workers safe by requiring the publication of workplace violations. The Keeping Workers Safe Act directs the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to announce major violations by companies and distribute them to local media and related labor and trade organizations, a practice which has been shown to boost workplace safety.

“We need to do all that we can to protect American workers on the job,” said Senator Schatz. “Publicizing workplace violations holds companies accountable and leads to a safer work environment for everyone. Our bill will help standardize this practice, keep workers safe and healthy, and strengthen our economy.”

A recent Duke University study found that one OSHA press release on a major violation resulted in the equivalent compliance measures of 210 inspections. Based on the number of serious violations found each year, the effectiveness of OSHA inspections could be doubled by mandating these notices. The study, which appeared in the American Economic Review, examined OHSA releases sent to local newspapers, finding a direct association between their being issued and improved workplace compliance. It has been estimated that workplace injuries cost $2.5 billion annually.

“As our country continues to tackle this once in a lifetime public health crisis, the Keeping Workers Safe Act will ensure workers aren’t forced to risk their lives for paychecks and hold employers accountable for dangerous working conditions,” said Representative Levin. “After years as a union organizer and a workforce policy administrator, I know how important it is to empower OSHA and workers across the country, and this commonsense bill does exactly that.”

The Keeping Workers Safe Act would amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to require the OSHA Administrator to publicly disclose civil penalties greater than $60,000 or multiple serious or repeated violations within seven days of a citation being issued. It would require these disclosures to be submitted to relevant regional and local newspapers, trade or industry organizations, labor organizations, and state and local government entities in the region where the employer is located.

“As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, corporations that break federal health and safety laws endanger workers’ lives and risk the wellbeing of local communities. Yet, from meatpacking and manufacturing to construction and healthcare, serious violations of workplace laws are far too frequent in many sectors and communities. By publicizing government actions against the worst violators of workplace health and safety protections, the Keeping Workers Safe Act promises to improve overall compliance with these laws; encourage workers to come forward to report violations; and put employers on notice that our government does not tolerate lawbreaking,” said Karla Walter, Senior Director of Employment Policy at the Center for American Progress.

In the Senate, this legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

The Keeping Workers Safe Act is supported by the National Employment Law Project, the Center for American Progress, UNITE HERE, and Teamsters.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-leads-bipartisan-group-of-14-senators-in-calling-on-president-biden-to-strengthen-us-leadership-on-global-vaccinations-efforts-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic,"Schatz Leads Bipartisan Group Of 14 Senators In Calling On President Biden To Strengthen U.S. Leadership On Global Vaccinations, Efforts To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic",2021-10-22,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today called on President Joe Biden to provide more U.S. leadership and step up efforts to increase global vaccine access to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We urge you in the strongest possible terms to do more to lead global efforts to end this pandemic and increase global vaccine access. We also encourage you to place a stronger focus on development of and access to COVID-19 diagnostics and treatments and strengthening health systems worldwide,” the bipartisan group of senators wrote. “We were encouraged by the recent steps that the United States has taken to increase global vaccine access, including the recent convening of the Global COVID-19 Summit and the commitment to achieving 70 percent global vaccination by September next year. However, more significant U.S. leadership, urgency, and accountability is essential for a more effective global response to the pandemic.”

The full text of the bipartisan letter is available here and can be found below:

Dear President Biden:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for the United States and for the world, with over 242 million cases and 4.9 million deaths worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved and authorized are remarkably effective and are a crucial tool to ending the pandemic. Thanks to the important work done by Operation Warp Speed, and now continued by the White House COVID-19 Response Team, important progress has been made to make vaccines more widely available. However, we are deeply concerned about the inequitable access to these vaccines and other essential supplies across the world and what that means for more avoidable infections, deaths, disruption to the global economy, and the risk of new variants.

We urge you in the strongest possible terms to do more to lead global efforts to end this pandemic and increase global vaccine access. We also encourage you to place a stronger focus on development of and access to COVID-19 diagnostics and treatments and strengthening health systems worldwide. We were encouraged by the recent steps that the United States has taken to increase global vaccine access, including the recent convening of the Global COVID-19 Summit and the commitment to achieving 70 percent global vaccination by September next year. However, more significant U.S. leadership, urgency, and accountability is essential for a more effective global response to the pandemic.

The Administration’s commitment to buying 500 million more doses and sharing with our international partners is to be commended. This brings the total number of doses the U.S. has pledged to donate to 1.1 billion, representing the most donated internationally. However, we are concerned that to date, just 200 million of those promised doses have actually been shipped to countries in need. At the recent summit, the United States also led efforts to develop targets for global vaccinations, urged vaccine manufacturers to enhance transparency on the supply and distribution of vaccines, and called for the expansion of global and regional production of COVID-19 vaccines. These are positive steps, but the United States should immediately take additional action to ensure these targets are met, and provide more leadership in global efforts to combat the virus. These steps should include the development of a specific plan to achieve the global vaccination targets and achieving transparency from vaccine manufacturers without any further delay so that other countries and COVAX can prepare for vaccine deliveries and distribution. We also encourage you to consider designating somebody in the White House to coordinate global COVID-19 response efforts. White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients has helped to coordinate efforts to respond to the virus domestically, and your efforts to expand access to vaccines abroad would be well served by having a separate global COVID-19 point person in the White House.

As efforts and discussions between the United States, other countries, and other involved organizations at the United Nations continue, we request that the COVID-19 Response Team provide additional information to Congress on how the United States will continue to respond to increase vaccine availability globally:

What specific steps is the United States taking to ensure that the vaccine targets outlined at the global summit are met?

How is the Administration working with COVAX and manufacturers to improve transparency for vaccine orders and deliveries, including of donated doses, to ensure shipments are timely and met with the needed resources on the ground to be distributed?

What funds appropriated by Congress are being used to purchase vaccines that will be donated to other countries? Will the White House commit to greater transparency for how funds appropriated by Congress for the global COVID-19 response have been spent?

As the U.S. continues to push our international partners to also contribute more doses or funds to purchase doses, how is the U.S. following through on those commitments while simultaneously ensuring sufficient domestic vaccine supply?

Is the United States taking any steps to speed up the delivery of its donated doses?

Is the Administration sending any doses outside of COVAX? Will the Administration commit to taking a larger role in COVAX, particularly in the management of donated doses?

What capacity do countries receiving donated doses have to execute vaccination efforts on the ground? Is COVAX, or will the U.S., support any operational efforts as well as procurement efforts? How will in-country and regional U.S. government capabilities across relevant agencies—including USAID, CDC, PEPFAR, and DoD—be cohesively coordinated to support vaccination and broader pandemic response?

Is the United States pairing donated vaccine doses with the appropriate syringes and other necessary supplies to facilitate distribution and administration?

How is the Administration assisting countries receiving donated doses with vaccine education and finding locally or culturally appropriate solutions to addressing hesitancy?

Previously, the United States has been a leader in efforts to combat other diseases, including the HIV/AIDs epidemic. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief was the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease and to this day continues to save millions of lives worldwide. It is imperative that the United States steps up similarly in the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the safety of not only its own citizens but citizens of the world.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the urgent need to accelerate the Administration’s efforts to address COVID-19 on a global scale in person with your staff. We look forward to receiving answers to the questions listed above and the chance to discuss next steps with the head of the COVID-19 Response Team, Mr. Zients, and others, in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-nadler-reintroduce-legislation-to-eliminate-excessive-court-fines-and-fees-that-target-low-income-communities,"Schatz, Nadler Reintroduce Legislation To Eliminate Excessive Court Fines And Fees That Target Low Income Communities",2021-10-21,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced the State Justice Improvement Act, legislation that will make lasting changes to America’s criminal justice system. Across the country, courts often impose fines and fees without considering an individual’s ability to pay – disproportionately impacting low income communities and communities of color. This legislation provides state and local courts with new and expanded federal funding opportunities to reform these monetary punishment policies. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law, no matter how much money is in their bank accounts,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will help to end the cycle of poverty and incarceration, creating a justice system that treats people fairly and keeps our communities safe.”

“All Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserve equal access to our nation’s criminal justice system,” said Chairman Nadler. “Sadly, numerous courts across the nation impose excessive fees and fines which have failed to improve public safety, and instead have placed an undue burden on low-income communities and communities of color. Our legislation will help address these injustices so that we take a step toward bringing an end to the poverty to prison pipeline, and restore public trust in our criminal justice system.”

According to available state data, the national court-related debt total is at least $26.7 billion. Excessive court fines and fees disproportionately burden low income communities and communities of color. Individuals who are unable to pay face serious consequences, including more fees, license suspensions, extended probation, and incarceration – trapping people in the criminal justice system. As a result, they can lose their jobs, their homes, and even their children. In the 50 cities with the highest proportion of revenues from fines, the median size of the African American population in each city was greater than five times the median in the United States.

In addition, the practice can be both costly and inefficient for cities and counties. Some counties in Texas and New Mexico, for example spend an average of 41 cents to collect every dollar of revenue raised from fines and fees. Moreover, there is no clear evidence that supports imposing fines and fees as a crime deterrent. In a survey across counties in Alabama, nearly 40 percent of individuals committed a crime to pay off their court debt.

The State Justice Improvement Act is a meaningful step forward in creating a justice system that treats individuals fairly and ensures public safety. The legislation will help jurisdictions enforce constitutional and equitable policies by broadening the activities available for federal funding. The grants will be used to provide technical assistance and training to state and local courts as they develop effective alternatives to fines and fees, should a person be deemed unable to pay, as well driver’s license suspensions. The bill also requires the State Justice Institute to conduct a study on the effectiveness of these grants and to provide a report to Congress with appropriate policy recommendations.

In the Senate, Schatz’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

The bill has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, Brennan Center for Justice, Business Roundtable, Dream Corps JUSTICE, Fines and Fees Justice Center, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Operation Restoration – Safety and Freedom Fund, R Street Institute, and The Law Enforcement Action Partnership.

“Now more than ever, courts must scrutinize those practices that disproportionately impact low-income communities and people of color, including the imposition of fines and fees. Hawai‘i courts have been carefully considering these issues over the years and are working to improve the current system. This bill would provide the support states need to make positive systemic changes and promote the equitable administration of justice. We are grateful to Senator Schatz for his commitment to this issue, and we thank the State Justice Institute for their ongoing efforts to improve the quality of justice in state courts,” said the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawai‘i.

“We are encouraged by the proposed amendment to the State Justice Improvement Act to improve the constitutional and equitable enforcement of fines and fees, as well as improve the practices and ensuring their equitable use. In 2017, the Commission’s Targeted Fines and Fees against Communities of Color report found that municipal ordinance violations disproportionately impacted poor communities and communities of color. The Commission made several recommendations to address those discrepancies, and we are pleased to see that several have been incorporated into this amendment. The proposed amendment recognizes an injustice and aims to fix it. It gives us hope that we are on a path to narrow the inequitable impact that municipal fines and fees have on poor communities, and communities of color. And by communities, we mean the people who live in them. Justice in any democratic society is measured not solely by how the rich and powerful fair but rather on how the law treats those without those statuses,” said Debo P. Adegbile, Commissioner at the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-brown-senators-to-zuckerberg-facebook-cannot-be-trusted-to-manage-cryptocurrency-stop-launch-of-diem-novi-immediately,"Schatz, Brown, Senators To Zuckerberg: Facebook Cannot Be Trusted To Manage Cryptocurrency, Stop Launch Of Diem, Novi Immediately",2021-10-19,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) voiced their opposition to Facebook’s revived effort to launch a cryptocurrency (“Diem”) and digital wallet (“Novi”). In light of yet another scandal involving Facebook’s failure to protect its users, the senators urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to immediately discontinue the company’s pilot of Novi, announced this morning, and to commit not to bring Diem to market.

“Facebook is once again pursuing digital currency plans on an aggressive timeline and has already launched a pilot for a payments infrastructure network, even though these plans are incompatible with the actual financial regulatory landscape—not only for Diem specifically, but also for stablecoins in general,” the senators wrote in their letter to Zuckerberg. “Unfortunately, Facebook’s decision to pursue a digital currency and payments network is just one more example of the company ‘moving fast and breaking things’ (and in too many cases, misleading Congress in order to do so). Facebook cannot be trusted to manage a payment system or digital currency when its existing ability to manage risks and keep consumers safe has proven wholly insufficient.”

In October 2019, Senators Schatz and Brown wrote to members of the Diem Association’s predecessor, the Libra Association, and expressed deep concerns about the risks the project posed to consumers and the financial system. Facebook subsequently shelved Libra amid regulatory scrutiny, but the company has now revived its efforts under new branding.

The full text of the letter is available here and can be found below:

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg:

Policymakers are once again facing a scandal involving reports about Facebook’s relentless pursuit of profits at the expense of its users. The most recent allegations detail Facebook’s knowing use of algorithms that harm adolescents and teens, particularly girls. Facebook has repeatedly shown itself indifferent to the harms its products cause.

Given the scope of the scandals surrounding your company, we write to voice our strongest opposition to Facebook’s revived effort to launch a cryptocurrency and digital wallet, now branded “Diem” and “Novi,” respectively. In October 2019, Senators Schatz and Brown wrote to members of the Diem Association’s predecessor, the Libra Association, and expressed deep concerns about the risks the project posed to consumers and the financial system. Facebook subsequently shelved Libra amid regulatory scrutiny, but you did not address our concerns before resuming this endeavor.

On multiple occasions, Facebook has committed not to launch a digital currency absent federal financial regulators’ approval. In prepared remarks before the House Financial Services Committee in October 2019, you said that Facebook would “not be a part of launching the Libra payments system anywhere in the world unless all U.S. regulators approve it.” More recently, David Marcus, the executive overseeing Facebook’s digital currency efforts, said, “[w]e are definitely not going to launch without the proper regulatory framework.”

Despite these assurances, Facebook is once again pursuing digital currency plans on an aggressive timeline and has already launched a pilot for a payments infrastructure network, even though these plans are incompatible with the actual financial regulatory landscape—not only for Diem specifically, but also for stablecoins in general. The agencies that oversee the U.S. financial system are studying the risks that stablecoins pose to financial stability. Accordingly, they are considering how to address these inherent risks and clarify regulation and supervision of these products. As Federal Reserve Chair Powell said of stablecoins at a July 2021 Senate Banking and Housing Committee hearing, “They’re like money funds, they’re like bank deposits and they’re growing incredibly fast but without appropriate regulation.” Acting Comptroller of the Currency Hsu recently likened stablecoins to the wholesale funding markets whose collapse precipitated the 2008 financial crisis: “In terms of ‘known knowns,’ a run on a large stablecoin could be highly destabilizing.” Mr. Marcus has cited Facebook’s success in securing “licenses or approvals for Novi in nearly every state,” and concluded that “Novi is ready to come to market.” To be clear, your ability to secure state-issued money transmitter licenses is not equivalent to obtaining the blessing of “all U.S. regulators,” as you said in your testimony two years ago.

In addition to the risks products like Diem pose to financial stability, you have not offered a satisfactory explanation for how Diem will prevent illicit financial flows and other criminal activity. The intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force warned in a report to the G-20 finance ministers that stablecoins’ “propensity for mass-adoption makes them more vulnerable to be used by criminals and terrorists to launder their proceeds of crime and finance their terrorist activities.” The President’s Working Group on Financial Markets said in December 2020 that stablecoins “are likely to attract illicit actors and, without appropriate mitigation measures, allow evasion of key public policy objectives.”

Unfortunately, Facebook’s decision to pursue a digital currency and payments network is just one more example of the company “moving fast and breaking things” (and in too many cases, misleading Congress in order to do so). Time and again, Facebook has made conscious business decisions to continue with actions that have harmed its users and the broader society. Facebook cannot be trusted to manage a payment system or digital currency when its existing ability to manage risks and keep consumers safe has proven wholly insufficient.

We urge you to immediately discontinue your Novi pilot and to commit that you will not bring Diem to market.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-secures-600000-in-new-federal-funding-to-empower-native-hawaiian-community-support-native-hawaiian-cultural-education-for-visitors,"Schatz Secures $600,000 In New Federal Funding To Empower Native Hawaiian Community, Support Native Hawaiian Cultural Education For Visitors",2021-10-19,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Department of the Interior has awarded $600,000 in new grant funding to support local organizations that are working to preserve and share Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with visitors. The funding was made possible by the NATIVE Act, a law authored by Senator Schatz to integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities across the country.

“This new funding will give local organizations more resources to preserve and share Native Hawaiian culture,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “Native Hawaiian culture and traditions are foundational to who we are as a place and a people, and every visitor should understand that.”

The new funding from the NATIVE Act will go towards improving visitor experiences at a National Park through the development of interpretive materials regarding Native Hawaiian place names, and traditional land forms and divisions; and to support other partner organizations in applying historic preservation skills and knowledge so that their traditional cultural places and stories are documented, preserved, and shared.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-new-legislation-to-prevent-youth-suicide,Schatz Introduces New Legislation To Prevent Youth Suicide,2021-10-07,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced legislation to prevent youth suicide, the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-24. The Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act would fund suicide prevention initiatives, ensure health care providers receive training to prevent intentional harm, and create a centralized hub to provide safety information to at-risk youth and their support networks.

“Youth suicide is a crisis in Hawai‘i and across America, and we need to take every step we can to address it,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill provides important training and resources to medical professionals who will be able to help. I encourage my colleagues to take action on it immediately.”

“Pediatricians do everything we can to keep children healthy and safe, which includes protecting children from the dangers posed by firearms and counseling parents to remove guns from the home or store them safely to prevent child injury and fatality, including from suicide. The Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act would take critical steps toward keeping children safe and help health care professionals support young people who might be at risk for self-harm, especially in supporting the effective combination of physician counseling and provision of safe storage devices for families with firearms in their home. The American Academy of Pediatrics thanks Senator Brian Schatz for his leadership on this important bill and is calling for Congress to swiftly advance the legislation,” said Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“AFSP is proud to endorse the Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act to help prevent youth suicide. Voluntary action to make the environment safe from lethal means, including firearms, is an essential component of any effective suicide prevention strategy. This legislation will advance public education and build a comprehensive information center to help health care providers and families identify strategies to help youth at risk,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Senior Vice President for Public Policy at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Suicide rates among young Americans increased 56 percent between 2007 and 2017 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the pandemic threatens to accelerate these trends. A June 2021 CDC report found a significant increase in emergency department visits for suicide attempts among adolescents aged 12-17, including a spike of more than 50 percent among adolescent girls. A critical opportunity to identify young people at risk is in health care settings, but many health care professionals lack the training or resources to do so. This bill prepares health care professionals to identify and respond to warning signs by training them in evidence-based suicide prevention practices like lethal means safety, a practice limiting access to objects that can be used for self-directed violence, and providing funding to connect at-risk patients with crisis resources. Specifically, the Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act would:

Establish a grant program to provide funding for initiatives that offer youth suicide prevention and lethal means safety education, training, and resources to health care professionals;

Establish a grant program to integrate lethal means safety and suicide prevention topics into curricula at health professional schools to ensure that future nurses, doctors, and mental and behavioral health care providers have received the education and training that will allow them to prevent lethal means injuries, deaths, and suicides among their patients; and

Create a centralized hub to provide important lethal means safety and suicide prevention information to at-risk youth and their family members, health professional schools, and health care providers.

The Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act is cosponsored by U.S Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

The Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act is supported by more than 50 organizations and public entities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the University of Hawai‘i System. A full list is available here.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-blumenauer-unveil-new-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-stop-illegal-deforestation-around-the-world-fight-climate-change,"Schatz, Blumenauer Unveil New Bipartisan Legislation To Help Stop Illegal Deforestation Around The World, Fight Climate Change",2021-10-06,2021,2021-10,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) today unveiled the Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade (FOREST) Act, new bipartisan legislation that creates a framework for the federal government to deter commodity-driven illegal deforestation around the world. The FOREST Act restricts access to U.S. markets for commodities originating from illegally deforested land, reducing the incentive to sacrifice forests for agriculture use and using this market leverage to improve laws, monitoring, and enforcement in countries experiencing illegal deforestation.

“Products of illegal deforestation are everywhere. Half of the products in American grocery stores contain palm oil and most of that is coming from illegally deforested land around the world,” said Senator Schatz. “Illegal deforestation is threatening local communities and wildlife and is a major driver of climate change. American consumers are unknowingly and unintentionally driving this destruction, and our bill will help put an end to that.”

“Americans shouldn’t have to worry about whether they are contributing to illegal deforestation every time they browse the shelves at their local home improvement or grocery store,” said Representative Blumenauer. “It’s time to crack down on this dangerous practice—which is polluting our planet, threatening forests and wildlife, and hurting communities large and small.”

Deforestation accounts for 10 to 15 percent of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, with nearly 40 percent of all tropical deforestation the result of illegal clearing. Driven primarily by the cultivation of cattle, soy, palm oil, and wood products, illegal deforestation is often associated with corruption, organized crime, and human rights abuses. The FOREST Act builds on the success of the Lacey Act, which prohibits the trade of wildlife and timber from illegal sources, to protect biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in the face of a changing climate. By reducing deforestation, the FOREST Act will also reduce the chances of new global pandemics. Specifically the bill:

Creates a risk-based framework for increasing transparency and reporting in companies’ international supply chains;

Provides financial and technical assistance that enable countries, companies, and the U.S. federal government to coordinate solutions to reduce illegal deforestation;

Incorporates deforestation in financial crime statutes so the Unites States can prosecute those who use the proceeds from deforestation to fund other criminal or terrorist enterprises; and

Establishes a purchasing preference for the federal government for deforestation-free products.

The framework creates a whole-of-government approach, drawing on expertise from the U.S. Trade Representative, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Departments of State, Justice, the Interior, and Agriculture. The bill also creates a standing advisory committee to bring the expertise of companies and civil society into the process. Companies have long worked on the ground in foreign countries to reduce deforestation, while numerous non-profit organizations have partnered with the U.S. government to identify and provide information about illegal activities related to deforestation. The advisory committee ensures program implementation will be informed by these experiences and expertise.

“Commodity-driven illegal deforestation is wreaking havoc on our planet by contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases and threatening biodiversity and wildlife habitats globally,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. “To make matters worse, many Americans are unknowingly funding illegal deforestation when they are purchasing everyday products at the store. I am proud to join Senator Schatz and Congressman Blumenauer in introducing the bipartisan FOREST Act. It’s time we demand transparency from companies who profit off of commodities that are sourced from illegal clearing.”

In addition to Schatz, Blumenauer, and Fitzpatrick, the FOREST Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the Senate, and U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) in the House of Representatives.

“Illegal deforestation is devastating to biodiversity, livelihoods and to our climate, and it therefore requires urgent global action. Due diligence measures like those being proposed in the USA are an important part of the solution, and would significantly help remove illegal deforestation from US supply chains,” said United Kingdom International Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith. “There is no pathway to tackling climate change that does not involve massively increased efforts to protect and restore nature, and in particular forests. So as Co-host of COP26, the UK has put nature at the heart of the agenda, and we very much welcome the chance to work closely with other governments to ensure a coordinated international approach to reversing deforestation as a matter of extreme urgency.”

The FOREST Act is endorsed by nearly 40 environmental and human rights advocacy groups, and their letter of support is available here.

The full text of the bill is available here. A one page summary is available here, and a section by section summary can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:24:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schatz-kilmer-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-federal-workers-contractors-their-families-from-losing-their-homes-falling-behind-on-bills-during-shutdown,"Schatz, Kilmer Reintroduce Legislation To Protect Federal Workers, Contractors, Their Families From Losing Their Homes, Falling Behind On Bills During Shutdown",2021-09-30,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) reintroduced legislation to protect federal workers and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would enable government employees and contractors to postpone payment obligations during a shutdown and for 30 days afterward.

“Federal workers are dedicated public servants who inspect our food and water, maintain our parks, and care for our veterans. The last choice they should have to make is between feeding their families and keeping the lights on,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill will protect them from any harm that might come while Republicans attempt to score political points.”

“No family should be left struggling to pay their bills and provide for their families because of the federal government’s failure to do its job,” said Representative Kilmer. “Federal workers aren’t Democrats or Republicans when they show up for work. They are public servants that protect our sailors through their work at the shipyard, that prepare timber sales in the federal forests, that welcome visitors to national parks, that care for our veterans, that ensure citizens can get the services they need, and that keep us safe. We should have their backs. That’s why I’m leading legislation with Senator Schatz to ensure that if federal workers in our region have to deal with another government shutdown, their finances – and their families – are protected.”

During the December 2018 government shutdown, many federal workers received a pay stub with zero dollars on it. This bill addresses the real threat of federal workers and contractors losing their homes, falling behind on student loans and other bills, having their car repossessed, or losing their health insurance because they have been furloughed during a shutdown or required to work without pay. The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would protect impacted workers from:

Being evicted or foreclosed;

Having their car or other property repossessed;

Falling behind in their student loan payments;

Having negative effects on their credit history;

Falling behind in paying their bills; or

Losing their insurance because of missed premiums.

This protection would last during a shutdown and 30 days following a shutdown to give workers a chance to keep up with their bills. In each of these situations, it would enable these workers to apply to a court to temporarily postpone payment obligations or eviction or foreclosure actions. This would allow courts to weigh the equities of both parties to the contract in deciding how contractual obligations should be treated.

The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). It is cosponsored in the House of Representatives by Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), and Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.)

This legislation is supported by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-health-centers-set-to-receive-more-than-7-million-to-expand-health-care-access-to-more-people-fight-covid-19-pandemic,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Health Centers Set To Receive More Than $7 Million To Expand Health Care Access To More People, Fight COVID-19 Pandemic",2021-09-28,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that 12 health centers across Hawai‘i will receive $7,423,032 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, expand and improve health care facilities, and provide health care to more people.

“We are still fighting this pandemic, so this new funding will be a big help. It will update and expand health centers across the state and provide more people with the health care they need,” said Senator Schatz.

The funding from the American Rescue Plan can be used for COVID-19-related capital needs, including constructing new facilities, renovating and expanding existing facilities to enhance response to pandemics, and purchasing new state-of-the-art equipment, including telehealth technology, mobile medical vans, and freezers to store vaccines.

The more than $7 million in new funding includes:

$561,644 for Hamakua Health Center on Hawai‘i Island

$523,749 for Lanai Community Health Center

$546,800 for Kalihi Palama Health Center on Oahu

$540,128 for Hoola Lahui Hawai‘i on Kauai

$553,911 for Waimanalo Health Center on Oahu

$689,189 for West Hawai‘i Community Health Center on Hawai‘i Island

$734,784 for Bay Clinic on Hawai‘i Island

$626,038 for Kokua Kalihi Valley on Oahu

$564,152 for Koolauloa Health Center on Oahu

$925,689 for Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center on Oahu

$520,955 for Hana Community Health Center on Maui

$635,993 for Community Clinic of Maui

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-to-receive-nearly-6-million-to-expand-improve-veterans-cemetery-in-kaneohe,"Schatz: Hawai‘i To Receive Nearly $6 Million To Expand, Improve Veterans Cemetery In Kaneohe",2021-09-28,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that Hawai‘i will receive $5,901,475 in new federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand and improve the Hawai‘i State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe.

“This federal funding will help us continue to honor the thousands of brave service members from Hawai‘i who put their lives on the line to serve our country, and ensure their legacies are remembered long after they have passed,” said Senator Schatz.

The Hawai‘i State Veterans Cemetery currently serves more than 83,000 veterans and their eligible family members living within 75 miles of the cemetery. The grant will fund 1,099 pre-placed crypts, improvements to the existing maintenance wash rack structure, footings, oil separator and drainage system, turf seeding, and supporting infrastructure on approximately one acre of land. It comes from the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, which awards states funding to build and maintain veterans cemeteries.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hirono-joint-statement-on-president-biden-nomination-of-clare-connors-for-us-attorney,"Schatz, Hirono Joint Statement On President Biden Nomination Of Clare Connors For U.S. Attorney",2021-09-28,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden’s nomination of Hawai‘i Attorney General Clare Connors to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i. The nomination follows Schatz and Hirono’s recommendation of Connors for the position.

“Clare Connors is an excellent choice to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i. Clare’s broad experience, including as Hawai‘i’s current Attorney General, makes her an exceptionally well-qualified nominee to fill this important vacancy. With her strong background in public service and her proven commitment to justice, we are confident she will serve the people of Hawai‘i well. We were proud to recommend her to the President, and we look forward to working with our colleagues to ensure a speedy confirmation process.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-more-than-73-million-in-new-federal-funding-heading-to-hawaii-to-provide-support-services-help-native-hawaiian-students-graduate-college,"Schatz: More Than $7.3 Million In New Federal Funding Heading To Hawai‘i To Provide Support Services, Help Native Hawaiian Students Graduate College",2021-09-27,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that several Hawai‘i colleges and universities will receive more than $7.3 million in new federal funding to support Native Hawaiian students. The grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Program will help expand programs that serve Native Hawaiian students, including targeted support to promote completion and success in college.

“This new funding will help Native Hawaiian students navigate college life and earn a degree that will help them find a good-paying job,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “When we provide targeted support services to Native Hawaiian students, it helps them graduate on time and puts them on a path to success.”

The funding can be used to develop curriculum, renovate and improve classrooms or other facilities, support academic instruction, provide education or counseling services to improve financial and economic literacy for students and their families, and purchase library books and other educational materials, among other things. The $7.3 million in grant funding includes:

$3,718,008 for the University of Hawai‘i

$1,021,000 for the University of Hawai‘i Maui College

$556,000 for the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

$556,000 Chaminade University of Honolulu

$556,000 for Windward Community College

$555,981 for Hawai‘i Community College

$337,302 for Kapiolani Community College

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawahawaii-to-receive-more-than-5-million-to-combat-climate-change-restore-forests-support-endangered-species,"Schatz: Hawai‘i To Receive More Than $5 Million To Combat Climate Change, Restore Forests, Support Endangered Species",2021-09-25,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources will receive $5,298,701 from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service for climate-smart forest restoration. The restoration will occur in areas with the highest potential for carbon capture, and will also improve habitat for critically endangered bird species.

“This funding will help fight the climate crisis while ensuring that damaged forests grow back stronger than ever, maintaining the integrity of Hawai‘i’s unique environment,” said Senator Schatz. “Supporting these native trees will help recharge the aquifers supplying the state’s water, provide habitat for endangered Hawaiian bird species, and prevent dirt from washing into the ocean where it can harm coral reefs and fish.”

The State will work will work with private landowners to plant 210,000 native trees and remove priority invasive plants from 1,650 acres, many of which are highly flammable and intensify wildfires.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-attack-on-hawaiian-airlines-flight-reprehensible-faa-confirms-it-will-investigate,"Schatz: Attack On Hawaiian Airlines Flight Reprehensible, FAA Confirms It Will Investigate",2021-09-23,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, released the following statement on an assault against a flight attendant onboard Hawaiian Airlines Flight 152.

“This attack is reprehensible. I’ve been in direct contact with Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has assured me that this incident will be fully investigated by the FAA. The assailant must be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There should be zero tolerance for this kind of despicable attack.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-provision-authored-by-schatz-university-of-hawaii-set-to-receive-1-million-for-indigenous-health-center-to-research-support-native-hawaiian-health,"Following Provision Authored By Schatz, University Of Hawai‘i Set To Receive $1 Million For Indigenous Health Center To Research, Support Native Hawaiian Health",2021-09-22,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, announced that the University of Hawai‘i will receive $2,104,808 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement a Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity and to support cancer prevention research. Senator Schatz led efforts to establish and fund a Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity at the HHS Office of Minority Health in the December 2020 spending bill.

“This new funding will help UH partner with HHS on its new Indigenous health center, giving researchers and policymakers more resources to better understand and directly address the health disparities the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities face,” said Senator Schatz.

The Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity will lead efforts, including research, education, service, and policy development related to addressing health disparities and advancing health equity in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations. An additional award will focus on American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

The $2,104,808 in funding includes:

$999,994 for the University of Hawai‘i system to implement the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity

$1,104,814 for the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to perform cancer cause and prevention research related to the gut microbiome

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-discusses-infrastructure-deal-35-trillion-proposal-to-tackle-climate-crisis-fund-health-care-education-in-meeting-with-president-biden,"Schatz Discusses Infrastructure Deal, $3.5 Trillion Proposal To Tackle Climate Crisis, Fund Health Care, Education In Meeting With President Biden",2021-09-22,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement after meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House today to discuss the $3.5 trillion budget proposal and infrastructure deal currently being considered in Congress.

“Today’s meeting with President Biden was encouraging. I reiterated the need to deliver for the American people and pass bold climate action that will grow our economy, create millions of new, good-paying jobs, and save the planet.

“We all agreed – inaction is not an option. We cannot miss this moment.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-wicker-introduce-resolution-to-mark-telehealth-awareness-week,"Schatz, Wicker Introduce Resolution To Mark Telehealth Awareness Week",2021-09-22,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced a bipartisan resolution to support the designation of September 19-25 as “Telehealth Awareness Week.” The resolution recognizes that telehealth has helped millions of patients access quality health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that it will continue to be essential beyond the public health emergency.

“Telehealth makes it possible for more people to safely get the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Senator Schatz. “This is an opportunity for Congress to demonstrate its broad, bipartisan support for telehealth and help more people learn how to access these important services.”

“Telehealth services have brought quality health care to more Americans in more places during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Senator Wicker said. “This Telehealth Awareness Week, I am glad to join my colleagues to celebrate the importance of telehealth and commit to making these services available to more Americans permanently.”

The resolution recognizes the bipartisan support in Congress for telehealth and encourages expanded access to telehealth services for all individuals, including members of rural and underserved communities. It concludes that “Telehealth Awareness Week” will unite the efforts of patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advance the role of telehealth in health care.

In addition to Senators Schatz and Wicker, the 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).

Schatz has led efforts in the Senate to expand the use of telehealth services. Earlier this year, he reintroduced the CONNECT for Health Act, the most comprehensive bipartisan telehealth bill in Congress. Since its first iteration in 2016, several provisions from Schatz’s bill have been signed into law.

To read the full resolution, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-hirono-sullivan-reintroduce-bill-to-ensure-fair-medicare-payments-make-cost-of-living-adjustment-for-hawaii-alaska-nursing-homes,"Schatz, Murkowski, Hirono, Sullivan Reintroduce Bill To Ensure Fair Medicare Payments, Make Cost-Of-Living Adjustment For Hawai‘i, Alaska Nursing Homes",2021-09-21,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today reintroduced legislation that will provide for fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Hawai‘i and Alaska. The bipartisan Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering care.

“Nursing homes are on the front lines of this pandemic and need all the support they can get to care for our most vulnerable residents,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill fixes the Medicare reimbursement rates so that Hawai‘i nursing homes get their fair share of federal dollars and have the resources to continue to provide high quality care.”

“Long term care facilities fill a critical need in our communities, especially in caring for Alaska’s aging population,” said Senator Murkowski. “This bill makes a simple, but necessary change to ensure cost of living adjustments are considered for skilled nursing facility payments in Alaska and Hawai‘i, bringing parity with how hospitals are treated. I’m proud to join my colleagues in addressing this discrepancy to help give greater support to these important health care facilities.”

“Skilled nursing facilities provide essential health services in Hawai‘i—but their work is hamstrung by reimbursement rates that do not take into account the high cost of doing business in the state. Our bill will make sure that these facilities have the resources they need to care for our communities,” said Senator Hirono.

“As the largest state in the country and with some of the most rugged geography, Alaska’s health care ranks among the most expensive and challenging to provide, a disparity that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Senator Sullivan. “Through these challenges, our skilled nursing facilities have taken on an enormous share of the burden, doing excellent work taking care of our seniors in spite of being short staffed. Our legislation will authorize an appropriate and timely increase in Medicare payments that reflect the disproportionate costs of living in Alaska and Hawaii—making sure these nursing facilities stay open, our health care workers are paid, and our seniors are in good care.”

While hospitals and certain other health care facilities in Hawai‘i and Alaska receive a cost-of-living adjustment under Medicare to account for higher non-wage costs, such as rent and utilities, than in other states, nursing facilities do not, making it more difficult for these critical nursing homes to operate.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Kai Kahele (D-Hawai‘i), Don Young (R-Alaska), and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schatz-ernst-young-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-restore-honor-to-service-members-unfairly-discharged-due-to-sexual-orientation,"Schatz, Ernst, Young Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Restore Honor To Service Members Unfairly Discharged Due To Sexual Orientation",2021-09-20,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy repeal, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced the Restore Honor to Service Members Act. The bipartisan legislation corrects the military records of service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned, building on Senator Schatz’s 2020 National Defense Authorization Act amendment which turned the Department of Defense’s temporary process for service members to correct their records into permanent law.

“As we mark 10 years since the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, we must continue working to right the wrongs caused by past discriminatory policy,” said Senator Schatz. “Tens of thousands of gay and lesbian veterans were unjustly discharged from the military, then denied the benefits and honorable service records that are rightfully theirs. This bill ensures every veteran receives what they deserve.”

“Veterans who served our country honorably should receive the benefits they deserve. This bipartisan effort will help veterans correct their military records and ensure they are properly recognized for their sacrifice and service,” said Senator Ernst.

“Addressing the injustices of the past is the right thing to do and will help to ensure all veterans are entitled to the privileges and benefits that they have earned. I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we work to restore honor to those who courageously served our nation in the armed forces,” said Senator Young.

Since World War II, more than 100,000 Americans are estimated to have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Those forced out of the military may have left with discharge statuses of “other than honorable,” “general discharge,” or “dishonorable,” depending on the circumstances, and as a consequence may be disqualified from accessing benefits they are entitled to and unable to claim veteran status. A negative discharge may also prevent veterans from voting or make it more difficult for them to acquire civilian employment.

Many veterans affected by discriminatory policies such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell are still unaware they can have their records corrected or initiate a review. In an effort to continue Congress’s work to correct this historic wrong, the Schatz-Ernst-Young legislation would:

Require the Department of Defense to reach out to veterans who faced discrimination because of their sexual orientation about the process for correcting their records;

Authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to use the date of a discharge characterization upgrade as the date by which it can determine a former member’s eligibility for accessing time-limited benefits; and

Require each military branch to execute a historical review of its discriminatory policies, creating an official record that former members could draw on to seek a change in discharge characterization.

The Restore Honor to Service Members Act is supported by the Unitarian Universalist Association, VoteVets.org, and PFLAG.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), and has more than 60 cosponsors.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-schatz-maui-county-set-to-receive-nearly-200000-in-federal-funding-to-provide-support-services-to-seniors-in-affordable-housing,"Schatz: Maui County Set To Receive Nearly $200,000 In Federal Funding To Provide Support Services To Seniors In Affordable Housing",2021-09-20,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that two affordable housing service providers in Maui County will receive $167,639 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was awarded to help make sure low-income seniors at HUD-assisted multifamily properties continue to receive health and wellness services.

“Everyone should have access to affordable housing and the care and resources to meet their needs,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This federal funding will ensure that older adults who need support can continue to live independently in quality, affordable housing with wrap-around services needed to stay healthy, safe, and fulfilled.”

The federal funding includes:

$142,507 for Hale Mahaolu

$25,132 for Hale Mahaolu Ekolu, Inc.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-set-to-receive-45-million-to-support-local-nursing-homes-protect-people-health-care-workers-from-covid-19-other-infectious-diseases,"Hawai‘i Set To Receive $4.5 Million To Support Local Nursing Homes, Protect People, Health Care Workers From COVID-19, Other Infectious Diseases",2021-09-17,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allocated $4.5 million in new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health to support nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that may experience COVID-19 outbreaks and strengthen efforts to protect health care workers and fight infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

“Last year’s tragic outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home has shown us how quickly COVID-19 can spread, how devastating it can be for the elderly, and how important it is to be prepared,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding gives us more resources to increase staffing when there are outbreaks in nursing homes, protect patients and health care workers, and save lives.”

The $4.5 million in funding includes nearly $2 million in funding to staff, train, and deploy strike teams to assist skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities with known or suspected COVID-19 outbreaks. The remaining $2.6 million will help Hawai‘i DOH expand capacity in several areas to better fight infectious diseases, including to expand public health support to health care facilities, assist health care workers to prevent infections more effectively, support rapid response to detect and contain infectious disease threats, and expand efforts to design and implement effective infection prevention and control training and education to frontline health care staff, among other activities.

In September 2020, as a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo worsened, Senator Schatz called for immediate federal intervention to contain the spread and help save lives. As a result, the Department of Veterans Affairs mobilized a team to assess and support the veterans home and found a number of serious infection control issues that contributed to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. Schatz’s actions also resulted in a change of management at the home.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-kauai-county-set-to-receive-more-than-15-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-provide-housing-assistance-for-families-in-need,Schatz: Kauai County Set To Receive More Than $1.5 Million In New Federal Funding To Provide Housing Assistance For Families In Need,2021-09-17,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate $1,554,752 in Housing Voucher funding to the Kauai County Housing Agency. The funding from the American Rescue Plan will make sure families in need continue to receive housing assistance.

“This federal funding will help make sure that families who are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic can stay in their homes,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “While this money will make a big difference, we’re going to keep working to bring more federal relief home to Hawai‘i.”

The new funding has been awarded to help Kauai County avoid a shortfall that could lead to families being terminated from the program and to offset Kauai County’s increased Housing Voucher costs due to assisted families’ lost wages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-native-hawaiian-education-programs-set-to-receive-more-than-28-million-in-federal-funding-from-american-rescue-plan,Schatz: Native Hawaiian Education Programs Set To Receive More Than $28 Million In Federal Funding From American Rescue Plan,2021-09-14,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive more than $28 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to support grants under the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP). The federal funding was awarded to 35 Native Hawaiian education programs across the state.

“This new federal funding will ensure that Native Hawaiian educational programs have the resources they need to support students in time for the upcoming school year,” said Senator Schatz. “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I will keep fighting for more resources for the Native Hawaiian community.”

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Schatz has worked to preserve and expand grant funding for NHEP. These multi-year competitive grants will be used for early childhood education, family engagement, Hawaiian language education, creation of STEM pathways, curriculum and professional development, and more.

The programs receiving funding include:

$9,348,569 for the University of Hawai‘i (includes 13 grants across UH)

$776,400 for Maui Family Support Services, Inc.

$949,778 for Friends of the Future

$740,577 for Papa Ola Lōkahi

$260,948 for Hula Preservation Society

$651,424 for Kulaniakea

$365,593 for Hui Malama O Ke Kai Foundation

$576,640 for Ho‘okako‘o Corporation

$742,252 for Hanona

$733,150 for Malama Loko Ea Foundation

$350,471 for Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture

$748,934 for Awaiaulu, Inc.

$512,494 for KAI LOA, Inc.

$675,919 for Kamalani Academy

$431,052 for Ho‘oulu Lahui Inc.

$946,008 for Friends of the Future

$2,207,987 for Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers

$1,278,423 for Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu

$1,385,750 for Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana

$540,000 for Pacific American Foundation

$2,527,045 for Partners in Development Foundation

$787,433 for Consortium for Hawai‘i Ecological Engineering Education

$558,798 for Hui Mauli Ola

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-congratulates-keone-nakoa-and-summer-sylva-on-appointments-to-interior-department,Schatz Congratulates Keone Nakoa And Summer Sylva On Appointments To Interior Department,2021-09-01,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement congratulating Keone Nakoa and Summer Sylva on their appointments to serve at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“I congratulate Keone Nakoa and Summer Sylva on their historic appointments to the Interior Department,” said Chairman Schatz. “Their unique perspectives and qualifications will strengthen the Department’s work to honor and advance America’s relationships and trust responsibilities with Native communities in Hawai‘i and across the country. I look forward working with them both.”

Keone Nakoa will serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs. Nakoa joins Interior from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs where he worked with Congress and federal agencies as the Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief. Keone previously served as speechwriter for the late Senator Daniel Akaka, clerk for the Chief Judge of the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals and as a lawyer at a private firm in Honolulu. He holds J.D. and MBA degrees from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and a bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from Harvard University. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, he is part Native Hawaiian and lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Stephanie.

Summer Sylva will serve as Senior Advisor for Native Hawaiian Affairs. Sylva is a Native Hawaiian attorney from Waimanalo, who most recently served as the executive director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC). Sylva joins Interior with more than a decade of experience litigating before federal and state courts in Hawaiʻi, New York, and New Jersey. During her tenure at NHLC, she led litigation efforts on Native Hawaiian rights issues, including water rights, state and federal government entitlement programs, public trust and historic native land claims. Summer holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Barnard College-Columbia University and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-2-million-to-support-local-small-farmers-help-feed-more-hawaii-families,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive More Than $2 Million To Support Local Small Farmers, Help Feed More Hawai‘i Families",2021-09-01,2021,2021-09,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i has been awarded $2,128,040 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support small farmers in food insecure communities. The federal funding is awarded through the USDA’s Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP), which was established through legislation authored by Senators Schatz and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and signed into law in the 2018.

“This new federal funding will give Hawai‘i farmers more resources to grow their small businesses and help feed local families with fresh, home-grown food,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The MGFSP is specifically designed to support communities across the U.S. that have significant levels of food insecurity and import significant quantities of food. The program awards grants of $100 to $5,000 to individuals and grants of $100 to $10,000 to Tribes, religious organizations, food banks and other non-profits and federally-funded educational facilities, and local governments in Hawai‘i, Alaska, and insular areas. The grants may be used to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food, including through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:17:01Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-kauai-honolulu-to-receive-4-million-to-help-house-more-hawaii-families,"Schatz: Kauai, Honolulu To Receive $4 Million To Help House More Hawai‘i Families",2021-08-31,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing, announced that Hawai‘i will receive $4 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The grants will fund housing vouchers for families on Kauai and Oahu.

“This funding will help more Hawai‘i families find a safe and reliable place to live,” said Senator Schatz. “Everyone should be able to afford a home, and I’ll keep fighting to expand affordable housing in Hawai‘i.”

The HCV program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Approximately 13,000 households rely on Section 8 housing in Hawai‘i. This funding is being distributed to housing agencies leasing a lower-than average percentage of their authorized vouchers due to funding constraints, allowing for more vouchers to be leased. The $4 million in funding includes:

$2 million for the City and County of Honolulu

$2 million for the Kauai County Housing Agency

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-county-to-receive-more-than-13-million-to-help-strengthen-water-infrastructure-keep-wastewater-treatment-plants-running-during-natural-disasters,"Schatz: Hawai‘i County To Receive More Than $1.3 Million To Help Strengthen Water Infrastructure, Keep Wastewater Treatment Plants Running During Natural Disasters",2021-08-27,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the County of Hawai‘i will receive $1,376,067 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support wastewater treatment. This funding covers eight new emergency power generators, helping to ensure wastewater treatment plants and sewer pump stations remain functional during a natural hazard or severe weather event.

“The Big Island faces many unique environmental threats, and a failure to treat wastewater due to a power outage would be catastrophic,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding mitigates that risk by allowing for safe and effective treatment when power is lost, in turn keeping our streets accessible, our oceans and coasts clean, and our families healthy.”

The eight generators, four stationary and four trailer mounted, will be installed at:

Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant

Kolea Sewer Pump Station

Kulaimanu Wastewater Treatment Plant

Onekahakaha Sewer Pump Station

Papaikou Wastewater Treatment Plant

Pauka‘a Sewer Pump Station

Wailua Sewer Pump Station

Wailuku Sewer Pump Station

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-native-hawaiian-health-care-centers-papa-ola-lokahi-set-to-receive-20-million-to-support-health-care-services-efforts-to-fight-covid-19,"Schatz: Native Hawaiian Health Care Centers, Papa Ola Lokahi Set To Receive $20 Million To Support Health Care Services, Efforts To Fight COVID-19",2021-08-13,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that $20 million in federal funding, secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) in the American Rescue Plan, will be distributed to Papa Ola Lokahi and five Native Hawaiian Health Care Centers to support vaccination efforts, respond to and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and strengthen health care services for Native Hawaiian families across the state.

“This new funding will help more Native Hawaiian families get the health care they need and fight this pandemic,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, my job is to help deliver federal funding to Native communities in Hawai‘i and across the country, and that’s what I will continue to do.”

The $20 million in funding includes:

$4.75 million for Papa Ola Lokahi

$3 million for Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i on Kauai

$3 million for Ke Ola Mamo on Oahu

$2.5 million for Nā Pu‘uwai on Molokai

$3.5 million for Hui No Ke Ola Pono on Maui

$3.25 million for Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi on Hawai‘i Island

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-at-least-28-billion-for-hawaii-to-improve-roads-bridges-expand-high-speed-internet-access-create-new-jobs-across-the-state-included-in-senate-passed-infrastructure-bill,"Schatz: At Least $2.8 Billion For Hawai‘i To Improve Roads, Bridges, Expand High-Speed Internet Access, Create New Jobs Across The State Included In Senate-Passed Infrastructure Bill",2021-08-10,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal that includes at least $2.8 billion in estimated funding for Hawai‘i. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes funding to repair roads and bridges and make them more resilient to climate change, improve public transportation options for residents, and strengthen high-speed internet access in Native Hawaiian communities and across Hawai‘i.

“Billions of federal dollars for Hawai‘i are in this bill to help us fix up our roads and bridges, and create thousands of new jobs across the state,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “This massive investment will make it safer and easier for Hawai‘i families to get around, while helping grow our local economy.”

In addition to the billions of dollars in federal funding for Hawai‘i, the bill also includes legislation authored by Senator Schatz to improve road safety standards and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act, which Schatz worked to include in the deal, will help utilize technology, infrastructure, and design expertise to vastly reduce pedestrian and cyclist road deaths in Hawai‘i and across the United States.

The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

Key provisions in the infrastructure deal for Hawai‘i include:

Roads, bridges, and major projects – at least $1.5 billion for Hawai‘i

At least $1.2 billion in estimated funding for Hawai‘i will be used to repair and rebuild roads with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, and safety for all road users

At least $339 million for Hawai‘i from the Bridge Program to repair and replace deficient or outdated bridges

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $16 billion in nationwide funding for major projects

Access to $7.5 billion for competitive RAISE grants which support surface transportation projects of local and/or regional significance

Public transit – at least $637.4 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to help repair and expand Hawai‘i’s public transit system, including a historic investment in cleaner and safer buses

Airports – at least $246 million for Hawai‘i

Funding will be used to improve runways, gates, taxiways, and terminals and make investments that will reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies

Hawai‘i also has access to $5 billion in nationwide funding from the Airport Terminal Program for major terminal renovations and expansions

Broadband – at least $160 million for Hawai‘i

At least $100 million in funding will be used to help the state deploy and expand broadband access to more Hawai‘i families

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands is set to receive at least $60 million to provide high-speed internet access to more Native Hawaiian families

At least 280,000 Hawai‘i residents will be eligible for a new broadband benefit aimed at helping low-income families afford high-speed internet access

Funding will also support the construction of new broadband infrastructure, including undersea cables

Water infrastructure – at least $200.4 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes $88 million to Hawai‘i from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to improve drinking water treatment, pipes, and water storage tanks

An additional $112.4 million to Hawai‘i from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help support municipal wastewater facilities and treatment systems

Access to $10 billion to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Access to $250 million in grants for low-income households for the construction, repair, or replacement of individual decentralized wastewater treatment systems

Electric vehicles – at least $18 million for Hawai‘i

Funding to build out electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Hawai‘i to enable long-distance travel and to provide convenient charging where people live and work

Access to an additional $2.5 billion in nationwide grant funding dedicated to EV and alternative fuels charging infrastructure

Access to $5 billion to replace existing school buses with zero emission and clean school buses, with a priority on low income, rural, and Tribal schools

Clean energy and grid – at least $3 million for Hawai‘i

Funding includes at least $3 million to Hawai‘i from the Department of Energy’s State Energy Program to pursue state-led initiatives that accelerate our clean energy transition

Hawai‘i has access to $3 billion in matching grants for smart grid investments, including energy storage

Access to $500 million in competitive grants to make energy efficiency, renewable energy, and vehicle upgrades at public schools

Access to an additional $550 million in nationwide funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

Resiliency – $11 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to nearly $1.3 billion in nationwide funding for coastal habitat restoration to increase resilience

Access to $1 billion for resilience infrastructure through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program

Access to $8 billion from the new Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, which provides formula and competitive funding for resilience improvement grants, community resilience and evacuation route grants, and at-risk coastal infrastructure grants

Street safety – $5 billion (nationwide)

Funds a new program to help state and local governments implement “vision zero” plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, especially for cyclists and pedestrians

Flood mitigation – $7 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $7 billion in nationwide funding to support flood control projects that protect vulnerable communities from sea level rise and extreme weather

Ports and waterways – $16.6 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to new funding for waterway and coastal infrastructure, inland waterway improvements, and port infrastructure

Addressing Legacy Pollution – $21 billion (nationwide)

Hawai‘i has access to $1.5 billion in nationwide funding for brownfields remediation

Access to $3.5 billion for Superfund cleanup

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-legislation-to-make-streets-safer-for-those-who-walk-ride-bikes-passes-senate-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill,"Schatz Legislation To Make Streets Safer For Those Who Walk, Ride Bikes Passes Senate In Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill",2021-08-10,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will improve road safety standards and make streets safer for everyone. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act, which Senator Schatz worked to include in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, utilizes technology, infrastructure, and design expertise to vastly reduce pedestrian and cyclist road deaths in Hawai‘i and across the United States.

“For too long, transportation policy has been focused on how we can fit more cars on our roads, but that isn’t the only way people travel,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation. “My legislation will make it safer for everyone to use our streets, whether it’s on foot or on a bike, and I’m pleased we were able to bring it one step closer to becoming law.”

In just a decade, the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles nationally rose by roughly 50 percent. And for cyclists, the death rate also remains high, with more than 800 people killed while riding a bike in 2019 alone. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act aims to stop this troubling trend. Specifically, the Schatz legislation implements National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations and directs the administrators of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and/or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to:

Develop and update performance standards for visibility enhancement systems (i.e. for blindspot detection), connected vehicle technology, and vehicle headlamp systems;

Establish standards for vehicle bumpers;

Establish performance standards for automated pedestrian detection systems like automatic braking sensors;

Include pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements and on- and off-street pedestrian bicycle facilities and intersection safety treatments in the FHWA’s innovative infrastructure deployment programs; and

Improve and coordinate information collection to share, combine, and publish detailed crash data allowing policy makers and governments to make data informed decisions.

Schatz’s provision is supported by the Hawai‘i Bike League, Adventure Cycling Association, America Walks, American Planning Association, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, East Coast Greenway Alliance, League of American Bicyclists, North American Bikeshare Association, National Association of City Transportation Officials, National Resources Defense Council, PeopleForBikes, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Safe Routes Partnership, and the Vision Zero Network.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-lujn-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-public-health-insurance-option-provide-more-people-with-affordable-health-care,"Schatz, Luján Reintroduce Legislation To Create Public Health Insurance Option, Provide More People With Affordable Health Care",2021-08-06,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) today reintroduced the State Public Option Act, bicameral legislation to create a Medicaid-based public health insurance option to strengthen the Affordable Care Act by providing Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance.

“Our bill will open up each state’s Medicaid program to anyone who wants it, giving people a high-quality, low-cost public health insurance option,” said Senator Schatz. “Our ultimate goal here is to make sure that every single American has comprehensive health care coverage.”

“Health care is a human right. For communities to thrive, Americans need quality, affordable health care,” said Senator Luján. “A state public option puts us one step closer to universal coverage for all Americans, and I’m honored to re-introduce this legislation alongside Senator Schatz to bolster our health care system.”

The State Public Option Act will allow states to create a Medicaid buy-in program for all their residents regardless of income, giving everyone the option to buy into a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan. At least 18 states are exploring implementing a public option within their legislatures. Medicaid is a popular and cost-effective program with a large provider network. The program has the same positive ratings as private insurance, but provides health coverage at a much lower cost. Based on partnerships between state and federal governments, Medicaid also gives states the flexibility to adapt services and models of care based on their individual needs.

Even with the progress of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more than 30 million people remain uninsured. This legislation will help workers who do not have employer-sponsored coverage but may make too much to qualify for subsidies under the ACA. The bill will also help consumers who live in counties with limited insurance carriers or who worry they may soon have no options for affordable coverage.

In the Senate, the Schatz- Luján legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

In the House, companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Dwight Evans (D-Penn.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Mike Doyle (D-Penn.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), and Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.).

A summary of the bill is available here. The full text of the State Public Option Act is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-reintroduces-legislation-to-remove-barriers-to-higher-education-for-americans-with-criminal-records,Schatz Reintroduces Legislation To Remove Barriers To Higher Education For Americans With Criminal Records,2021-08-06,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced the Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act, which encourages colleges and universities to remove criminal and juvenile justice questions from their admissions applications by providing guidance and training to schools to change their policies. Most schools currently include these questions in their admissions processes.

“Everyone deserves the chance to rebuild their life through higher education, whether they have a criminal record or not,” said Senator Schatz. “This bill pushes colleges and universities to remove criminal history questions from the application process – a barrier that all too often keeps people from heading back to school.”

About 70 million Americans have some type of criminal record, which shows up on all routine background checks. These records make it difficult for these Americans to go to college, find a good-paying job, and rebuild their lives. Studies have shown that rejection rates for potential students with convictions can be 12 to 13 percentage points higher than applicants who don’t have these kinds of backgrounds, and many fail to complete their application once they reach the criminal history question.

As part of his push to encourage schools to change their processes, Senator Schatz has previously led letters to the “Big Six” higher education associations and the Common Application asking them to remove criminal history questions from their admissions processes. As a result, the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Association of Community Colleges urged their members to remove these questions. And beginning in August 2019, the Common Application removed criminal history questions from their form.

The original cosponsors of the Beyond the Box for Higher Education Act include U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

Companion legislation in U.S. House of Representatives is being led by U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.).

The bill is supported by Association of American Colleges & Universities, Center for Disability Rights, Checkr Inc., Coalition for Juvenile Justice, College and Community Fellowship, National CURE, Dream Corps JUSTICE, Drug Policy Alliance, The Education Trust, From Prison Cells to PhD, Institute for Higher Education Policy, Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology, Justice Action Network, Justice & Accountability Center of Louisiana, Juvenile and Capital Advocacy Project, Juvenile Law Center, The Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights, Middle Ground Prison Reform, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Social Workers, National Employment Law Project, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Operation Restoration, Prison Scholar Fund, R Street Institute, Safe Streets & Second Chances, Safer Foundation, Second Chance Education Alliance Inc., Unlock Higher Ed, and Young Invincibles.

“This bill is instrumental in ensuring that all individuals have access to higher education, a cornerstone of the American Dream and essential to the strength of our democracy,” said Lynn Pasquerella, President of the Association of American Colleges & Universities.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-bills-to-support-native-hawaiian-language-schools-and-programs-unanimously-pass-key-committee,Schatz Bills To Support Native Hawaiian Language Schools And Programs Unanimously Pass Key Committee,2021-08-05,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Two bills authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) to support Native Hawaiian language schools and programs, unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, where Schatz serves as Chairman.

“Our bipartisan bills will strengthen federal support for culturally-based Native language education and make sure Native language use in Hawai‘i and across the country continues to grow,” said Chairman Schatz.

The pair of bills passed by the Schatz-led committee include the Native American Language Resource Center Act and the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act. The first bill will create a designated resource center to support and grow Native language education in Hawai‘i and across the United States, while the Durbin Feeling Native American Languages Act, named after a renowned Cherokee linguist and Vietnam veteran, would help improve federal agencies’ coordination in support of Native American languages.

“It is wonderful to receive news from Senator Schatz’s office regarding progress on his bill to establish a Native American Language Resource Center. It has been my honor to testify before Senator Schatz’s Indian Affairs Committee regarding the promise and challenges of Hawaiian language medium education and similar programs in American Indian and Alaska Native languages. As we begin our new school year enrollments are up at our main campus as well as our two satellite campuses. Much remains to be done to support our students, faculty, parents and staff. The establishment of a national resource center will be a crucial step in addressing longstanding unmet needs. I am thankful for the leadership of Senator Schatz and appreciate the years of work it has taken to get the bill this far. I will support all of his efforts to secure enactment of this important bill before the end of the year,” said Dr. Kauanoe Kamanā, Principal of Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu Hawaiian Language Medium Laboratory School.

“Over the last four decades the tireless efforts of advocates and educators has led to a resurgence of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, the Native Hawaiian language. It’s also allowed us the opportunity to encounter and overcome challenges that other Native language communities will face along their journey of language revitalization. I believe that both S.989 and S.1402 are crucial steps and vital to the progress of Native American language revitalization,” said Ka‘iulani Laehā, Chief Executive Officer of ‘Aha Pūnana Leo.

“As a Hawaiian Homesteader serving on a national Native American language education and advocacy entity, I am extremely haʻaheo to have this bill passed by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs under the Chairmanship of Hawaiʻi's Senator Brian Schatz. Last year we celebrated the thirtieth year anniversary of the Native American Languages Act (NALA) enacted into law during the chairmanship of Indian Affairs by Hawaiʻi's Senator Inouye. Now this year, another Senator from Hawaiʻi, Brian Schatz, chairing the same committee, has authored and moved forward the Native American Language Resource Center Act, legislation that will help ensure the policies set forth in NALA will become a reality. I am very proud of Hawaiʻi's role in working to save the Indigenous language heritage of our country,” said Namaka Rawlins, Vice President of the National Coalition of Native American Language Schools and Programs.

“Weʻve experienced and benefit from the revitalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, especially in the development of ʻŌiwi Leadership. Our language cultivates a strong sense of identity and contributes to the health and well-being of our people. Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Schatz, the Native American Language Resource Center Act will support the efforts of our community to perpetuate many other Indigenous and Native American communities to preserve their languages which draws upon the strength of their indigenous culture and knowledge to meet the challenges that lie ahead,” said Jack Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Kamehameha Schools.

“While there is a broad range of national centers for foreign languages, there is no similar Native American language center accessible to all tribes and Native peoples of our country. Having had the privilege to work in and around indigenous media for the last decade amplifying Native voices and stories throughout the United States and the world, I am keenly aware of the groundswell movement to reverse the loss of our precious languages from our homes and communities. This new national center will be crucial to meeting the needs of grassroots community Native American language movements well into the future,” said Amy Kalili, Host, Producer and Co-Founder of ʻŌiwi Television Network.

“The Office of Hawaiian Affairs applauds Chairman Brian Schatz and Vice Chair Lisa Murkowski for their leadership to pass the Native American Language Resource Center Act out of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today—in furtherance of the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians and our Native cousins across the country,” said Carmen Hulu Lindsey, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. “The Hawaiian language movement is widely recognized as the largest language revitalization effort in the United States. While there are several national centers focused on supporting foreign languages, no such national center currently exists for the Native languages of the United States. These centers will build off the decades of hard work put in by Native language advocates by providing technical assistance to schools and communities; collecting and sharing best practices in Native language education and revitalization; and addressing historical discrimination and inequities faced by Native peoples—and they will support the Hawaiian language. Mahalo nui loa iā ʻoe e ke Kenekoa Schatz. We urge the rest of Congress to act swiftly on full passage of this bill.

“Today’s bi-partisan passage of S.989—the Native American Language Resource Center Act and S.1402—the Durban Feeling Native American Languages Act by the Senate Committee of Indian Affairs represent critical, long-awaited legislation to support the native peoples of this country. Congress will have two powerful opportunities to amend this country’s intentional denial and suppression of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. As sovereign peoples, these acts advance our efforts to revive and renormalize our mother languages, cultural practices, and genealogical connections to all things sacred while ensuring that our future generations will continue to thrive,” Dr. Walter Kahumoku III, Co-Director of the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium Accreditation.

“Native American languages are a national treasure, and yet far too many are endangered and close to extinction. The Native American Language Resource Center will support the efforts of Native American communities to protect and revitalize the languages of their ancestors. We are most appreciative of Senator Schatz's effort to support all Native American languages and want to thank him for his bill and for all of his efforts to ensure that our precious Hawaiian language lives on and is spoken by Native Hawaiian children and families now and forever,” said Dr. Keiki Kawaiʻaeʻa, Chair of the Hawaiian Language Renormalization Committee.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-tillis-cornyn-blumenthal-introduce-new-legislation-to-help-fight-cybercrime-keep-americans-safe,"Schatz, Tillis, Cornyn, Blumenthal Introduce New Legislation To Help Fight Cybercrime, Keep Americans Safe",2021-08-05,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced new legislation to fight cybercrime and help keep Americans safe from online scams. The bipartisan Better Cybercrime Metrics Act will improve data collection on cybercrimes, giving law enforcement and policy makers more tools to understand the size and scope of cybercrime in the United States.

“To protect people and fight online crimes, including hacks and scams, we need to understand how often, when, and where it’s happening. Our bipartisan bill will equip us with the data we need to go after criminals and provide more support to victims of cybercrime,” said Senator Schatz.

“Cybercrimes have steadily increased in recent years, putting private information, energy dependability, and our national security at risk,” said Senator Tillis. “It’s time for Congress to act on these growing threats by giving law enforcement and policymakers the tools needed to improve data collection and respond to cyber-attacks. I am proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to protect every American from the threat of cybercrimes.”

“Texas ranks third in the nation for victims of cybercrime, and many more incidents have gone unreported,” said Senator Cornyn. “This legislation would help us quantify how many cybercrimes are committed and the efficacy of law enforcement’s response to them.”

“Cybercriminals prey on the most vulnerable of our society, stealing billions of dollars every year through elaborate scams and frauds. What we do not measure, we cannot fix. By improving reporting on cybercrime, this bill is the first step toward fighting back against a massive scourge afflicting consumers, communities, and our economy,” said Senator Blumenthal.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are targets of cybercrime incidents that cost billions of dollars. Whether done through online scams and fraud, corporate data breaches, or ransomware attacks, the cost of cybercrime has been increasing annually, from $3.5 billion in 2019 to $4.2 billion in 2020, and impacts an estimated 300,000 to 700,000 cybercrime victims each year.

Unfortunately, these numbers are likely low, as there are no comprehensive metrics on the scale and impact of cybercrime in the United States, or on law enforcement efforts against them. Only 10 to 12 percent of all estimated cybercrime victims report cybercrime incidents in the United States, while other estimates have put that number much higher.

The Better Cybercrime Metrics Act will give law enforcement a clearer picture of online crimes in the United States by requiring the FBI to integrate cybercrime incidents into its current reporting streams to better understand all the types of crime that Americans face. As cybercriminals continue to target vulnerable populations, this data will help lawmakers make an informed case for policy changes to curtail the cybercrime wave, keep Americans safe, and bring these criminals to justice.

The Better Cybercrime Metrics Act will:

Require the FBI to report metrics on cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime categories, just as they do for other types of property crime;

Encourage local and federal law enforcement agencies to report incidents of cybercrime in their jurisdictions to the FBI;

Authorize a study at the National Academies of Science to create a taxonomy for cybercrime incidents in consultation with federal, state, local, and tribal stakeholders, criminologists, and business leaders that would inform the FBI’s reporting of cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime; and

Require the Bureau of Justice Statistics at the Department of Justice and the Census Bureau to include questions related to cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime as part of its annual National Crime Victimization Survey.

“Increased and improved cybercrime data collection is a necessity,” said Robert Burda, Interim CEO and Chief Strategy Officer of Cybercrime Support Network (CSN). ""By better understanding the size and scope of cybercrime in the United States, our law enforcement officers, policy makers, and CSN will be able to more effectively serve individuals and small businesses impacted by cybercrime.”

“Cybercrime is pervasive and pernicious, having a negative impact on individuals and communities throughout the United States. The first step in combating the hard problem of cybercrime, like all hard problems, is having a clear, concise, and consistent understanding of cybercrime among all those impacted and those who will face the problem,” said Glen Gainer, President of the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). “NW3C appreciates the efforts of Congresswoman Spanberger and Senator Schatz in introducing this bill.”

“It is critical that cybercrime is counted in a systematic and complete manner. Victims of cybercrime, particularly vulnerable victims such as minors, stalking victims, and the elderly, deserve to have those crimes counted and the public deserves to know the nature and extent of cybercrime in our society,” said Eileen M. Decker, Lecturer at USC Gould Law School, a former United States Attorney, and Police Commissioner. “Comprehensive cybercrime data will help ensure robust training and increased resources to law enforcement to investigate cybercrimes, and improved public awareness about the pervasiveness of the cybercrime problem. This bill is an important step to achieving these goals.”

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-new-eviction-ban-will-help-thousands-of-hawaii-residents-stay-in-their-homes,Schatz: New Eviction Ban Will Help Thousands Of Hawai‘i Residents Stay In Their Homes,2021-08-04,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation, released the following statement on a new order issued by the Biden Administration that will extend the federal eviction moratorium.

“No one should be kicked out of their home during a pandemic because they can’t afford their rent. These extensions will stop evictions for thousands of Hawai‘i residents struggling to make ends meet – a necessary step taken by the Biden Administration, and the right thing to do.”

A full resource guide for renters with eligibility information and details is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-votes-to-advance-repeal-of-outdated-war-authorizations-in-key-committee,Schatz Votes To Advance Repeal Of Outdated War Authorizations In Key Committee,2021-08-04,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today voted to advance legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs).

“Repealing the outdated 1991 and 2002 AUMFs is good for our national security and will help restore American leadership around the world. It also reasserts Congress’ constitutional role in declaring war. But we still have more work to do. It’s time for Congress to repeal the 2001 AUMF that presidents of both parties have used to keep America at war for two decades. I look forward to continuing the process we started today to end the permanent state of war that continues to risk the lives of our servicemembers and undermines U.S. diplomacy,” said Senator Schatz.

The legislation now heads for a vote on the Senate floor, where it is expected to pass with bipartisan support.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-schatz-celebrates-hawaii-surfer-carissa-moores-olympic-gold-medal-win-on-senate-floor,VIDEO: Schatz Celebrates Hawai‘i Surfer Carissa Moore’s Olympic Gold Medal Win On Senate Floor,2021-08-02,2021,2021-08,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor today to celebrate Carissa Moore’s Olympic Gold Medal win in surfing. The senator also paid tribute to Duke Kahanamoku and his work to bring the sport of surfing to the Olympic Games, which made its debut as an official Olympic sport this year.

“There’s a saying that the best surfer is the person having the most fun, and that’s unquestionably the case with Carissa. She has an incredible combination of speed and power in the water, and a remarkable humility she carries herself with everywhere she goes. She’s an intense competitor who wants to win every event she enters, but also one who wants to see her opponents – and more importantly the sport of surfing itself – succeed,” Senator Schatz said on the Senate floor. “Today, we honor Duke and the incredible legacy he left. We honor Carissa Moore, for her athleticism and her commitment to inspire the next generation of surfers, especially young girls. And we celebrate the sport of surfing finally getting the recognition that it deserves.”

The full video of Senator Schatz’s remarks is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:11:17Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-new-bill-to-make-streets-safer-for-those-who-walk-ride-bikes,"Schatz Introduces New Bill To Make Streets Safer For Those Who Walk, Ride Bikes",2021-07-28,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced new legislation to improve road safety standards and make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

“For too long, transportation policy has been focused on how we can fit more cars on our roads, but that isn’t the only way people travel. My bill will make it safer for everyone to use our streets – whether it’s on foot or on a bike,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation.

In just a decade, the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles nationally rose by roughly 50 percent. And for cyclists, the death rate also remains high, with more than 800 people killed while riding a bike in 2019 alone. The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act aims to stop this troubling trend by utilizing technology, infrastructure, and design expertise to vastly reduce pedestrian and cyclist road deaths.

Schatz’s legislation implements National Transportation Safety Board recommendations and directs the administrators of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and/or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to:

Develop and update performance standards for visibility enhancement systems (i.e. for blindspot detection), connected vehicle technology, and vehicle headlamp systems;

Establish standards for vehicle bumpers;

Establish performance standards for automated pedestrian detection systems like automatic braking sensors;

Include separated bike lanes and intersection safety treatments in the FHWA’s Every Day Counts initiatives and Proven Safety Countermeasures program;

Improve and coordinate information collection to share, combine, and publish detailed crash data allowing policy makers and governments to make data informed decisions.

The Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and is supported by the Hawai‘i Bike League, Adventure Cycling Association, America Walks, American Planning Association, Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, East Coast Greenway Alliance, League of American Bicyclists, North American Bikeshare Association, National Association of City Transportation Officials, National Resources Defense Council, PeopleForBikes, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Safe Routes Partnership, and the Vision Zero Network.

“This legislation recognizes that smarter approaches to transportation through good planning, data, and better design can help end the epidemic of bike and pedestrian injuries and fatalities. APA applauds the leadership of Senator Schatz in introducing the Vulnerable Road Users Safety Act to provide solutions that will make our communities safer for biking and walking,” said Leo Asuncion, AICP, President of the American Planning Association.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-bipartisan-legislation-to-make-annual-veteran-cost-of-living-adjustment-passes-senate,Schatz Bipartisan Legislation To Make Annual Veteran Cost-Of-Living Adjustment Passes Senate,2021-07-27,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Veterans’ Disability Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.

“There’s no reason that we shouldn’t guarantee an annual cost-of-living adjustment for our nation’s veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our bill is now one step closer to becoming law, which means our veterans will soon get the COLA benefit increase they deserve.”

The increase would be in accordance with the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, the same index that determines the annual rate adjustments for Social Security benefits. Once signed into law, the cost-of-living adjustment for veterans would go into effect on December 1, 2021.

The veterans’ COLA is usually, but not automatically, enacted each year and is already anticipated in the Congressional Budget Office’s baseline, which means this bill is budget-neutral and will provide disabled veterans additional certainty from year to year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-3-million-in-federal-funding-for-covid-19-testing-mitigation-for-people-experiencing-homelessness-prison-populations,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive More Than $3 Million In Federal Funding For COVID-19 Testing, Mitigation For People Experiencing Homelessness, Prison Populations",2021-07-23,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i will receive more than $3 million in new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to help detect and prevent potential COVID-19 outbreaks among the state’s most vulnerable and high-risk communities – including people experiencing homelessness and prison populations.

“As Hawai‘i experiences a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, we can’t leave vulnerable communities behind in our efforts to stop the spread of this virus,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new federal funding will help make sure homeless shelters and correctional facilities have the resources and support they need to keep people safe and healthy.”

The new federal funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It includes $1.44 million for shelters for people experiencing homelessness, group homes, and other congregate settings. The Hawai‘i State Department of Health will use this funding to hire workers to coordinate resources, develop strategies, and support community partners to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness and residents of congregate settings including group homes and encampments. The funding will also be used to supply these vulnerable communities with COVID-19 tests and other mitigation resources like handwashing stations, hand sanitizer, and masks.

The funding also includes $1.75 million for federal, state, and local prison populations. This funding will allow confinement facilities – including prisons, jails, and juvenile confinement facilities – to implement COVID-19 diagnostic and screening programs for people who are incarcerated, staff, and visitors. The funds can also support other mitigation efforts – including COVID-19 contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine strategies, infection control practices, and education and training on ways to minimize the spread of COVID-19 for facility staff and people who are incarcerated or detained.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-collins-young-leahy-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-reform-disaster-recovery,"Schatz, Collins, Young, Leahy, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Reform Disaster Recovery",2021-07-22,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) today introduced legislation to help communities plan for and recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would strengthen the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) disaster recovery grants for states, local governments, and tribes. It would also improve coordination at the federal level by establishing an office within HUD that would be devoted to disaster recovery and resilient communities.

“Right now, the law mandates that communities in crisis wait for Congress to pass a disaster funding bill before they can even apply for help from HUD. This bill changes the law so they no longer have to wait. As soon as a disaster strikes, HUD can help communities begin the process of recovery,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee.

“With natural disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, it is critical that states have the necessary resources to respond in order to protect public safety, property, and our economy,” said Senator Collins, the Ranking Member of the Housing Appropriations Subcommittee. “Our bipartisan legislation would allow communities to immediately focus on helping families and local businesses recover instead of navigating the federal bureaucracy in the wake of a natural disaster.”

“Our legislation would streamline, reform, and inject greater fiscal responsibility into the broken CDBG Disaster Recovery Program,” said Senator Young. “This is a response to reports from the Government Accountability Office and HUD’s Office of Inspector General recommending Congress permanently codify the program to avoid funding lags and rid duplicative requirements in the wake of a disaster.”

“Damage from disasters can be unpredictable, but the process of getting funding for long-term recovery shouldn’t be. Congress has an opportunity to ensure that communities suffering from the long-term effects of disasters can access funding from the CDBG-DR program on a reasonable and predictable timeline. This bill will fix the haphazard process of allocating funding on a case-by-case basis and give community leaders and residents one less thing to worry about in the aftermath of a disaster,” said Senator Leahy.

“Red tape and delays hurts families trying to recover from disaster,” said Senator Cassidy. “This legislation streamlines the process to get communities the resources they need, as soon as possible, to get back on their feet.”

The bill addresses long-standing recommendations from the HUD Office of the Inspector General and Government Accountability Office to establish a permanent and predictable funding process. The bill accelerates assistance to disaster-impacted communities by:

Creating a disaster recovery fund to allow HUD to predictably assist communities without waiting for Congress to act on each event;

Authorizing HUD to issue regulations to codify program requirements and reduce unnecessary red tape, delays, and unpredictability that stems from the current Federal Register notice process;

Supporting resilience as a part of – rather than separate from – disaster recovery;

Authorizing “quick release” funds to support grantee capacity right after an event; and

Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and interagency requirement conflicts.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-new-bill-to-make-electric-bikes-more-affordable-help-cut-carbon-pollution-traffic-congestion,"Schatz Introduces New Bill To Make Electric Bikes More Affordable, Help Cut Carbon Pollution, Traffic Congestion",2021-07-22,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act, new legislation to promote the use of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, through a refundable consumer tax credit. E-Bikes are increasingly being used as a cheaper, more environmentally-friendly transportation option for short trips and daily commutes that can help break the cycle of fossil fuel use.

“We need to do everything we can to transition to a clean energy economy and that includes changing the way we get around. E-Bikes have the potential to help us get there -- we just need to make it easier for people get on board,” said Senator Schatz.

A recent study by researchers at Portland State University found that if 15 percent of car trips were made by e-bike, carbon emissions would drop by 12 percent. Another survey also found that 46 percent of e-bike trips replaced car trips, making e-bikes an effective tool to achieve the tandem goals of reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. However, the cost of e-bikes remains a barrier to adoption for many—prices range from $800 to $8,000 depending on battery quality and size. While the U.S. has a current federal tax-credit for consumers who purchase an electric car, there is no current federal credit for e-bikes.

The E-BIKE Act creates a consumer tax credit that:

Covers 30 percent of the cost of a class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike, up to a $1,500 credit;

Applies to new electric bicycles that cost less than $8,000, to include cargo e-bikes;

Permits the purchase of one e-bike for single filers, or two for joint filers;

Is fully refundable, allowing lower-income riders to claim the credit; and

Includes electric tricycles or “e-trike” which can be beneficial for people with disabilities.

The E-BIKE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ed Markey. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.).

The Schatz legislation is supported by PeopleForBikes, League of American Bicyclists, Hawai‘i Bike League, California Bicycle Coalition, Ecology Action, CALSTART, U.S. PIRG, The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Gazelle Bikes.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-rural-hospitals-across-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-25-million-in-federal-funding-for-covid-19-testing-mitigation,"Schatz: Rural Hospitals Across Hawai‘i Set To Receive More Than $2.5 Million In Federal Funding For COVID-19 Testing, Mitigation",2021-07-15,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that 10 small rural hospitals in Hawai‘i – those with fewer than 50 beds and Critical Access Hospitals – will receive $2,583,760 in new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. This funding will help these hospitals expand COVID-19 testing for people living in rural communities and tailor mitigation efforts to meet local needs – such as community education and workforce expenses.

“Families in rural areas across Hawai‘i rely on local hospitals to get the health care they need in their own communities,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new federal funding will support rural hospitals on the frontlines of the pandemic and help more people access COVID-19 testing and other resources close to home to keep themselves, their families, and their communities healthy.”

The new federal funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP). It will go to the following small rural hospitals:

Hale Hoola Hamakua

Kahuku Medical Center

Kau Hospital

Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital

Kohala Hospital

Kula Hospital

Lanai Community Hospital

Molokai General Hospital

Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital

Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-reintroduces-legislation-to-narrow-college-achievement-gaps-support-students-of-color-veterans-disabled-students,"Schatz Reintroduces Legislation To Narrow College Achievement Gaps, Support Students Of Color, Veterans, Disabled Students",2021-07-07,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced the College Equity Act, a bill that would give colleges and universities funding to address disparities in higher education recruitment, admissions, and support.

“There are schools where veterans, people of color, and people with disabilities are able to thrive, and others where they struggle. The difference often comes down to schools knowing the challenges that exist for students and doing something to help,” Senator Schatz said. “This bill provides federal funding so that the doors of every college and university are open to qualified students from all walks of life – and that these schools can offer the resources students need to graduate on time and make a good living for themselves.”

Higher education promises economic mobility for all Americans, but outcomes for today’s college students are far from equal. Severe racial inequalities persist across measures from acceptance, enrollment, and completion rates to post-graduation salaries and student loan debt. Over half of all college students with disabilities do not graduate within eight years. And only half of U.S. students at four-year universities and colleges who received Pell Grants in 2011 graduated within six years.

The College Equity Act takes three steps toward addressing these kinds of achievement gaps. First, it provides funding for colleges and universities to examine how institutional practices like admissions policies, financial aid processes, access to campus support services, and faculty diversity contribute to gaps in student outcomes by race and ethnicity, gender, income, ability, transfer status, military and veteran status, and other lines of identity. Second, it creates grants for institutions that have completed these audits to develop and execute improvement plans to address the findings. Finally, the bill increases accountability by sharing the findings of audits with higher education accrediting agencies, which can then provide technical assistance and share best practices across institutions.

Individual schools and systems have shown success in closing these achievement gaps. San Diego State University has bucked trends by graduating 76 percent of all student veterans, nearly twice the national average graduation rate, exemplifying the positive impacts of targeted resources and customized support. With over 50 percent of students receiving Pell Grants and a student body of 60 percent people of color, Georgia State University recently increased its graduation rate by over forty percentage points by offering advising, mentoring, and tutoring services; providing emergency grants to support low-income students; and keeping tabs on students who may be at-risk of dropping out.

The College Equity Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.).

“If we want to repair deep inequities in our society and make college a more reliable path to economic security, we must provide colleges the opportunity to examine their own practices and recognize where they might unintentionally be harming students of color, student parents, and other groups that too often are not well served by higher education. The College Equity Act would give colleges the tools to recognize where they need to improve and ultimately to serve students and society more effectively,” said Marcella Bombardieri, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.

“Higher education holds enormous potential to transform individual lives, strengthen our communities, catalyze economic and social mobility, and address persistent inequities in our society. Yet many policies and practices limit this potential and hamstring attainment for today’s students, including students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, transfer students, student parents, and students impacted by the justice system. The College Equity Act will encourage institutions to interrogate the equity impact of their policies and practices – including in admissions and recruitment, financial aid administration, student support services, and faculty diversity – and take productive steps to ensure equitable access, completion, and post-college success for today’s students and for generations to come,” said Mamie Voight, Interim President and CEO of the Institute for Higher Education Policy.

“The College Equity Act provides an opportunity for institutions of higher education to identify equity gaps and correct disparities where they exist. For Latinx students, this is key to improving their outcomes in college enrollment and degree completion, and more importantly, their future success in the workforce,” said Roxanne Garza, Senior Policy Advisor for Education at UnidosUS.

The legislation is supported by Center for American Progress, Institute for Higher Education Policy, New America, UnidosUS, Center for Law and Social Policy, and Third Way.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-nearly-3-million-to-support-kids-and-families-fund-early-childhood-development-programs,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive Nearly $3 Million To Support Kids And Families, Fund Early Childhood Development Programs",2021-07-02,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced that two Early Head Start and Head Start Programs in Hawai‘i will receive nearly $3 million in new federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. The funding — provided to Parents and Children Together and the Honolulu Community Action Program — will be vital to helping these programs recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including by making up for lost learning time and building back to fully operational, comprehensive services this fall. This will ensure that Hawai‘i families have the support they need as they prepare their young children for school.

“It cannot be overstated how important early childhood development programs are to a child’s successful and healthy future, and support for these programs is especially critical after the disruptions caused by the pandemic,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This new funding will help families across Hawai‘i get the support they need so that their kids can thrive in school and in life.”

Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children. These programs are operated by non-profit organizations across the country and promote school readiness for children under the age of six from low-income families. These programs, which are free of cost to families, support children by focusing on early learning, health, and family well-being.

Parents and Children Together has provided Hawai‘i families with community-based services since 1968, and now has over 400 employees located on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island. The Honolulu Community Action Program has supported economically disadvantaged families on Oahu since 1965.

The federal funding includes:

$997,881 for Parents and Children Together

$1,804,322 for Honolulu Community Action Program

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-island-kauai-maui-set-to-receive-more-than-5-million-to-improve-public-transit-system-with-new-zero-emission-buses,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Island, Kauai, Maui Set To Receive More Than $5 Million To Improve Public Transit System With New Zero-Emission Buses",2021-07-01,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, partnering with the counties of Hawai‘i, Kauai, and Maui, will receive $5.15 million in new federal funding to purchase battery electric buses and charging infrastructure for each of the counties.

“Electric buses make our air cleaner, our roads quieter, and reduce the operating costs of our public transit,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “Hawai‘i has been a leader in clean energy, and this new federal funding will make it easier for people to get around, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.”

Each county will receive funds to help purchase three new electric buses, which will replace diesel buses that have reached the end of their useful life. These funds will help move the state closer to its goal of decarbonizing its economy by 2045.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation received this grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Grant Program, which supports transit agencies across the country working to convert their fleets to zero-emission and low-emission alternatives.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-uh-set-to-receive-more-than-24-million-to-launch-project-engage-more-native-hawaiian-students-in-stem-education,"Schatz: UH Set To Receive More Than $2.4 Million To Launch Project, Engage More Native Hawaiian Students In STEM Education",2021-07-01,2021,2021-07,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"HONOLULU – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the University of Hawai‘i (UH) will be awarded $2,419,814 over two years from the National Science Foundation. This new funding will help UH launch a new STEM learning project that seeks to connect Native Hawaiian youth ages 12-17 and their family members to STEM by channeling their cultural relationship to the environment.

“This project will give Native Hawaiian students the chance connect with the environment, learn about traditional practices, and pursue a future career in STEM,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The University of Hawai‘i will partner with six community organizations across the state to develop, implement, and study educational activities that explore solutions to local environmental problems, including traditional approaches to stewardship. By engaging in these activities, youth and their families will expand their understanding of why the environment matters and what it takes to preserve and protect it.

This project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning program, which seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. The award starts on September 1, 2021.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:03:51Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-brown-introduce-bill-to-support-community-college-students-improve-graduation-rates,"Schatz, Brown Introduce Bill To Support Community College Students, Improve Graduation Rates",2021-06-29,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced legislation to expand services for community college students and help them graduate. The Community College Student Success Act would fund programs at community colleges to support students by providing comprehensive wrap around services, including free tutoring, textbooks, and transportation.

“Our bill gives community college students the tools they need to earn a degree and find a good-paying job,” said Senator Schatz. “When we provide targeted support services to community college students, it helps them graduate on time. We know this works because some schools are already successfully doing this.”

“Respecting the dignity of work means ensuring students of all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue jobs that pay well and are fulfilling. By investing in programs that provide tutoring, textbooks, and transportation, we empower students to make the best decisions for their careers, whether that’s choosing to pursue additional workforce training or getting a job. I’m proud to join Senator Schatz to support this effort,” said Senator Brown.

Community colleges serve low-income students and students of color at far higher rates than public four-year institutions and at more than half the cost. However, community colleges graduate students at far lower rates than public four-year institutions.

Many community college students face both academic and financial obstacles. From needing remedial courses, to working part- or full-time jobs to pay for the full cost of college, to navigating the bureaucracy of course selection and financial aid, community college students often face higher barriers with fewer resources.

The Community College Student Success Act is modeled on successful student programs, such as the City University of New York’s Accelerated Study In Associate Programs, which has a proven record of doubling community college graduation rates.

The Community College Student Success Act establishes competitive grant programs for community colleges to replicate the CUNY ASAP-style completion programs, or to improve and expand existing evidence-based comprehensive student success programs.

The Schatz bill would provide community college students with wrap around support including:

Mandatory personalized academic, career, and personal advising;

Additional financial aid to cover unmet need; and

Tutoring services, free transportation access, and free textbooks.

The Community College Student Success Act is supported by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Higher Learning Advocates, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), Results for America, The Education Trust (EdTrust), The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), University of Hawai‘i System, and Young Invincibles.

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-wicker-klobuchar-collins-moran-ask-cdc-tsa-for-update-on-travel-guidance-mask-requirements-on-planes-buses,"Schatz, Wicker, Klobuchar, Collins, Moran Ask CDC, TSA For Update On Travel Guidance, Mask Requirements On Planes, Buses",2021-06-27,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for more information on when and how the agencies will update their travel guidance for vaccinated people.

“As there has not yet been any change in the requirement for masks while traveling, we request an update on the CDC’s and TSA’s process for updating the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals and what the science is showing about the transmission of COVID-19 for fully vaccinated individuals while traveling,” the senators wrote in their letter to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

The full text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Dr. Walensky and Adminstrator Pekoske:

We are writing regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) order and the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) security directive to require the wearing of masks by individuals on public transportation conveyances—such as airplanes, buses, and trains—or at transportation hubs to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. We support measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic as soon as possible, but we also support steps to safely lift restrictions when appropriate.

We understand that CDC and TSA issued and have maintained the mask requirement for travel for several reasons, including that public transportation conveyances and transportation hubs are locations where many people gather, physical distancing can be difficult, and the option to get off or move to another area is not always available. In addition, people may need to take public transportation for their livelihoods, and individuals working or traveling on transportation conveyances may be unvaccinated or at increased risk of severe illness.

The CDC’s guidance on face masks for fully vaccinated people has evolved as new data have become available and as more individuals are vaccinated. In May, the CDC announced new guidance that fully vaccinated individuals could resume activities without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart. At that time, the CDC said that it would continue to update its guidance for travel as the science emerges and that it would need to collaborate with other agencies as the face mask requirement is an interagency policy.

As there has not yet been any change in the requirement for masks while traveling, we request an update on the CDC’s and TSA’s process for updating the mask requirement for fully vaccinated individuals and what the science is showing about the transmission of COVID-19 for fully vaccinated individuals while traveling. Specifically, we request answers by no later than July 12, 2021, to the following questions:

What has the CDC learned about the transmission of COVID-19 on airplanes and other forms of transportation for fully vaccinated individuals?

What additional factors beyond how COVID-19 spreads, such as the impact on flight attendants or airline operations, are informing the mask requirement for travel?

Would removing the mask requirement for travel for fully vaccinated people encourage vaccination against COVID-19?

Would lifting the mask requirement for fully vaccinated travelers create administrability challenges?

What steps have the CDC, TSA, and other relevant federal agencies taken together to update the travel guidance and mask requirement?

If the requirement for wearing masks while traveling can be safely lifted and would serve the public health interest, then we believe it would benefit the traveling public. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and hard work in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-fund-native-hawaiian-housing-program,Schatz Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Fund Native Hawaiian Housing Program,2021-06-24,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization. This bipartisan legislation builds on successful Native American housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), including the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Indian Housing Block Grant programs.

“Since it was first signed into law in 1996, NAHASDA has provided billions in federal dollars to Tribes and Native communities in Hawai‘i and across the country,” said Chairman Schatz. “Our bill continues this bipartisan tradition and extends NAHASDA for another decade, giving Native communities the resources they need to help more Native families find safe, affordable housing.”

The bill is supported by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

“We welcome the reauthorization of NAHASDA at a time where the Hawaiian community is commemorating the 100th centennial of the signing of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act this coming July,” said Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Aila, Jr. “I would like to acknowledge Senator Schatz, Hawaii’s congressional delegation, and Senator Murkowski for their diligent efforts to bring this legislation forward and we send aloha to our American Indian and Alaska Native cousins for their continued support of Title VIII. The proposed improvements to the program will provide much needed stability and assist DHHL with the creation of more housing units and additional housing services.”

Schatz’s legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

The full bill text is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-native-hawaiian-health-care-systems-papa-ola-lokahi-set-to-receive-more-than-18-million-in-federal-funding-to-provide-health-care-health-education-services,"Schatz: Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, Papa Ola Lokahi Set To Receive More Than $18 Million In Federal Funding To Provide Health Care, Health Education Services",2021-06-24,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS) and Papa Ola Lokahi, which coordinates health care programs and services for Native Hawaiians, will receive a total of $18.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – a $1.2 million increase from last year. This funding, provided through the Native Hawaiian Health Care Program, will help more Native Hawaiians get access to health education, promotion, disease prevention, and basic primary care services.

“Thousands of Native Hawaiian families across the state rely on these clinics for health care. This year, we were able to secure additional funding, which means these clinics will have the resources to help even more people connect with their doctors and get the health care they need,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The grant totals are:

Hui Malama Ola Na Oiwi on Hawai‘i Island: $3,134,982

Hui No Ke Ola Pono on Maui: $3,431,410

Hoola Lahui Hawai‘i on Kauai: $3,167,651

Na Puuwai on Molokai: $2,661,902

Ke Ola Mamo on Oahu: $3,249,120

Papa Ola Lokahi: $2,554,935

Schatz has led efforts in the Senate to deliver federal resources to the Native Hawaiian community, including the NHHCS. In addition to securing this increase in annual funding for the NHHCS, he successfully secured $20 million for the NHHCS in COVID-19 relief funding from the American Rescue Plan in March.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-airports-set-to-receive-more-than-144-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-support-workers-recover-from-pandemic,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Airports Set To Receive More Than $144 Million In New Federal Funding To Support Workers, Recover From Pandemic",2021-06-22,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that Hawai‘i airports will receive more than $144 million in new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March. The new funding will help support airports that have experienced severe economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“Hawai‘i airport workers and the entire airline industry have taken a significant hit during this crisis,” said Senator Schatz, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing. “This new federal funding will support salaries for workers and help our airports recover.”

The flexible funding can be used to pay for operational and other costs. The more than $144 million in funding for Hawai‘i airports includes:

$14.5 million for airports on Kauai;

$74.4 million for airports on Oahu;

$1.3 million for airports on Molokai;

$1.3 million for Lanai Airport;

$29.2 million for airports on Maui; and

$24 million for airports on Hawai‘i Island.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-covid-19-outbreaks-in-prisons-last-year-schatz-reintroduces-bill-to-improve-compassionate-release-process-and-protect-public-health,"Following COVID-19 Outbreaks In Prisons Last Year, Schatz Reintroduces Bill To Improve Compassionate Release Process And Protect Public Health",2021-06-17,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – After the COVID-19 pandemic impacted prisons across the country, infecting hundreds of thousands of people and causing thousands of deaths, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today reintroduced legislation that would accelerate the Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) approval process for compassionate release during a public health emergency. Authorized under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, which also eliminated parole for federal prisoners, compassionate release gives people incarcerated in federal prisons an opportunity to appeal for early release for “extraordinary and compelling” reasons, including advanced age and terminal illness.

“People who are eligible for compassionate release are the most vulnerable to public health emergencies like COVID-19, and they are needlessly being put at risk because the process takes too long,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will help speed up the approval process so that sick and elderly who qualify for compassionate release get it.”

Prisons are designed to house people in tight quarters, making social distancing impossible, which can cause infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, to spread easily and quickly. While this is concerning for prison populations, broader communities around prisons are also put at risk as correctional officers and medical staff return home from work every day to their families and local communities.

Over the course of the pandemic, more than 49,000 people in the federal prison system were infected with COVID-19, and 256 died (as of June 11, 2021). At the same time, nearly 31,000 people sought compassionate release, according to BOP’s response to a letter Senator Schatz wrote requesting data on compassionate release. BOP approved only 36 requests. By contrast, 3,221 people were granted compassionate release by federal judges through the GRACE Act provision of the First Step Act, which streamlined federal compassionate release. In 2020, nearly all of the compassionate release motions were granted by federal judges, according to a recent report from the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

The Emergency GRACE Act would:

Allow an individual to petition the federal court directly during a public health emergency, rather than wait for BOP to act within 30 days (which the GRACE Act created for compassionate release);

Direct BOP to identify compassionate release cases, and to release relevant medical records to individuals, their lawyers, and the court;

Create a presumption of a sentence reduction for compassionate release cases;

Allow the court to provide counsel for individuals without representation;

Create a process for temporary supervised release, furlough, or transfer;

Allow an individual to access Medicaid up to 30 days of their release, ensuring that they will be able to sign up for and have access to healthcare coverage post-release;

Direct BOP to improve their testing of all incarcerated people and staff, limit the spread of the coronavirus, and release relevant information to attorneys and families; and

Provide $50 million for state prison systems through the Byrne-JAG program to increase state prison testing and use of compassionate release or elderly/medical parole.

Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.).

The Emergency GRACE Act has been endorsed by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Due Process Institute, R Street, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, Dream Corps JUSTICE, FAMM, National CURE, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Justice Roundtable, and Community Oriented Correctional Health Services.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 400,000 prisoners have contracted the virus, and over 2,500 have died as a result,” said Jillian Snider, Director of Criminal Justice & Civil Liberties Policy at R Street Institute. “Many inmates suffer from various health ailments, making them especially vulnerable to COVID-19 complications. The Emergency GRACE Act creates a smart, safe and effective process that removes some of the challenges currently associated with being granted a compassionate release.""

Schatz authored the original bipartisan GRACE Act, which streamlined the compassionate release process. It was signed into law in 2018.

For a copy of the bill text, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-uh-set-to-receive-more-than-320000-to-launch-telehealth-pilot-project-help-more-hawaii-families-access-health-care,"Schatz: UH Set To Receive More Than $320,000 To Launch Telehealth Pilot Project, Help More Hawai‘i Families Access Health Care",2021-06-17,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawai‘i has been awarded $320,535 for its telehealth pilot project. JABSOM’s telehealth project connects patients with health care providers through video visits and provides remote treatment for a range of conditions, including mental health, opioid dependency, chronic conditions, and maternal health.

“JABSOM has put together an impressive project that uses telehealth to help connect patients across Hawai‘i with health care providers. This new funding will help launch the project and get more people the care they need,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

This money was awarded through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Connected Care Pilot Program. The program provides up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund (USF) over a three-year period to selected applicants to support the provision of connected care services, especially for low-income and veteran patients.

JABSOM’s pilot project will serve an estimated 1,000 patients, the majority of whom are low-income or veterans, and it will have a particular focus on patients in rural areas, low-income areas, and Health Professional Shortage Areas. JABSOM will partner with the University of Hawai‘i Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center and the Hawai‘i/Pacific Area Health Education Center to provide patient digital literacy support for participating patients.

The FCC selected JABSOM’s pilot project because it focuses on expanding access to care and addressing broadband access issues for low-income, veteran, and vulnerable patient populations.

Schatz has led efforts in the Senate to expand the use of telehealth services. Last month, he reintroduced the CONNECT for Health Act, the most comprehensive bipartisan telehealth bill in Congress. Since its first iteration in 2016, several provisions from Schatz’s bill have been signed into law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-thune-warnock-kennedy-introduce-new-legislation-to-stop-deceptive-subscription-business-practices,"Schatz, Thune, Warnock, Kennedy Introduce New Legislation To Stop Deceptive Subscription Business Practices",2021-06-16,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), John Thune (R-S.D.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the Unsubscribe Act. The bipartisan bill would require companies to be more transparent about their subscription-based business model and make it easier for consumers to cancel their subscriptions once their free or reduced price trial period has ended.

“The subscription-based business model is exploding, and it’s largely because of the deceptive practices that some companies use to lure and trap in customers. When people sign up for a free trial, they shouldn’t have to jump through hoops just to cancel their subscription before being charged,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill will require companies to be more transparent about their business model and make it easier for consumers to avoid costly, automatic monthly charges they never intended to make.”

“Consumers want to know what they’re signing up for, so the more transparency, the better when it comes to online subscriptions,” said Senator Thune. “In addition to empowering online consumers by providing them with more information, this bill helps ensure they don’t face the unwanted and unexpected fees that can sometimes be incurred.”

“We must protect consumers’ dignity and their pockets from deceptive marketing practices that harm their ability to thrive in our economy. I am proud to sponsor this important legislation that will provide more protections and transparency to consumers to help ensure they’re spending their well-earned dollars according to their goals and not wasting their money on deceitful practices,” said Senator Warnock.

“Free trials should benefit consumers, not trick them into endless payments for a product they don’t want. This bill would give customers who enter subscription trials a clear, easy way to cancel those subscriptions,” said Senator Kennedy.

From news to fashion, music to food, subscriptions are everywhere in today’s economy. An important part of their success has been subscription-based businesses’ utilization of reduced-cost or free entry deals for new customers. Theoretically, this allows customers to sample a product or service at a reduced price before committing themselves to the full cost of the subscription. A common practice is to use “negative option billing,” which means that once the free trial is over, the subscription company automatically switches a customer to a full-cost subscription.

Unfortunately, in order to retain customers, some subscription providers rely on deceptive marketing, confusing contracts, and restrictions that make it difficult for customers to cancel their subscriptions. For example, some subscriptions do not notify customers when the free trial has expired or that the customer will start to be charged for the full cost of their subscription. Or they will not allow a customer to cancel their subscription online or by email—even if that is how the customer signed up in the first place. Instead, they require a customer to call in to a busy customer service line or send a cancellation by physical mail. This unduly burdensome process often results in customers paying for products and services they do not want and for which they may not even realize they are being charged.

The Unsubscribe Act would:

Require sellers to provide customers with a clear understanding of all the terms of the contract and obtain the customer’s express and informed consent;

Require sellers to provide a simple means of canceling the subscription, which the customer can complete in the same way in which the original contract was entered into;

Require sellers to provide a clear notice to consumers when their free or reduced-cost trial is complete and before charging for the full-cost subscription;

Disallow automatic transfer to a contract longer than one month; and

Require sellers to periodically notify the customer of the terms of the contract and the cancelation mechanism.

Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i), and Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam).

The Schatz-Thune legislation is supported by Consumer Action, Truth in Advertising, and the National Consumer League.

“From movies, to clothing, to food, to cosmetics, consumers are being marketed subscription services that are often easy to sign up for but hard to cancel,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League. “That is why we need common-sense consumer protection legislation like the Unsubscribe Act. The bill will help consumers get the information they need to make an informed buying decision and allow them to easily cancel their subscriptions without getting the runaround.”

“With the lure of free trial offers, consumers can unknowingly be duped into a subscription deal that they never agreed to purchase,” said Linda Sherry, Director of National Priorities at Consumer Action. “The Unsubscribe Act of 2021 will protect consumers by mandating that sellers clearly explain contract terms, provide plain notice of free trial expirations and make it simple for consumers to cancel a contract that they do not want.”

The full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-142-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-help-people-experiencing-at-risk-of-experiencing-homelessness,"Schatz: Hawai‘i Set To Receive More Than $14.2 Million In New Federal Funding To Help People Experiencing, At Risk Of Experiencing Homelessness",2021-06-10,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate an additional $14.2 million under the American Rescue Plan to provide emergency housing vouchers for over 700 people and families who are experiencing homelessness; at risk of experiencing homelessness; have recently experienced homelessness; or are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.

“This additional federal money will ensure that families who lost their homes during the pandemic have access to housing, and it will provide crucial assistance for families who are struggling to stay in their homes,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “While we keep working to secure additional federal relief for Hawai‘i, this funding will make a big difference.”

The $14.2 million in new funding includes:

Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority – $3.8 million

City and County of Honolulu – $6.5 million

County of Hawai‘i – $1.7 million

County of Maui – $1.5 million

Kauai County Housing Agency – $503,868

The new American Rescue Plan funding is being allocated through the Emergency Voucher program, which provides housing choice vouchers to local public housing authorities across the country.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-whitehouse-urge-sec-to-address-financed-emissions-dark-money-in-mandatory-climate-disclosure-rules,"Schatz, Whitehouse Urge SEC To Address Financed Emissions, Dark Money In Mandatory Climate Disclosure Rules",2021-06-10,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), highlighting several priorities for the Commission’s ongoing evaluation of climate change disclosure regulations.

“The market needs to know how exposed individual issuers are to climate risks, and how they plan to manage their exposure. That information needs to be decision-useful to investors: detailed, tied to financial statements, and easily comparable across different companies,” said Senator Schatz. “The SEC has the authority and the obligation to improve market efficiency and reduce systemic risk by mandating climate disclosure. And this must include disclosure of financed emissions: the contributions financial firms make to the climate crisis through their financing and investing work. We must ensure these firms’ stated climate goals are consistent with their actual business activities.”

“The market will be a very powerful force for curbing climate change if investors can get the information needed to gauge financial firms’ real levels of exposure to climate risks,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Improved climate disclosure standards will also help ensure corporations – many of which have great stated policies on climate – are actually walking the walk when it comes to lobbying and investing.”

The comment focuses on several specific issues that are important components of a comprehensive climate-related disclosure framework:

Incorporating climate risk into audited financial statements. Investors are not well served by anecdotes and best-case scenarios. Climate risks must be reflected in issuers’ financial statements, so that auditors can evaluate whether the assumptions underlying financials are clear-eyed about the likelihood of such risks and consistent with management’s internal planning.

Financed emissions disclosure. Climate change is not an exogenous shock: there are fees and short-term profits to be made financing the activities that drive climate change. The SEC has the responsibility to make financial firms disclose the greenhouse gas emissions they enable. This should include off-balance sheet activities that exacerbate this systemic risk, even if they do not pose an immediate risk to the financial firm.

Use-of-proceeds statements. To avoid divestment, banks and investors often cite the capital needed to aid the low-carbon transition. But without transparency and specificity on how companies plan to use the capital they raise, there is no accountability associated with those claims. The SEC should incorporate climate disclosure into the prospectus issuers file with the Commission related to securities offerings.

Lobbying and political spending. Corporate interests hide their political influence activities behind opaque front groups and powerful trade associations. In many cases, individual companies make lofty climate commitments while contributing to anti-climate lobbying efforts behind the scenes. These efforts mislead investors and undermine financial stability. Investors have a right to know the details of companies’ climate-related spending and lobbying activities.

Full text of the comment letter is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-provision-to-protect-sharks-from-brutal-finning-practice-killings-passes-senate,"Schatz Provision To Protect Sharks From Brutal Finning Practice, Killings Passes Senate",2021-06-08,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the United States Innovation and Competition Act, major bipartisan legislation that enhances American global competitiveness. The bill includes a provision cosponsored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), which would ban the buying and selling of shark fins in the United States and protect sharks from finning, the brutal practice of slicing fins off of live sharks and throwing the remainder of the animal back into ocean to drown, starve, or die a slow death. Schatz led the effort to include the provision when the bill passed out of the Commerce Committee.

“Finning is cruel, and it’s crushing the global shark population, which is critical to our oceans and marine ecosystem,” said Senator Schatz. “I’m glad we were able to move this bill one step closer to becoming law so that we can protect more sharks from this brutal practice.”

Specifically, the provision will:

Remove the U.S. contribution of shark fins to the global market;

Allow for stronger enforcement of illegal shark fin trade in the United States; and

Put the U.S. in a stronger position to advocate internationally for abolishing the fin trade in other countries.

Although the United States has banned the practice of shark finning aboard vessels in U.S.-controlled waters, there is no federal ban on the removal and sale of shark fins from a whole shark that has been caught and landed legally under U.S. law. That makes enforcing U.S. law difficult because once a shark fin is detached from the body, it is almost impossible to determine whether the shark was legally caught or the fin lawfully removed. Determination of species is also difficult, which is problematic given that some shark species are threatened with extinction.

The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z
https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-provisions-to-strengthen-us-oceania-ties-in-united-states-innovation-and-competition-act-passes-senate,Schatz Provisions To Strengthen U.S.-Oceania Ties In United States Innovation And Competition Act Passes Senate,2021-06-08,2021,2021-06,Democrat,Senate,HI,Brian Schatz,S001194,www.schatz.senate.gov,schatz,https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the United States Innovation and Competition Act, major bipartisan legislation that enhances American global competitiveness and strengthens America’s foreign policy commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. The legislation includes six provisions authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will elevate Oceania’s role in the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and ensure that the U.S. government is aligning its diplomatic mission to build on the cultural, historical, and familial bonds that bind Americans together with the people of Oceania.

“We have deep ties to the Oceania community grounded in our shared commitment to respecting human rights and the rule of law, protecting marine resources, and combating the global climate crisis,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This bill firms up our foreign policy commitment to Oceania by ensuring that we are aligning all the tools of U.S. diplomacy to strengthen people-to-people ties and support the economic needs and long-term resilience goals of our allies and partners in the region.”

The Schatz provisions included in the bipartisan bill would:

Establish a statement of policy about the importance of elevating the entire Oceania region in U.S. national security and economic considerations and working with our allies and partners, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, to accomplish shared goals in the region, such as maritime security, illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness;

Require the secretary of State to create a strategic roadmap for strengthening U.S. engagement with the countries of Oceania, including an analysis of opportunities to deepen cooperation with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, to address shared concerns and goals in pursuit of security and resiliency in the countries of Oceania;

Ensure that the secretary of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development administrator include all independent least developed and developing countries of Oceania in existing strategic planning and multi-sector program evaluation processes so that the United States aligns its foreign assistance mission in Oceania to advance the long-term growth, governance, economic development, and resilience of allies and partners in the region;

Require the Peace Corps director to submit a report on strategies to reasonably and safely expand Peace Corps volunteers in Oceania where operational challenges related to the safety and security of its volunteers currently limit its ability to deploy volunteers to more places in support of helping address the social, economic, and development needs of countries in the region. Importantly, the provision would not change or otherwise interfere with the independent mission of the Peace Corps, which has been an integral feature to ensuring the Peace Corps’ access around the world;

Require the secretary of State to provide Congress information on the feasibility of establishing a U.S.-based public-private sponsored Oceania Security Dialogue to amplify the voices of leaders from Oceania countries with U.S. policymakers and experts to help explore and discuss regional economic, diplomatic, and national security issues; and

Establish a sense of Congress about the impact that IUU fishing has on the economies of Oceania and require the secretary of State to provide a report assessing the use of advanced maritime domain awareness technologies to combat IUU fishing in Oceania, support regional fisheries management, and counter malign foreign influence in the region.

In addition to the Schatz provisions, the bill reasserts America’s commitment to universal values, including our longstanding commitment to human rights and civil society aimed at strengthening democracy, while ensuring that the United States is able to address the challenges of the Chinese government’s increased malign influence in the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Arctic, and the Indo-Pacific.

The bill now heads to the U.S House of Representatives for consideration.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:57:00Z