#brian schatz

The extension will keep the Native Hawaiian Education Program fully funded for current grant recipients for at least another year, which guarantees $46 million in federal funding secured by Schatz in Congress will continue to flow to the more than 60 early childhood education sites across Hawai‘i.

The need for general surgeons is especially high in rural and other under-served communities. In Hawai‘i, there is a 14% shortage in surgeons for the state overall. And on Hawai‘i Island, they have a 40% shortage, forcing many to travel off island to receive the care that they need.

McMahon agreed to keep the program fully funded for current grant recipients for at least another year, which guarantees $46 million in federal funding secured by Schatz in Congress will continue to flow to the more than 60 early childhood education sites across Hawai‘i and sustain other critical education programs, including home visiting for children under 5, workforce development for parents, and Hawaiian language immersion programs. The federally funded programs serve more than 3,000 Hawai‘i families.

US Sen. Brian Schatz conducted site visits on the Valley Isle on Wednesday, focused on the progress of recovery efforts on Maui, following the 2023 wildfires and recent Kona Low storms in March of this year.

The US House passed legislation earlier passed by the US Senate to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026 except immigration enforcement in two agencies, bringing an end to a shutdown affecting thousands of federal workers. The President has signed the bill into law.

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) spoke on the Senate floor about last month’s kona low storms which produced continuous flooding and resulted in widespread damage across Hawai‘i.

During an Appropriations Subcommittee oversight hearing on the US Department of Health and Human Services’ budget request, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured a commitment from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to support Hawaiʻi’s recovery efforts following the kona low storms that caused flooding across the state.

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi) led a group of six senators in introducing the Guaranteeing and Upholding Americans’ Right to Decide Responsible AI Laws and Standards (GUARDRAILS) Act to repeal President Trump’s executive order seeking to prevent states from regulating artificial intelligence.

The Child Suicide Prevention 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.

Gov. Josh Green has ordered that the US and Hawaiʻi state flags be flown at half-staff at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol and all state offices and agencies to honor former US Rep. and Hawaiʻi Senate President Colleen Hanabusa. She died March 5. Born and raised in Waiʻanae, Hanabusa was a graduate of the University of […]

On Friday night, President Donald Trump announced the US Military began major combat operations in Iran in what is being called Operation Epic Fury. The announcement drew criticism from the Hawaiʻi Congressional delegation over lack of Congressional authorization.

US Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) introduced a resolution celebrating Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, also known as Hawaiian Language Month.

US Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i secured $2 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations deal for construction of the new Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae homeless village. The funding will be used to construct water, sewer and road infrastructure for the permanent supportive site that will house 250 homeless individuals and provide wraparound services. 

US Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaiʻi introduced legislation Tuesday that would give federal workers a 4.1% pay raise in 2027, a move that federal employee unions say is needed to keep government jobs competitive.

US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) secured $1.3 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year’s appropriations deal for ʻAha Pūnana Leo. The funding will be used to train teachers, support families, and develop new early childhood education Hawaiian language materials, such as books and videos, to help young children build literacy and math skills.

The US Senate passed a bipartisan funding bill that included a provision authored by US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) that will extend telehealth access for Americans enrolled in Medicare through the end of 2027.

The funding includes $1.9 million for Hale Makua Health Services to purchase and replace nursing home beds; $1.2 million in funding to Maui County to support the first phase of an affordable housing development on Lānaʻi; and $1 million for Molokaʻi Airport to rehabilitate the runway and taxiways.

US Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday that the Senate approved a bipartisan funding package including nearly $34 million in congressional directed spending for the state, with allocations designated for infrastructure and environmental protection in Maui County. The funding comes amid nationwide federal budget cuts. Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, indicated that more […]

A bipartisan appropriations deal passed by the US Senate on Thursday includes millions of dollars in federal funding designated for the acquisition of East Maui rainforest lands, maintenance for Kahului Harbor and an assessment of Maui watersheds.

The United States Senate Youth Program announced that high school students Anna Nguyen of Maui Preparatory Academy and Lotus Yasuda will join US Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie K. Hirono in representing Hawaiʻi during the 64th annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 7-14, 2026.