#US Senate
Senate designates April 2026 as National Native Plant Month
The US Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution Tuesday designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month, highlighting the role indigenous flora plays in environmental conservation and Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage.
Schatz proposes 4.1% pay raise for federal workers
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.
Congressional resolution introduced to protect abortion access for veterans
US Sen. Mazie Hirono joined a group of Democratic colleagues to introduce a resolution aimed at protecting abortion access for veterans, according to a news release from the senator’s office. Hirono and 14 other senators filed a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn a recent Trump administration rule. The federal rule ends abortion counseling and […]
Hirono, Collins introduce legislation to mandate credible hate crime reporting
US Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaiʻi and Susan Collins of Maine have introduced the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act, a bipartisan legislative effort intended to strengthen the accuracy of hate crime reporting nationwide.
Schatz secures nearly $34 million in federal funding for Hawaiʻi; Maui County projects
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 […]
US Senate bill includes millions for East Maui rainforest, Kahului Harbor maintenance
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.
Bicameral resolution introduced to commemorate Southeast Asian refugees
US Sen. Mazie Hirono and US Rep. Derek Tran introduced a bicameral resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. US Sen. Brian Schatz joined Hirono as a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Senate passes Schatz legislation to expand VA services to US Veterans in Freely Associated States
The US Senate passed legislation authored by US Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) that will expand Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits to US veterans who reside in the Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
Hirono joins US senators calling for staff restoration in Taxpayer Advocate Service
US Sen. Mazie Hirono and 24 of her colleagues are calling on the Trump administration to restore staffing levels at the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent office within the Internal Revenue Service that helps taxpayers resolve disputes and secure refunds. In a letter sent to Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent, the lawmakers […]
Schatz introduces legislation to expand Social Security benefits
US Sen. Brian Schatz has introduced legislation aimed at expanding Social Security benefits for seniors and families in Hawaiʻi and across the nation. The Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security Act, or SAFE Social Security Act, seeks to increase average monthly benefits by more than $150. The bill also proposes adjusting how cost-of-living adjustments […]
Hirono and Tokuda introduce bill to protect Social Security for seniors
Hawaiʻi US Sen. Mazie Hirono and US Rep. Jill Tokuda have reintroduced legislation they say would strengthen Social Security and ensure its long-term solvency. The bill, named the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, was reintroduced on the 90th anniversary of the federal program.
Schatz: ‘Reforming Disaster Recovery Act’ included in bipartisan housing package
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs unanimously voted Tuesday to advance a bipartisan housing package that included the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. The provision, authored by US Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i and Susan Collins of Maine, would help communities recover from major disasters. “Right now, each time a disaster happens, communities […]
Schatz introduces legislation to help app-based workers
Hawai‘i Sen. Brian Schatz and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, both Democrats, have introduced the “Empowering App-Based Workers Act,” new legislation to improve transparency on how app companies operate and help boost wages for rideshare drivers and delivery app workers. “Every day rideshare drivers and delivery app workers work long hours and travel many miles to […]
New bipartisan bill aims to boost housing near transit in Hawai‘i and beyond
Hawai‘i US Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, has teamed up with Indiana Sen. Jim Banks, a Republican, to introduce the “Build More Housing Near Transit Act.” The bipartisan legislation is designed to encourage local governments to increase housing development in urban and suburban areas well-served by public transit. The proposed legislation builds on Schatz’s ongoing […]
Schatz, Kennedy introduce legislation to stop deceptive subscription practices after court blocks FTC’s ‘click-to-cancel’ rule
Following a federal appeals court ruling that blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule, which was set to take effect Monday, US Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawai‘i, and John Kennedy, R-La., introduced the Unsubscribe Act.
US Senate passes resolution marking ‘National Wildfire Preparedness Month’
The US Senate unanimously passed a resolution Monday — introduced by US Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaiʻi and John Barrasso of Wyoming to designate May as “National Wildfire Preparedness Month.” The resolution aims to increase public awareness and preparedness in response to the increasing scale, complexity, and severity of wildfires across the country. In August […]
Schatz introduces legislation to boost cultural trade amid competition from China
US Sens Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee introduced on Wednesday the Cultural Trade Promotion Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen America’s creative industries and expand cultural exports. By bolstering the creative economy, this legislation will help US businesses — including Native-owned, small, and rural enterprises — reach new […]
Schatz named lead Democrat on appropriations subcommittee overseeing state department, USAID funding
On Wednesday, US Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was named Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Schatz is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Schatz: Nearly $9.8 million in federal funding to rebuild historic Lahaina landmarks
Hawai‘i US Sen. Brian Schatz says Hawai‘i will receive nearly $9.8 million in new federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help rebuild wildfire-ravaged historic Lahaina landmarks, like the Old Lahaina Courthouse, Waiola Church, Hale Aloha Museum and the Master’s Reading Room.
Carving history: Junior New Jersey senator discovers late Hawaiʻi’s Senator Inouye’s name on bottom of desk drawer
The legacy of late longtime Hawaiʻi US Sen. Daniel Inouye came up during a nationally televised CNN “State of the Union” interview of Andy Kim, the new junior US senator from New Jersey and the first Korean-American elected to the US Senate.
