WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin the process to update its approach for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Hawai'i to ensure they accurately reflect the cost of food across the state. Beginning today through March 4, 2024, the USDA will seek information from stakeholders throughout Hawai'i on t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined 27 of her Senate colleagues in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, sounding their concerns about the administration's delay in finalizing proposed rules to end the sale of menthol flavor in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the proposed rules in   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in introducing bipartisan legislation to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness. The Emergency Vehicle and Community (EVAC) Planning Act would direct the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Federal Emergenc  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment issued the following testimony by Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, at a member day hearing on Jan. 11, 2024, on the Water Resources Development Act: * * * Chair Graves, Ranking Member Larsen and Members of the Committee: Mahalo for allowing me to testify today on critical priorities for Hawai'i ahead of the Committee's consideration of the 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Maha  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) released the following statement on the discovery of damage at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole which forced a shut down operations. "I've been in contact with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and he is working with the FAA to help to solve this problem as quickly as possible," said Senator Schatz, Chair of the Senate Appropr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) released the following statement on today's vote relative to a resolution under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which would require the State Department to provide a report of potential human rights violations and use of U.S. military weapons in Gaza. Due to an unavoidable absence today, Schatz was unable to vote relative to the motions to move forward with  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Representative Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) introduced the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act, legislation that would provide federal grants to states to create Seal of Biliteracy programs that encourage and recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in at least two languages. The Senate bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness. The Emergency Vehicle and Community (EVAC) Planning Act would direct the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 -- Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-California, issued the following news release on Jan. 19, 2024: Today, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) joined Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in supporting their amendment to require that the weapons received by any country under the proposed national security supplemental are used in accordance with U.S. law, international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict. The amendm  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 -- Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced growing momentum around their amendment to require that the weapons received by any country under the proposed national security supplemental are used in accordance with U.S. law, international humanitarian law and the law of armed conflict. The amendment is now supported by Sen  more