WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) helped lead a group of senators in calling on U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan to address serious concerns regarding the conditions at the southern border that the Trump administration's policies have exacerbated. The senators demanded the Adminis  more

HONOLULU, Hawaii, July 24 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * - The bipartisan group will focus on issues critical to the Indo-Pacific region Alliances and relationships, defense, trade and environmental challenges top the agenda * * * U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai'i - District 1) today announced the first-ever formation of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, which he will co-chair along with three high-ranking U.S. House colleagues. "I have been conv  more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Del. Gregorio Sablan, D-Northern Mariana Islands, issued the following information: U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced my legislation extending Small Business Administration programs to the Marianas as a Senate companion bill on Thursday. The Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Act, H.R. 2603 in the House and now S. 2190 in the Senate, makes entrepreneurs or those interested in starting their own business in the Marianas eligible for microloans from S  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on inspection and remediation efforts that protect children from exposure to lead in schools. The report (GAO-19-461R) is titled "K-12 Education: School Districts' Efforts to Address Lead-Based Paint". The report was sent to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, on July 9. Here are excerpts of summaries associa  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following news release: * * * - This Month Marks the 25th Anniversary of the U.S. Signing Treaty but Senate Has Failed To Vote On Ratification * * * Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced S.Res.284, a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 167 nations and the European Union, lays  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * - This Month Marks the 25th Anniversary of the U.S. Signing Treaty but Senate Has Failed To Vote On Ratification * * * Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced S.Res.284, a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 167 nations and the European Union, lay  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) hearing to investigate the deteriorating conditions at the United States' southern border, as well as reports of abuse and cruelty in border detention facilities. At the hearing - titled "America Speaks Out: Stop Trump's Cruel Treat  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), and Congressman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation, the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act ("IDEA Act") of 2019. The IDEA Act is designed to help close the gap faced by women, minorities, and others when it comes to procuring patent rights in the   more

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) introduced H.R. 3885, the Wall Street Banker Accountability for Misconduct Act, which would require senior executives at Wall Street's biggest banks to defer a portion of their compensation to be held for 10 years to be used to pay penalties for violations occurring on their watch. The bill is endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Public Citizen, and the Institute for Policy Studies,  more

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (NY-10) in introducing the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. This comprehensive bill addresses the decriminalization of marijuana as well as criminal justice issues that have disproportionately impacted underserved communities as part of America's "War on Drugs." "Millions of Americans have fallen vi  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) introduced H.R. 3652, the Hemp for Victory Act which lays the foundation for the emerging hemp industry in a manner that incentivizes family farmers and small businesses, protects against corporate monopolies, and studies the benefits of hemp cultivation and hemp-based products while ensuring safe agricultural practices, and environmental and labor considerations. "The hemp indust  more

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * - Schatz Introduces Legislation To Rescind Trump's Order To Federal Agencies To Collect Information About Citizenship Status - Schatz, Senators To Ross and Barr: Federal Funds Will Be Restricted If Federal Agencies Turn Over Citizenship Data * * * Today U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) led a group of senators in pushing back against President Trump's executive action ordering federal agencies to  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) highlighted the importance of restoring equal access to Medicaid for citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) living in the United States during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the United States' critical national security interests and partnerships with the FAS nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Under the Compacts of   more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) toured southern border facilities in McAllen, Texas yesterday with a 13-member Senate Democratic delegation. The delegation visited Border Patrol facilities, as well as a Catholic respite center that is providing aid to asylum seekers. The senators also met with local NGOs who have been providing assistance and legal aid to families fleeing violence. "What I saw was   more

WASHINGTON, July 24 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) reintroduced the Covering our FAS Allies Act, which would reinstate Medicaid coverage, also known as Med-QUEST in Hawaii, for citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) living in the United States under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA). As a long-standing advocate for COFA citizens, Senator Hirono stated, "Health care is a h  more

WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators hear testimony from New Mexico advocate who works with families seeking asylum * * * Today, in face of the Senate Republicans' refusal to hold a hearing on conditions at the southern border, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in leading a Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) heari  more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: On Tuesday, July 23 at 12:45 p.m. MT/ 2:45 p.m. ET, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich will join Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in leading a Democratic Policy and Communications Committee hearing, "America Speaks Out: Stop Trump's Cruel Treatment of Children at the Border." The Senators will hear testimony from medical and legal experts who have witnessed the terrib  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Congressman Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation, the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act ("IDEA Act") of 2019. The IDEA Act is designed to help close the gap faced by women, minorities, and others when it comes to procuring patent rights in  more