Friday - March 29, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Hawaii Newsletter for Sunday May 17, 2020 ( 27 items )  

As Coronavirus Strikes Prisons, Sens. Schatz, Durbin Introduce New Bill to Improve Compassionate Release Process, Protect Public Health
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: As the rapid spread of the coronavirus overwhelms prisons across the country, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced new 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, compassionat  more

Following Urging From Sen. Schatz, National Housing Assistance Website Launched to Help Renters
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Following calls led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) partnered together to launch a new website to help renters and homeowners learn more about all the resources and assistance available to them during the coronavirus pandemic. The website details new housin  more

Rep. Case Announces Second Round of Federal Emergency Grant Awards to Hawaii to Address COVID-19 Impacts
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 14 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the federal government has released more than $5 million in funds under emergency funding measures to the State of Hawai'i, counties and non-profits to mitigate the immediate health and economic impacts of COVID-19. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development moved quickly to make available millions of dollars in grants to Hawai'i governments and organizat  more

Rep. Case Announces Winners of Congressional Art Competition
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 12 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawaii - District 1) announced the winners of his Hawai'i District 1 2020 Congressional Art Competition which he held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Last year at this time, I was able to announce the winners of my annual competition with contestants, their parents and teachers gathered at a gallery in downtown Honolulu," said Case. "This year we went on with the event to c  more

Rep. Case Issues Remarks on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following remarks on May 13 regarding Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Our country has officially observed each May since 1992 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, recognizing the extraordinary contributions of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community to the rich fabric and history of our nation. May is especially important to me as the proud Representative of Hawaii's First Congressional Dis  more

Rep. Case Lauds House Passage of Fifth COVID-19 Emergency Measure
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 16 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on May 15: U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai'i - District 1) called the vote in the United State House of Representatives to pass the proposed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, the fifth and broadest emergency assistance measure since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and crisis, "an urgent, critical and indispensable next step for our country to navigate through the worst o  more

Rep. Case to Federal Government: Let Hawaii Require COVID-19 Testing as a Condition to Boarding Planes for Hawaii
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 14 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to confirm the State of Hawai'i's ability to impose and enforce COVID-19 prevention public health conditions on air travel to the islands. In his letter to FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, Case asked for the FAA"s "cooperation in confirming Hawai'i's ability to impose and enforce conditions on air travel to Hawai'i which are crit  more

Rep. Gabbard and Lt. Gov. Josh Green Discuss HEROES Act, Coronavirus Testing and Tracing
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 15 -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on May 14: Yesterday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) hosted a telephone town hall to update Hawai'i residents about the coronavirus crisis, before heading to Washington, D.C. for a scheduled vote on the next emergency assistance bill introduced in the U.S. House this week. On the call she was joined by Lt. Governor Josh Green, a physician and one of Hawai'i's leaders overseeing the state's response to the pa  more

Rep. Gabbard Introduces Bill to Prevent Forced Furloughs for Nurses During Coronavirus Crisis
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) introduced the Nurse Workforce Protection Act, which would prevent a healthcare provider from laying off a significant portion of its nursing workforce or significantly reducing their hours during the coronavirus crisis as a condition for receiving federal emergency relief funds. Reps. Gabbard and Davis are leaders of the bipartisan Congressional Nursing Ca  more

Rep. Tlaib, Colleagues Call on Congressional Leadership to Include Robust Funding to Aid Homeless in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Representatives Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) in sending a letter urging House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation's homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pa  more

Reps. Davis, Gabbard Introduce Bill to Protect Nurses From Being Furloughed
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) introduced the Nurse Workforce Protection Act to prevent health care providers who receive COVID-19 relief from furloughing nurses. Davis and Gabbard are co-chairs of the House Nursing Caucus and May 6-12 is National Nurses Week. In April, 1.4 million health care workers, including many nurses, lost their jobs. Congress has appropriated $175 billi  more

Sen. Bennet, Colleagues Lead Colleagues on Legislation to Ensure All Students Have Internet Access During the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release on May 12: Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 39 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the Emergency Educational Connections Act, legislation aimed at ensuring all K-12 students have adequate devices and home i  more

Sen. Hassan, Colleagues Lead Colleagues on Legislation to Ensure All Students Have Access to Internet During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release on March 12: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash,), and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 39 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the Emergency Educational Connections Act, legislation aimed at ensuring all K-12 students  more

Sen. Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Boost High-Speed Internet Access for College Students During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced a bill to boost access to high-speed internet for college students as they continue their studies remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act would invest $1 billion for the creation of the Emergency Higher Education Conn  more

Sen. Hirono: Hawaii to Receive More Than $5 Million in Funds for Additional Community Response to the Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive more than $5 million in supplemental Community Development Block Grants coronavirus response (CDBG-CV) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. This is the second disbursement of CDBG-CV funds from the CARES Act, the third coronavirus relief package Congress passed. Hawaii County will receive $975,815, Kauai Count  more

Sen. Markey, Colleagues Lead Colleagues on Legislation to Ensure All Students Have Access to Internet During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release on May 12: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash,), and Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 39 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the Emergency Educational Connections Act, legislation aimed at ensuring all K-12 student  more

Sen. Schatz Leads Senators to Call for $2B in Federal Funding to Help Health Care Providers Expand Telehealth Services
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) led a bipartisan group of senators to urge the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives to include $2 billion in the next coronavirus relief package to help health care providers expand telehealth services by improving their access to broadband. "The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically increased the need to expand telehealth," the senators wrote in a l  more

Sen. Schatz, Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Struggling Families Pay Rent During the Coronavirus Pandemic
HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 11 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced new legislation, the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020. The bill would establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help families and individuals pay their rent and remain housed during and after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.   more

Sen. Schatz, Senators Urge Whole Foods to Stop Suppressing Unions, Intimidating Workers, Respect Right to Organize
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) led a group of five senators to call on Whole Foods to stop any efforts to surveil their employees and undermine their federally protected right to join a union. Recent reporting indicates that Whole Foods is trying to interfere with workers' rights by tracking and monitoring employees who might begin collective bargaining. The senators urged Whole Foods CEO John Mackey to  more

Sen. Schatz: Hawaii Receiving $50 Million in New Federal Funding to Ramp Up COVID-19 Contact Tracing
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) announced that the State of Hawai'i will receive $50 million in new federal funding to expand COVID-19 contact tracing and testing. "I encourage state leaders to move at the speed of the virus and establish a contact tracing program that is fully operational as soon as possible. There's simply not any time left, but there is plenty of money to get this done," said Senator  more

Sen. Tester, Rep. Moran Lead Bipartisan Call for Reimbursement Plan to Support VA's COVID-19 Pandemic Response
WASHINGTON, May 15 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), along with Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.), are requesting that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outlines its reimbursement plans for services provided to Americans during t  more

Sens. Carper, Coons, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Delaware Nonprofits Hire Workers, Provide Critical Services During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release on May 15: U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both-Del.) joined their colleagues Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), to introduce legislation to help nonprofit organizations meet an increase in demand for their services due to the coronavirus pandemic while also helping newly unemployed Americans get back to work. The Work Oppor  more

Sens. Feinstein, Schatz, Whitehouse, Colleagues Call on Federal Reserve to Help Small Businesses, Not Oil Companies
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, issued the following news release: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and a group of their colleagues to call the Federal Reserve to reconsider its recent changes to the Main Street Lending Program, which will give oil and gas producers access to loans meant for small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the coronavirus. The senators urged Federal Reserve  more

Sens. Menendez, Hirono, Warren Urge Facebook to Take Immediate Actions to Stop COVID-19 Misinformation in Languages Other Than English
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Days after blasting Facebook for its continued failure to protect users from the proliferation of hate speech and misinformation on its platform, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was joined by Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in urging the social media giant to take immediate actions to address COVID-19 misinformation on its platforms in languages other than English. In the  more

Sens. Schatz, Cornyn Introduce New Bipartisan Bill to Establish Confidential Hotline for Incarcerated Survivors of Sexual Abuse
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced new bipartisan legislation to establish a national hotline offering free confidential support services to incarcerated survivors of sexual abuse and harassment. Many correctional facilities are reluctant to fund support programs or collaborate with outside partners willing to offer these services. A confidential national hotline would   more

Sens. Schatz, Whitehouse to Fed: Loans Should Help Small Businesses, Not Bail Out Oil Companies
WASHINGTON, May 12 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) called for the Federal Reserve ("Fed") to reconsider its recent changes to the Main Street Lending Program, which will give oil and gas producers access to loans meant for small businesses suffering from the economic effects of the coronavirus. The senators urged Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell to ensure the future stability of the financial syst  more

Sens. Tester, Moran Lead Bipartisan Call for Reimbursement Plan to Support VA's COVID-19 Pandemic Response
WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Sen. John Tester, D-Montana, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), along with Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.), are requesting that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outlin  more