September 28, 2017


Aloha,


I am grateful for the thousands of people who spoke out and helped stop the latest attempt to rush through a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.  I look forward to hearings and bipartisan discussions on how we can continue to improve the ACA and health care in our country.

I attended the Nisei Veterans Legacy’s 12th Annual Joint Memorial Service to commemorate the Japanese American soldiers who served during WWII.  We also announced that our state is eligible for millions of dollars in Department of Veterans Affairs funding to help homeless veterans.  These funds will give struggling veterans access to stable housing and provide them with the services they need to get back on their feet and find a home of their own.

Last week, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which included more than $300 million for military construction in Hawai‘i.  It also includes several provisions I authored that will help support improvements to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, strengthen public data transparency, give Hawai‘i more flexibility in funding for military construction, and fund a study to evaluate China's influence in the Pacific.

As always, please contact my office in D.C. or Hawai‘i if there is anything we can do. We are here to help.

Mahalo,

Brian Schatz
United States Senator


Protecting Our Health Care

Senator Schatz continued to speak out against attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Americans who don't lose their coverage will still get hurt with higher premiums or insurance plans that don't cover basic things like getting help for opioid addiction, pregnancy, hospital stays, mental health,” said Senator Schatz. So if this bill passes, healthcare will no longer be a right in this country. It will be a privilege. It depends on where you live, where you work, and how much money you make.”

 

To view Senator Schatz's full floor speech, click here.


Maintaining National Security

Last week, the Senate passed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), comprehensive legislation that authorizes defense funding for Fiscal Year 2018.  The bill includes more than $300 million for military construction in Hawai‘i and several Schatz provisions that focus on:

Strengthening transparency of government data
The NDAA includes Senator Schatz’s “OPEN Government Data Act,” a bipartisan bill he introduced with Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) that directs federal government data be open and available whenever possible to the public while preserving privacy and national security concerns.

Strengthening Oversight of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility
The NDAA includes Senator Schatz’s “Red Hill Oversight and Environmental Protection Act of 2017,” which requires the Department of Defense to program funding in its future-years budget that is necessary to make the improvements identified as part of the September 2015 Administrative Order on Consent/Statement of Work that the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency entered with the EPA and State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Health.

Authorizing greater flexibility for military construction in Hawai‘i
Senator Schatz secured a bipartisan amendment in the NDAA that gives the military in Hawai‘i greater flexibility to improve facilities and develop minor projects that, because of the high cost of construction in Hawai‘i, would otherwise be forced through the formal, multi-year DoD military construction planning process.

Assessing China’s influence in the Western Pacific
Senator Schatz secured an amendment in the NDAA directing the Department of Defense to contract with an independent organization to study U.S. security and foreign policy interests in the Freely Associated States of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, and to assess China’s influence in these states and how that influence is affecting America’s defense and foreign policy interests.


Honoring Our Veterans

Senator Schatz also announced that our state is set to receive federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs to help homeless veterans. The VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program will provide approximately $185 million to community agencies in Hawai‘i and across the country, including the U.S. Veterans Initiative at Barbers Point, which serves nearly a thousand veterans. The Initiative will be eligible to receive reimbursement grant funding to help carry out their mission and provide affordable, long-term housing, and supportive care for homeless veterans, who may struggle with a lack of a local support network or steep financial or health challenges. One out of every six homeless people is a veteran.


Supporting Hawai‘i’s Students

Senator Schatz answered questions on a wide-range of topics from seniors at Damien Memorial School.

Ten-year-old Robbie Bond, founder of the non-profit Kids Speak for Parks, met with Senator Schatz to discuss his mission to save the National Parks.

Senator Schatz joined Cub Scout Pack 1 to talk about public service and giving back to the community.


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