If Hawaiian people need an experienced leader who will make sure their voices continue to be heard in the U.S. Senate, then they should look no further and offer Brian Schatz another term.
Schatz is no stranger to leadership and governance issues. He assumed office as a member of the U.S. Senate in Hawaii in 2012. Before his appointment to the U.S. Senate, he served as the Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii between 2010 and 2012. That was after serving in the Hawaii House of Representatives between 1998 and 2006. Therefore, if it's the experience that Hawaiians are looking for, Schatz fits the bill. Schatz has had the opportunity to serve in multiple committees, the latest being the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Indian Affairs, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Ethics. With his rich experience serving in various committees, Hawaiian issues will be best articulated and taken care of.
Schatz's first priority in Washington is climate change, even though achieving meaningful wholesale action would be hard in a Congress that is deeply divided. However, Schatz believes that solutions can be easily found by working with the locals.
Currently, Schatz serves as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing, which allows him to influence the allocation of dollars. In 2021, he played a big role in securing a $23 million earmark that is expected to finance the realignment of the highway to save it from falling into the ocean.
Over the previous six years, Schatz has been instrumental in raising the smoking age to 21, expanding telehealth services at the heart of the coronavirus pandemic, and offering employees 1 week of paid family leave. However, his excellence was demonstrated when he successfully secured federal funds for Aloha State. All these are clear signs of someone who does not just promise, but acts as well.
Schatz’s efforts also saw over $16 billion in federal funds sent to the islands, including over $240 million that were set aside for a number of government and nonprofit agencies to take care of everything ranging from keeping invasive deer away from Maui croplands in Maui County, to military construction. In Schatz's own words, "I've been successful in delivering and meeting the needs of the people and communities across the state." He says. "We're 5,000 miles away. I view my job as relatively straightforward, which is to represent Hawaii's values and to understand Hawaii's needs and find the resources to meet them.
On top of his role in Appropriations, Schatz serves as the chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, a role he has used to address issues affecting Native Hawaiians in Washington. For instance, courtesy of that role, he was able to secure billions of dollars for indigenous communities in both Hawaii and mainland Alaska. These types of investments are great in reversing generations of injustice.
Schatz is also the best bet for families in Hawaii because one of his focuses has been to support families across the state. For instance, he has made college very affordable as well as expanded health care. Even though there is still more work to do, Schatz has demonstrated that when given another term in the Senate, he can accomplish so much more.
Schatz is pledging to tackle the rising cost of living as one of his priorities. The fact that he is a member of the Senate Appropriation Committee puts him in a better position to keep on working to secure federal funding to offer relief for Hawaii families. Hawaii's people should take advantage of his position, as it will continue to bring them additional funding.
Hawaiians should give Schatz another opportunity to represent them in the U.S. Senate because with him, more federal funds will be delivered to Hawaii. He has already shown that he can do it, and when reelected, he has the capability to achieve more. With additional funding, Hawaii will be ahead in terms of health care, housing, job training, and education.
