WASHINGTON — Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz’s office announced Monday that he will be the head of an appropriations subcommittee focused on transportation, housing and urban development.
The news highlights what it means for the Aloha State when Democrats are in power in Washington.
Schatz will now have even more influence over how federal dollars are spent when it comes to addressing homelessness and public transit, both of which are major issues in the islands.
Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz is in a prime position to bring even more federal dollars to the islands. Cory Lum/Civil Beat
“We need to rethink the way we invest in our communities,” Schatz said in a statement. “I’m committed to making sure we are putting money where people need it most. That means more support for affordable housing, climate resiliency, and safer and more efficient transportation systems.”
Schatz has been a member of the Appropriations Committee for several years, which has helped him steer billions of dollars in federal funding to Hawaii.
With Democrats retaking the majority in the Senate, he will also serve as the chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, which means he should be able to better address issues related to Native Hawaiians, whether health care and education or housing.
Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed.
Quality journalism takes time.
A story that takes fives minutes to read often takes days to report.
Quality journalism takes time and resources to produce, but with support from readers like you, Civil Beat can investigate issues and publish stories that are otherwise difficult to fund.
Become a donor and help support Civil Beat’s next investigation.
Nick Grube is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at nick@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @nickgrube. You can also reach him by phone at 808-377-0246.