New legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., would expand the reach of U.S. creative industries — including Native Hawaiian-owned businesses — to check China’s growing advantage in cultural exports. What You Need To Know The lawmakers noted that China’s Belt and Road Initiative has aggressively expanded the country’s cultural…
With President Donald Trump set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, took to the Senate floor the day before to present an itemization of what he called “one of the worst starts to any presidency in generations — and it’s not even close.” What You Need To…
U.S. Reps. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, James Moylan, R-Guam, are making a renewed push to reform the controversial Jones Act, which they say promotes shipping monopolies that artificially inflate the cost of imported goods to non-contiguous U.S. states and territories. What You Need To Know The Congressmen recently reintroduced three legislative measures that would remove or…
Monday, led by U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., House Democrats called on U.S. Office of Personnel Management acting director Charles Ezell to release a full breakdown of workers who have accepted OPM’s “deferred resignation” offer. What You Need To Know More than 20,000 federal employees are believed to have accepted the…
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, called for a unified effort Monday to reject the Trump administration’s attempt to do away with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Schatz vowed a “blanket hold” on all the president’s State Department nominees until USAID is restored as an independent agency. What You Need To Know U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz:…
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., reintroduced a measure that would repeal the last remaining remnant of a 227-year-old anti-immigration legislative package. What You Need To Know The so-called Alien Enemies Act of 1798 was one of four bills, collectively known as the Alien and Sedition Acts, enacted during Pres….
U.S. Sens Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., introduced a multi-pronged bill on Wednesday aimed at keeping families together through the immigration process. What You Need To Know The lawmakers said the new legislation would promote family unity in the U.S. immigration system, reduce family-based immigration backlogs and update laws to better reflect…
A new bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, and 11 other Congressional colleagues proposed to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific nations via engagement with civil society organizations, refining overall communications strategies, promoting free media and supporting workforce development. What You Need To Know U.S. Rep. Ed Case said the Engage the Pacific Act takes…
In a move that a move that Gov. Josh Green is calling “a revolutionary step for Hawaii and our local travel industry,” Japan has joined the Global Entry, a U.S. Trusted Traveler Program. What You Need To Know U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the expansion of the program on Tuesday Under the program, Japanese…
In U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’ estimation, Congress’ has just one, unambiguous task to accomplish before it adjourns for the holiday break: approve the Biden administration’s $100 billion disaster funding request. What You Need To Know U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz worked with the White House to release the updated disaster funding request and has repeatedly pressed…