Brian Emanuel Schatz

Democrat senior Senator of Hawaii

Senator
Hawaii
December 27, 2012 - January 3, 2015
Senator
Hawaii
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Senator
Hawaii
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2023
Senator
Hawaii
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

202-224-3934

@SenBrianSchatz

schatz.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

Senate Terms

January 1, 1972 (52 years old)

Birthday

Served as the senior United States senator since 2012
Previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives, as chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and as lieutenant governor of Hawaii
Worked as CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii, a nonprofit social service agency
Appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill the remainder of Daniel Inouye’s term after his death
Won elections to retain his Senate seat in 2014, 2016, and 2022
Born into a Jewish-American family and moved to Hawaii at the age of two
Graduated from Punahou School and Pomona College, with a term spent studying in Kenya
Early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and worked as a spokesman for Obama’s campaign in Hawaii
Advocated for clean-energy jobs, public education, technological improvements in the public sector, and supported same-sex civil unions
Developed a reputation as a liberal Democrat, focusing on healthcare, education, government operations, and national security
Played a key role in legislation to increase the minimum smoking age to 21 and secure paid family leave for federal workers
Supported efforts to expand telehealth services and brought significant federal funding to Hawaii
Called for Trump’s removal from office through the invocation of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and impeachment after the storming of the U.S. Capitol
Holds leadership positions including Chief Deputy Whip, Co-chair of the Senate Climate Change Task Force, and Chair of the Senate Democratic Special Committee on the Climate Crisis
Advocates for progressive policy positions, including pro-choice on abortion, income tax increases for budget balance, support for same-sex marriage, and gun control legislation
Supports a single-payer healthcare proposal and the Affordable Care Act with a religious exemption from its individual mandate
Co-authored the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act to encourage new home construction and less restrictive local zoning laws
Voted against the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 and for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act
Married with two children and has an identical twin brother