About Brian

Senator Schatz is dedicated to representing our values in Washington, delivering federal resources to Hawaii, and giving all of our families a fair shot.

Since joining the Senate in 2012, Senator Schatz has focused on making sure Hawaii gets its share of federal dollars while tackling some of our country’s biggest problems. Working with both his Democratic and Republican colleagues, he has led key legislation on climate action, health care, criminal justice reform, and technology.

Senator Schatz serves on the Democratic leadership team as Deputy Conference Secretary and Chief Deputy Whip. He is Vice-Chair of the Indian Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. He also serves as a member of the Commerce, Science, and Technology; Foreign Relations; and Ethics Committees as well as the Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

Senator Schatz grew up in Hawaii with his three brothers, raised by their mother, Barbara, and father, Irwin, who was a professor at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine for more than three decades. His wife, Linda Kwok Schatz, is an architect. They have two children.

Senator Schatz became involved in community advocacy when he was inspired to join the Save Sandy Beach movement in the 1980s. He later served as the founder and Executive Director of Youth for Environmental Service, CEO of nonprofit organization Helping Hands Hawaii, and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Senator Schatz previously represented the 25th District (Makiki, McCully, and Tantalus) in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 1999-2006. He won a competitive statewide race to become Lt. Governor of the State of Hawaii in 2010, a position in which he served until being sworn in to the U.S. Senate.