About Senator Schatz
Senator Schatz is dedicated to representing Hawai‘i values in Washington and giving all of our families a fair shot.
In the U.S. Senate he serves on several Committees essential to Hawai‘i’s future: Appropriations, Commerce, Banking, and Indian Affairs. He is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, which is critical to keeping the Internet open and expanding broadband access across the country and throughout Hawai‘i.
In the Senate, he has fought to build an economy that works for everyone and to grow our middle class. He sponsored legislation to increase Social Security benefits by asking the wealthy to pay the same rate to Social Security as the rest of us, and to make college more affordable by holding colleges accountable for the success of their graduates. Senator Schatz has also joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to co-sponsor the Opportunity Plan, five pieces of legislation that are vital to making our economy work for our families, including increasing the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, and universal pre-K.
Brian grew up in Hawai‘i with his three brothers Jake, Ed, and twin brother Steve, raised by their mother, Barbara, and father, Irwin, who was a professor at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine for more than three decades.
Three generations live together at Senator Schatz’s Honolulu home. His wife of 10 years, Linda Kwok Schatz, is a businesswoman, and he is extremely proud that Linda was recently named one of Hawai‘i Business’ 20 for the Next 20. Together they have two children, Tyler and Mia. Linda’s parents, Ping and George Kwok, who ran Kwok’s Chop Suey on Waialae Avenue for 35 years, also live with them.
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 Helping Hands Hawai‘i, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and Director of both the Makiki Community Library and Center for a Sustainable Future.
Senator Schatz won a competitive statewide race to become Lt. Governor of the State of Hawai‘i in 2010, which he served as until 2012. He was deeply honored to receive the appointment to the U.S. Senate in December 2012.
Senator Schatz previously represented the 25th District (Makiki, McCully, and Tantalus) in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives from 1999-2006.