Statement record
Brian Schatz — Aug 18, 2026
U.S. Senator (D-HI) · Aug 18, 2026
On Hawaii News Now Spotlight Now (Tuesday, August 18, 2026), Schatz discussed Lala damage assessments and an anticipated federal disaster declaration. Hawaii News Now reported that he warned Hurricane Lala and recent Kona low storms are evidence that severe weather is worsening and occurring more frequently, and that federal support must focus not only on recovery but on long-term climate resilience. Quoted: "The federal government is going to have to come to the table and help not just on the recovery side, but on the resilience side. We're gonna have to do a retreat of some of our highways, and roads, and we're doing that on the west side of Maui now with federal funds and state funds."
Analysis notes
Core senator, affected state. In-window. Event yes; climate yes (worsening weather + climate resilience). Resilience/adaptation is not names_gop_obstruction. Do not code obstruction yes or partial from this text.
Codes
- Disaster Mention yes — Names Lala impacts and disaster-declaration process.
- Climate Connection yes — Ties Lala and Kona lows to worsening weather and climate resilience.
- Mentioned Policy yes — Federal disaster declaration; resilience/highway retreat funding.
- Mentioned Republican Obstruction of Climate Action no — No Republican climate-blocking claim.