(BIVN) – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) was on the Big Island on Tuesday, meeting with business leaders and community groups. 

“On Hawai‘i Island, I got to hear directly from business leaders and regular people about how federal policies are impacting them and what resources they need,” said Senator Schatz in a news release. “We’re going to continue working together to protect and support our local communities.” 

In Hilo, Senator Schatz met with business leaders from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, and Hui ‘Oihana Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce. 

Senator Schatz with business leaders in Hilo, photo courtesy Senator Schatz

Senator Schatz also spoke at a meeting of the Waimea Community Association. There were roughly 250 residents in attendance.

From the office of the Senator:

Schatz discussed the impacts to Hawai‘i Island from the Republican tax law, given that Hawai‘i County has the highest percentage of Med-QUEST enrollees in the state and nearly 40,000 residents who receive SNAP benefits. A senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Schatz helped deliver more than $76 million in federal earmark funding to Hawai‘i Island in recent years for a range of infrastructure, housing, and health care projects.

Senator Schatz in Waimea, photo courtesy Senator Schatz