New Sen. Brian Schatz went to his first committee hearing today, a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation meeting on  “The Power of Transparency: Giving Consumers the Information They Need to Make Smart Choices in the Health Insurance Market.”  

“It is critical for Hawai‘i families to have access to the right information when making important decisions about their health insurance,” Schatz said in a statement.  “Whether it’s individuals that are Limited English Proficient or lower income households that don’t have the means to access the internet to research health care plans, we must ensure that all consumers have access to the information they need.  Clear, relevant information helps consumers better understand complicated health insurance policies so that they can select a plan that is appropriate for their family.” 

Hawaii has approximately 150,000 people with limited English proficiency.

On Tuesday, Schatz, member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, met with Sally Jewell, President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior. They spoke about Hawaii’s priorities, an aide said. 

— Kery Murakami