Commerce

commerce

When Senator Inouye joined the Commerce Committee in 1969, he did so for a very good reason: the Commerce Committee, perhaps more than any other Senate authorizing committee, has jurisdiction over issues that are among those of the greatest importance to the State of Hawaii.  The Committee oversees issues and industries including telecommunications and the Internet, interstate commerce, fisheries and ocean management, aviation and consumer safety.  All of these are important issues to the citizens of Hawaii, and as a member of the Commerce Committee, Senator Inouye was well-positioned to ensure that the unique needs of Hawaii would be considered in all of the legislation that passed through the Committee.

In 2005, Senator Inouye became Vice Chairman of the Committee, serving with Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in a productive and bipartisan relationship that enabled the Committee to push forward a number of long-stalled initiatives, including finalizing the transition to Digital Television and overhauling the nation’s transportation safety laws. In 2007, Senator Inouye became Chairman of the Committee, and again working with Senator Stevens, he was able to lead one of the most powerful committees in the Senate to one of its most productive two year work periods.  His efforts led to the passage of 34 bills that were eventually signed into law, including the first significant increase in fuel efficiency standards in more than 30 years and a reauthorization of the Consumer Product Safety Commission that gave the agency unprecedented authority and resources to protect American consumers from harm.

In 2009, Senator Inouye was appointed Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and had to relinquish his Chairmanship of the Commerce Committee.  He remains a senior member of the Commerce Committee, and continues to insist that all legislation considered by the Committee take into consideration the unique needs of the citizens of Hawaii.

For additional information on the Commerce Committee and the Accomplishments of the Commerce Committee Under the Leadership of Senator Inouye, please click on the links.

To visit the Commerce Committee website, please follow this link.

Latest News

  • U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Establish Revolving Loan Fund to Help Diversify and Grow Hawaii’s Economy

    WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Feed the Hungry Foundation of Honolulu, Hawaii. The funding will support the establishment of a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) th...

    Posted on 9/12/2012

  • Senator Inouye's Speech

    I am honored to join all of you in this 2012 Annual Conference. To our visitors, in addition to your business discussions and networking, I hope that you will also take some time to enjoy the beauty of these islands and the aloha of our people. Who knows, it may even increase your appetite for an additional line...

    Posted on 8/21/2012