Brian Schatz
A progressive Hawaiian senator who rose from grassroots organizing to become a leading voice on climate action and social justice in the U.S. Congress.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American politician·Birthday: October 20·Generation X
Biography
Brian Schatz's political career is rooted in the community halls of Honolulu, not the corridors of Washington power. After graduating from college, he dove into local activism, running a homeless shelter and leading the grassroots nonprofit 'Helping Hands Hawaii.' This hands-on experience propelled him into the Hawaii State Legislature, where he focused on environmental and economic issues. His steady ascent continued as Chairman of the Hawaii Democratic Party and Lieutenant Governor. In 2012, following the death of Senator Daniel Inouye, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Schatz to the U.S. Senate, a move that surprised some political observers. Since then, Schatz has carved out a distinct identity as a pragmatic progressive, using his committee positions to champion aggressive climate change policy, advocate for Native Hawaiian rights, and push for expanded healthcare access, establishing himself as a workhorse rather than a showhorse in a divided chamber.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brian was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Appointed as U.S. Senator from Hawaii in 2012 and subsequently won election to full terms in 2014, 2016, and 2022.
- Serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, focusing on issues affecting Native communities.
- A leading architect of the climate provisions within the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
- Previously served as the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii and as a state representative.
Did You Know?
He was a standout basketball player at Punahou School, the same school Barack Obama attended.
Before politics, he was the CEO of the nonprofit Helping Hands Hawaii.
At 51, he became the senior senator from Hawaii, a title usually held by much older legislators.
He is one of the few Jewish members of the U.S. Senate.
“We need to focus on the cost of living and climate change right now.”
