U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has secured a coveted spot on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the panel that oversees federal spending.

The senator’s new role could help him bring federal money to Hawaii, like the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, the former chairman of the committee who used his influence to direct billions to the islands over a half-century.

"It puts me in a good position to be helpful to Hawaii," said Schatz, who was elected in November to complete the final two years of Inouye’s six-year term.

The political climate in Washington, D.C., is different from when Inouye — known as the "king of pork" — and other influential senators unabashedly steered federal money to hometown projects. Automatic spending cuts from sequestration and a ban on earmarks have made it more challenging for lawmakers to prospect for federal dollars.

Over the long term, however, if Schatz, 42, is re-elected and stays on the committee, the post could pay off for Hawaii.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who had a long working relationship with Inouye, is expected to take over as the committee’s chairman when the GOP officially takes power in January.

"A lot of things have changed in the Congress and in Hawaii, but what remains as true now as it was decades ago, is that we need continued federal investment in our economy," Schatz said. "And Thad Cochran, the chair, is someone who understands that. He’s not an ideologue. And I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to work on all of our individual priorities and the country’s priorities.

"But it certainly puts me in a stronger position to help when it comes to federal investments in transportation, in infrastructure, in defense and energy. Certainly the political climate has changed, but the need for federal investment in Hawaii has not."

John Hart, a Hawaii Pacific University communication professor, said Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s quick decision to appoint Schatz to replace Inouye when the senator died in late 2012 put Schatz ahead in seniority of U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and the other new senators who took office in January 2013.

Schatz is ahead of U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the other two new Democrats named to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Everyone talked about ‘what difference does it make; issues now with Mazie,’" Hart said of Abercrombie’s appointment. "Well, here’s a direct payback for that, because — like it or not — he’s the first one in line of that group."

Hart wondered whether Abercrombie, who was under pressure by Inouye loyalists to appoint U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, might be vindicated if Schatz succeeds in his new assignment.

"Wouldn’t it be interesting if Neil Abercrombie’s legacy is Brian Schatz?" Hart asked.

Senate Democrats announced committee assignments on Friday, but the posts do not become official until a full Senate vote in January.

Schatz will keep his assignments on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He was added to the Senate Ethics Committee.

But the senator is off the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He has made embracing alternative energy and responding to climate change priorities, and the committee gave him a platform to speak on energy issues.

With the Republican takeover of the Senate, Schatz loses his chairmanships of subcommittees on water and power and on tourism, competitiveness and innovation.

Schatz had touted the chairmanships during his Democratic primary with Hanabusa as examples of his effective early relationship building with Senate leaders.

Hirono was added to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, so Hawaii will still have a presence on the panel. The Democrat kept her spots on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. She was also assigned to the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee.

But Hirono is off the Senate Judiciary Committee, another consequence of the Republican takeover. The senator, the chamber’s only immigrant, had used the committee post to advocate for immigration reform, particularly restoring Medicaid eligibility for Pacific migrants and promoting family reunification.

"I look forward to building on our work to support our servicemembers, veterans and their families," Hirono said in a statement. "Maintaining a strong military presence in Hawaii will continue to be critical to our national security and economy in state, while also serving as a key component to our nation’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific.

"My new committee assignments are well-balanced and involve top priorities for Hawaii, including shaping policies that secure clean energy, protection of the environment and boosting small-business opportunities that create jobs that will help us achieve a sustainable future for Hawaii."