Press Releases
VIDEO: Hirono Presses Senior DOD Official on Need for Unified Missile Defense Plan for Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned General Glen VanHerck, Commander of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command, on the need for a robust, unified plan for missile defense of Hawaii during a full committee hearing. "General VanHerck, you are responsible for homeland defense and you noted this morning that you have concerns about attack assessment and threat warning, and that b… Continue Reading
March 23, 2023
Hirono Urges DOD to Establish Consistent Parental Leave Policy Across All Branches of the Military
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to clarify the Department's parental leave policy and establish a consistent standard of care across all branches of the military. "Despite the DOD order allowing birth parents to be granted 12 weeks of parental leave 'following a period of conv… Continue Reading
March 23, 2023
Hirono Calls on Federal Reserve to Strengthen Rules for Banks with Assets Over $100B
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined eleven of her Senate colleagues in a letter to the Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve (Fed) Michael Barr, calling on him to exercise the Fed's authority to apply stronger regulation and supervision to banks with assets totaling $100 to $250 billion. The letter was led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). "The fall of both SVB and Signature, the near-crash of First Republic, and the struggles of other regional banks shed new… Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
VIDEO: Hirono Convenes Readiness Subcommittee Hearing on Strengthening Partnerships Between DOD and Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, convened a Subcommittee hearing to examine the relationship between the Department of Defense (DOD) and small businesses, and what more DOD can do to increase the number of small businesses they contract with. In the hearing, the Subcommittee heard from leadership representing the small business program departments of the DOD, Army, Navy, and Air Force. … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Hirono, Hawaii Delegation Introduces Legislation to Combat Rapid Ohia Death in Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) introduced legislation to combat Rapid Ohia Death (ROD), which has killed more than a million Ohia trees in Hawaii since its discovery in 2014. The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023 authorizes $55 million in federal funding over the next eleven years to support ongoing efforts by federal agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)… Continue Reading
March 17, 2023
Hirono, Schatz, Case, Tokuda Urge National Park Service to Protect Hawaii’s Critically Endangered Native Forest Birds
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Hawaii Congressional delegation-U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI)-sent a letter to Charles "Chuck" Sams, Director of the National Park Service (NPS), urging the agency to prioritize its efforts to protect critically endangered Native Hawaiian forest birds. In their letter, the lawmakers urge NPS to use funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed last year to continue effor… Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
VIDEO: Hirono Condemns Proposed Fifty Percent Cut in Cost of Living Allowance for Military Families in Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned a panel of Department of Defense (DoD) officials about a proposed fifty percent cut to the cost of living allowance for military families in Hawaii during a SASC Personnel Subcommittee Hearing. During her line of questioning, Senator Hirono highlighted Hawaii's high cost of living and emphasized her opposition to the proposed cuts to this allowance. "My office has heard from … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
VIDEO: Hirono Highlights Impacts of Supreme Court Decision Weakening Gun Safety Laws in Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned a panel of experts about the impacts of a 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning a gun safety law and how this decision could increase the risk of gun violence in public and private spaces. During her line of questioning, Senator Hirono highlighted the impacts of this decision for Hawaii, which has been forced to loosen its firearm permit requirements. "In 2020, Hawaii had the lowest … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Hirono, Boozman, Case, Womack Introduce Legislation to Restore Access to Federal Benefits for COFA Citizens Legally Present in the U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and John Boozman (R-AR), and Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Steve Womack (R-AR) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to restore access to a range of federal benefits for citizens of the Freely Associated States of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, who reside in the United States. The Compact Impact Fairness Act, which was previously introduced in 2021, com… Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Hirono, Peters, Pressley, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Resolution Honoring Abortion Providers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), along with Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Cori Bush (D-MO), led 40 of their colleagues in reintroducing a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff. The Abortion Provider Appreciation Day resolution affirms that abortion providers are valued as they provide reproductive care despite pressures… Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Hirono, Colleagues Press DoD on Repeated Refusal to Share Information with Members of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, led her colleagues in demanding answers from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding its treatment of sensitive information known as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the lawmakers express their concern with the Department's use of the CUI designation and its regular withholding of CUI from Members of Congress. In addition to S… Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Hirono Statement on the Release of President Biden’s 2024 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement after President Biden announced his budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024: "President Biden's budget is an investment in people and families in Hawaii and across the country. It will lower costs for working families, strengthen crucial safety net programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and help ensure the wealthiest Americans and largest corporations pay their fair share. While Republic… Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Hirono Introduces Legislation to Address Teacher Pay Crisis in America
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined seven of her Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to begin to address the major teacher pay crisis in America and ensure that all public school teachers earn a livable and competitive wage that is at least $60,000 a year and increases over the course of their career. The Pay Teachers Act, led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), comes as school districts across the country report serious staffing shortages largely due to unpreced… Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Hirono Introduces Legislation to Restore and Protect Americans’ Right to an Abortion Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined 47 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing the Women's Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. The bill's introduction follows the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization which repealed Roe v. Wade. This decisi… Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Hirono Raises Concern Over Reports Walgreens May Not Dispense Medication Abortion, Seeks Clarity on Company Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) sent a letter to Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer, expressing concern regarding recent reports that the company would not dispense medication abortion in 21 states where Republican Attorneys General have threatened the company. In addition to Senator Hirono, the letter was also sent by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). "As of March 2023, at least 17 stat… Continue Reading
March 06, 2023
Hirono Introduces Legislation to Expand Personal Health Data Privacy Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced legislation to expand protections for Americans' personal health data privacy. The Upholding Protections for Health and Online Location Data (UPHOLD) Privacy Act would prevent companies from profiting off of personally identifiable health data for advertising purposes. It would also allow consumers greater access to and ownership over their personal health information, restrict companies' ability to collect or use information abou… Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Hirono Urges IRS Not to Tax Emergency Reimbursements for Residents Impacted by Red Hill Fuel Leaks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) sent a letter to Douglas O'Donnell, Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), urging the IRS to take action to ensure individuals and families impacted by the fuel leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility are not required to pay taxes on emergency reimbursements they received for expenses incurred as a result of the leaks. "Approximately 93,000 U.S. Navy water system users were impacted by the contaminated dr… Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Hirono Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Get Public Employees Full Social Security Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined 24 of her Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits after two previous statutes reduced them. The bill, the Social Security Fairness Act, would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act-two statutes that have significantly reduced benefits for near… Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Hirono Pushes to Prevent Federal Assistance of Abortion Surveillance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) led 30 of her colleagues in pushing to prevent local and state law enforcement from using federal assistance to surveil or investigate individuals receiving or providing abortion care. In a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, the lawmakers urged the Administration to uphold its commitment to reproductive rights and take all necessary steps to ensure federal resources, including those administered through the Federal Bureau o… Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
VIDEO: Hirono Presses Attorney General Garland on Protecting Access to Reproductive Care and Combating Domestic Terror
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland about how the Department of Justice (DOJ) is protecting women seeking reproductive services and combating domestic terrorism during a full committee hearing. During her line of questioning, Senator Hirono asked about what steps the DOJ is taking to ensure that women can travel to states where abortion remains legal in order to receive reproduct… Continue Reading
