Press Releases
Hirono Questions U.S. Commanders on Future Fuel Storage Needs Following the Announced Closure of Red Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) questioned Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and General Paul LaCamera, Commander of the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea on addressing the INDOPACOM fueling needs following the announced closure of Red Hill, which Senator Hirono strongly supports. Additionally, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), opened the h… Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Senator Hirono Thanks Abortion Providers in Senate Floor Speech
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), delivered remarks on the Senate floor thanking and recognizing abortion providers and clinic staff. In her speech, Senator Hirono spoke about how abortion providers enable their patients to make choices about their own bodies and futures and commended these health care professionals as they courageously provide essential care in the face of intimidation, harassment, threats, and violence fro… Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Hirono Applauds $686 million in Funding to Address the Red Hill Water Contamination Crisis, Close the Facility
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the $686,429,000 in funding for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility water contamination crisis included in the fiscal year 2022 omnibus spending bill, which was unveiled this morning. In February, Senator Hirono helped secure $100 million in the must-pass continuing resolution spending bill to defuel the facility. Today's announced appropriations bill includes additional funding specifically dedicated to defueling the facility.… Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Senator Hirono Introduces Women and Climate Change Act of 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on International Women's Day, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) re-introduced the Women and Climate Change Act (WCCA) of 2022, which affirms the United States' commitment to empowering women through economic development planning and international climate change policies. It also requires the development of practices to help communities embark on a path toward clean and sustainable development. The House companion of this bill was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee (C… Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Senator Hirono Introduces Resolution to Honor Abortion Providers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), and colleagues introduced the first congressional resolution to honor abortion providers and clinic staff. In addition to Sen. Hirono and Rep. Levin, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), and Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Barbara Lee (CA-13); Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Cori Bush (MO-01) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) joined the members in introducing the Abortion Provider Appreciation D… Continue Reading
March 07, 2022
Senators Hirono and Markey, Rep. Porter Spearhead Effort to Formally Apologize for U.S. Nuclear Testing in the Marshall Islands
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), along with Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), introduced a resolution recognizing our country's shameful history of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. The resolution reaffirms the relationships between the United States, the Republics of the Marshall Islands and Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, with whom the U.S. is currently negotiating to extend key international agreements that allow the U.S.… Continue Reading
March 07, 2022
Senator Hirono Statement on Department of Defense’s Decision to Close Red Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), released the following statement on the Department of Defense's decision to close the Red Hill Fuel Facility located on Oahu, Hawaii: "I strongly support the Department of Defense's decision to close the Red Hill facility, which I have been urging them to do for weeks. I have said from day one that ensuring the health and safety of the residents of Oahu is my top priority and I s… Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Hirono Seeks to Ensure EPA Has the Necessary Resources to Address Red Hill Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) urged Senators Carper (D-DE) and Capito (R-WV), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Senators Merkley (D-OR) and Murkowski (R-AK), Chair and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, to support her efforts to ensure the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the resources it needs to address the Red Hill water contamination crisis and ensure t… Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Senator Hirono Requests More Information from the Education Department on Steps Taken to Address Learning Loss in K-12 Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to the Department of Education, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) requested information about how the Department is utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan to research and address the significant learning loss K-12 students have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the American Rescue Plan, the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), an agency within the Department, received $100 million to carry out research related to addressing learning loss ca… Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Sen. Hirono Joins Sen. Warnock, Colleagues in Introducing the Affordable Insulin Now Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in introducing new legislation to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for Americans. The Affordable Insulin Now Act will require Medicare plans and private group or individual plans to cap patients' out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month. In Hawaii, 10.5% of individuals over the age of 18 have diabetes. Diabetes is even more prevalent among Hawaii's Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander popul… Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Hirono Announces Class of 2026 Nominees to the United States Service Academies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced the nomination of 38 Hawaii students to U.S. military service academies for the Class of 2026. The academies now consider the students' applications for final selections. "Every year, I have the honor of nominating some of Hawaii's top students to the military service academies," Senator Hirono said. "I am proud to help expand opportunities for these talented young people who have shown a commitment to hard work, community engageme… Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Senator Hirono Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement in response to President Biden's State of the Union Address: "Tonight President Biden made one thing clear: Democrats are working for the American people and Republicans are working for corporations and special interests. "There is no doubt that families are struggling right now-we are still fighting the pandemic, costs are up, and a major geopolitical crisis threatens global peace and our economic recove… Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Hirono Statement on Senate Republicans Blocking the Women’s Health Reproduction Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on Senate Republicans blocking H.R. 3755, the House-passed Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), from advancing to a final vote in the Senate. Senator Hirono co-sponsored this bill's Senate companion, S. 1975. "Yet again, Republicans have chosen politics over everything else and will not even allow a vote on the Women's Health Protection Act. "Abortion bans ruin lives. I am fed up with oppressive attacks … Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Sen. Hirono Invites Hawaii State Teacher of the Year as Virtual Guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) has invited Whitney Aragaki, a biology and environmental science teacher at Waiakea High School in Hilo, to be her virtual guest for President Biden's State of the Union Address. This past December, Aragaki was recognized as the 2022 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year by the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE). She is currently one of four finalists being considered for the 2022 National Teacher of the Year. "I'm so happy to have Whi… Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Senator Hirono Statement on the Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States
HONOLULU, HI - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Biden's historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States: "Today is an historic day. President Biden has nominated the first Black woman to serve on the highest court of the land. We need a Court that reflects America and understands how the Court's decisions impact the lives of everyday families. Appointing a … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Senator Hirono Statement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine: "As President Biden said, America and our allies stand united in condemning in the strongest terms possible Russia's reckless and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. I have confidence in President Biden's efforts to continue marshaling a unified and coordinated international response to Russia's blatant violation of interna… Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Senator Hirono Statement Marking 80th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement in observance of tomorrow's 80th anniversary of President Roosevelt signing Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which led to the internment of Japanese Americans: "Long-standing racism and xenophobia led to one of the worst decisions made by a President of this country 80 years ago. Due to unsubstantiated fear of Japanese Americans in 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 which led to … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Senator Hirono Applauds Senate Passage of $350 Million for Red Hill Included in the Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Funded
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on Senate passage of the continuing resolution-legislation to keep the government funded-which includes $350 million to address the Red Hill crisis. The legislation, which now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law, includes $250 million in funding for the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force to cover expenses incurred related to drinking water contamination and $100 million for the Departme… Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Hirono Re-Introduces “Neighbors Not Enemies” Act to Repeal 18th Century Xenophobic Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) re-introduced the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, which would repeal the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) of 1798-a xenophobic anti-immigrant law that has been used to justify the incarceration of Japanese, German, and Italian Americans during World War II, as well as the Muslim Ban by President Trump in 2017. Representative Omar (D-MN) introduced the House companion version this Congress. "The Alien Enemies Act is an 18th century xenophobic law… Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Hirono Joins 100+ Congressional Colleagues in Urging President Biden to Reverse Inhumane Immigration Policies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), in a letter signed by over 100 colleagues, urged President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies, such as Title 42 expulsions, originally introduced under the Trump Administration, that expel people needing protection under our asylum laws. The letter also requests more equitable treatment for Black migrants and comes in the aftermath of disturbing images from September 2021, in which Texas border patrol agents on horseback were seen us… Continue Reading
