Press Releases
Senator Hirono Questions Navy Admiral on Red Hill Water Contamination at Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) discussed the series of recent preventable accidents that have led to the contamination of the Navy's drinking water system and put the community at risk. The hearing was scheduled to consider the nomination of Admiral Christopher Grady, United States Navy, for reappointment to the grade of Admiral and to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS). During the hearing, S… Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Hirono, Schatz Vote to Confirm Clare Connors to Serve as U.S. Attorney for Hawaii
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Brian Schatz today voted to confirm Hawaii Attorney General Clare Connors to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii. The Senate voted unanimously to confirm her nomination. "Clare Connors is an excellent choice to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii, and her unanimous confirmation by the Senate is proof of that. With her strong background in public service and her proven commitment… Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Hawai‘i Delegation Calls for Comprehensive IG Evaluation into Navy’s Ability to Safely Operate Red Hill
~ Letter follows an initial targeted request into specific allegations of whether the Navy engaged in a cover-up or intentionally delayed reporting of a fuel leak at Red Hill to secure operating permits ~ ~ Delegation sends request following a troubling series of safety hazards at Red Hill, including most recently, reports of petroleum detected in the water at Red Hill elementary school and confirmed petroleum contamination in drinking water months ago ~ ~ Yesterday, Governor Ige and the Hawai… Continue Reading
December 05, 2021
Gov. Ige and Hawaii’s congressional delegation call for immediate suspension of operations at Red Hill
HONOLULU - Gov. David Ige and Hawaii's congressional delegation, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai'i) and Kaiali'i Kahele (D-Hawai'i), released the following statement calling for the Secretary of the Navy to immediately suspend operations at Red Hill following the contamination of drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam: "Test results confirming contamination of drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hic… Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
HAWAI‘I CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO NAVY SECRETARY: NAVY MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY TO TEST, PROTECT WATER, PROVIDE HAWAI‘I RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO SAFE WATER
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai'i) and Kaiali'i Kahele (D-Hawai'i) released the following statement after meeting with Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to discuss fuel operations in Hawai'i. "Today, we met with Secretary Del Toro to discuss our concerns with Red Hill and the Navy's fuel operations in Hawai'i. The Navy owes the community straightforward communications on all events that occur at Red Hill… Continue Reading
November 19, 2021
Hirono, Duckworth Urge Republicans to End Smear Campaign and Confirm Comptroller Nominee Omarova Immediately
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) wrote to Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ranking Member Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) urging them to immediately advance the nomination of Professor Saule Omarova to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). President Biden nominated Professor Omarova to serve as Comptroller of the Currency on November 2, 2021. She is widely regarded as a leading exp… Continue Reading
November 17, 2021
Hirono Joins Sen. Murray, House Colleagues to Reintroduce BE HEARD Act to Address Workplace Harassment
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Assistant Speaker of the House Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) in reintroducing the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act o… Continue Reading
November 15, 2021
Sen. Hirono Celebrates POTUS Signing the Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement following the President signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, an historic bill that will provide the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure in nearly a century, into law: "Our crumbling infrastructure is impacting the lives of families in Hawaii every single day. But today, President Biden signed into law historic legislation that will repair our roads, bridges and public transportatio… Continue Reading
November 11, 2021
Hirono Statement in Honor of Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day: "Veterans, servicemembers, and their families have dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms, and today, we come together to honor their bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation. "I remain committed to fighting for veterans and servicemembers in Hawaii and across the country, and will continue to work with m… Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls for DOD IG Investigation Into Red Hill Fuel Pipeline Leak
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz and Representatives Ed Case and Kai Kahele today called for the Department of Defense Inspector General to start an independent investigation into Navy oversight and operation at Red Hill related to the pipeline leak. In a letter to Department of Defense Acting Inspector General (DOD IG) Sean O'Donnell, the delegation asks the DOD IG to determine whether the Navy properly investigated recent fuel releases and notified state health offi… Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls On Navy To Improve Accountability To Public On Hawaii Fuel Operations, Plans To Ensure Health And Safety Of Oahu Residents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Kaiali'i Kahele (D-HI) today called on the Navy to provide more information on the March 2020 fuel leak near Hotel Pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. In a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the delegation also requested more details on the Navy's response to discovering the leak, including its compliance with reporting requirements and any potential information that may … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Announces $6 Million Grant to Address Coffee Leaf Rust
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz and Representatives Ed Case and Kai Kahele announced $6,007,090 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grants program to the Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council (SHAC) to address Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR). This four-year grant will support a coordinated approach to addressing CLR across various entities, including the USDA Ag… Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Hawaii to Receive Over $5 Million Grant to Increase Forest Resiliency
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive $5,298,701 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program's (RCPP) Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA) to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to conduct landscape-level forested watershed restoration. "Climate change is intensifying the battles we are fighting to protect Hawaii's native forests from outside threats like wildfires… Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Hirono, Brownley Introduce Bill to Establish and Regularly Update Database of Veterans’ Demographic Data to Track Changing U.S. Veteran Population
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, introduced S. 2761, the Every Veteran Counts Act, legislation that directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and regularly update a database of veterans' demographic data. The statutory changes in the Every Veteran Counts Act would allow VA to use best practices to keep itself, Congress, and the public apprised of veteran demographics on an ongoing basis. Cong… Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Four Months After COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Became Law, Hirono and Meng Ask DOJ for Updates on Implementation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland to ask for progress on reducing hate crimes and incidents, and the implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation that was introduced by Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Meng. The letter was sent four months after the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed into law. It details key elements of the law that must be implemented to make progress comb… Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Hirono Announces $28 Million in Department of Education Funding for Native Hawaiian Education Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the U.S. Department of Education is awarding more than $28 million in 35 grants through the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP). Grants are being awarded to various Native Hawaiian educational organizations, Native Hawaiian community-based organizations, and other similar organizations. "This funding will support Native Hawaiians across our state by providing support for Native Hawaiian students, parents, and teach… Continue Reading
August 20, 2021
Hirono, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Reunite Korean Americans with Family Members in North Korea
HONOLULU - Last week, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced the bipartisan Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act, legislation directing the U.S. Secretary of State to establish a formal process to help Korean American families reunite with family members that remain in North Korea. "For nearly seventy years, too many Korean Americans have been separated from their loved ones in North Korea. Carol Li, a constituent of mine from Honolulu, unders… Continue Reading
August 17, 2021
Food Basket to Receive $5 Million Grant for DA BUX Program
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the Hawaii Island food bank, The Food Basket, Inc., will receive $5 million in Nutrition Incentive Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue to build capacity in the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks program. "The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the importance of investing in Hawaii's local food systems," Senator Hirono said. "The DA BUX program gets Hawaii-grown produce from farms to those who need it at an affordable … Continue Reading
August 16, 2021
Hirono Statement on Afghanistan
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the evolving conditions in Afghanistan: "A humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes in Afghanistan. We are all witnessing the chaos at the Kabul airport. We must prioritize the evacuation of American citizens and our Afghan partners and their families who supported us during this 20-year war. "Afghan women and girls who will be targeted by the Taliba… Continue Reading
August 12, 2021
Hirono to IRS and Treasury: Make Sure Non-Filers Receive Expanded Child Tax Credit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig today to ask how the Treasury and IRS are working to make sure that people who do not file federal income taxes but are eligible to receive the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) are getting their payments. This letter is sent as the second round of CTC payments is expected to be delivered to families tomorrow. The Senator noted that while mo… Continue Reading
