Press Releases
Hirono Statement on Trumpcare Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the House of Representatives passing Trumpcare: "Today, I'm thinking of the thousands of Hawaii residents I've heard from who are living in fear of losing their insurance and other protections they've received thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Constituents like Kathryn, a teacher and single parent, who is afraid of losing her insurance because of a preexisting condition; and Anne, who gave birth to a healthy baby bo… Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
Hirono Announces Federal Funding to Establish the Kauai Creative Technology Center
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced $100,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to support the Kauai Economic Development Board's (KEDB's) creation of the Kauai Creative Technology Center. "Creative industries have a critical role to play in helping to ensure that Kauai is able to support the diverse and sustainable job market it needs to compete in today's global economy," said Senator Hirono. "The deve… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Hirono: Budget Deal Stands as Rejection of President’s Proposed Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the bipartisan deal reached Sunday to fund the federal government through September: "On balance, this bipartisan compromise provides funding for Hawaii priorities, and stands as a rejection of the deep cuts the President has proposed to programs that are vital to our state. While this is good news for federal funding through September, I will continue to fight proposed cuts to federal funding that Hawaii depends on … Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Hirono Leads Effort for More Accurate Data on Asian American & Pacific Islanders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and 10 Senate Democrats urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to update its standards for the collection of racial and ethnic data to better reflect the nation's growing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Such standards have not been updated since 1997. Today is the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. "A lack of disaggregated data on the AAPI community has led to the 'model mino… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Budget Deal Includes Hirono Proposal to Reinstate Year-Round Pell Grants
The bipartisan deal reached Sunday to fund the federal government through September includes Senator Mazie K. Hirono's proposal to reinstate Year-Round Pell Grants for college students in Hawaii and across the country. The deal includes provisions from Senator Hirono's Year-Round Pell Grant Restoration Act that would allow low- and moderate-income students to use Pell Grants for three semesters each academic year, rather than the current law's limit of two semesters. "Including my Year-Round Pe… Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating May 20 “Kids to Parks Day”
U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), applauded the Senate's passage of their bipartisan resolution to encourage children to get outdoors by designating May 20 National Kids to Parks Day. The seventh annual Kids to Parks Day kicks off a summer-long series of events at local, state, and national parks. Kids to Parks Day began in 2011 with the National Park Trust. More tha… Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Hirono: I Remain Opposed to Lihue Post Office Relocation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono remains opposed to the relocation of retail services from the Lihue Post Office. Following today's announcement that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will restart its regulatory review process and provide an additional public comment period, Senator Hirono issued the following statement: "I appreciate today's announcement by the USPS and concur with their decision to provide a more thorough explanation to the community on the need to relocate retail operations. When my off… Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Hirono, Hanabusa Introduce Legislation to Spur Innovative Research for Coral Reef Conservation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) today introduced the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2017. In response to increasing threats to coral reef ecosystems such as climate change, pollution, and direct damage from humans, this legislation directs federal agencies to establish a competitive prize to catalyze creative solutions to mitigate the decline or degradation of coral reefs. "As an island state, Hawaii relies on healthy coral … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Hirono, Ernst Continue Push for VETS Act
Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 (VETS Act). This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve health care access - including mental health treatment - for disabled or rural veterans by expanding telehealth services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "Hawaii veterans shouldn't have to fly to Oahu, or even different states, to seek the medical care they have earned," said Senator Hiro… Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Hirono Urges Trump Administration to Continue Program that Reunites Filipino World War II Veterans with Their Families
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) urged the President to continue the implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program (FWVP) program, which reunites Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II with their families. The Senators wrote to the President in response to reports that the Administration is reviewing immigration parole programs. … Continue Reading
April 21, 2017
Hirono Introduces Bill to Support Maui County’s Small Businesses
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced legislation to extend the federal Historically Underutilized Business Zone Contracting (HUBZone) program for Maui County small businesses, and other communities that are set to lose their HUBZone designation. Maui County currently qualifies for the HUBZone program. However, under federal law HUBZone designations are periodically updated based on changes … Continue Reading
April 20, 2017
Hirono: Attorney General’s Comments on Hawaii Are Ignorant & Dangerous
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' comments on Judge Derrick Kahala Watson's ruling against the President's Muslim ban: "The suggestion that being from Hawaii somehow disqualifies Judge Watson from performing his Constitutional duty is dangerous, ignorant, and prejudiced. I am frankly dumbfounded that our nation's top lawyer would attack our independent judiciary. But we shouldn't be surprised. This is just the latest in the T… Continue Reading
April 18, 2017
Hirono, Moran, Tester Introduce Bill to Provide Disabled Veteran Employees at VA Additional Paid Leave
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced S. 899, the bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Transition Improvement Act, to ensure veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher who are hired by the VA in critical medical positions can access additional paid sick leave during their first year on the job for the purposes of receiving medical care related to their service-connected condition. "As the VA works to fill tens o… Continue Reading
April 13, 2017
Hirono, Daines Pass Resolution to Celebrate National Park Week
Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, celebrated the unanimous U.S. Senate passage of their resolution to mark April 15 through April 23 as National Park Week. "Last fall, I joined our National Park Service ohana and Hawaii students to celebrate the centennials of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Haleakala National Park," said Senator Hirono. "National Park Week is… Continue Reading
April 12, 2017
Hirono Leads Letter to Attorney General on Administration’s Troubling Review of Consent Decrees
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and 15 Senate Democrats pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions for answers on the Department of Justice's plan to review consent decrees between the federal government and local law enforcement agencies. The Senators asked Attorney General Sessions to lay out the impact of the review, including if the Department of Justice's actions could result in the termination or modification of existing consent decrees. "Consent decrees offer both parties the opportunity … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Hirono Announces Six-Month Program for Mobile Biometrics Services on Neighbor Islands
Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct a six month mobile biometrics pilot program for immigration benefits on Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Maui from May through September. "This pilot program will provide neighbor island residents with more equitable access to biometrics services as they apply for immigration benefits," said Senator Hirono. In June 2016 Senator Hirono wrote to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Directo… Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Hirono, Rounds, Kilmer, Jones Introduce Bill to Cut Red Tape for Defense Department Employees
Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to repeal burdensome Department of Defense requirements for service members and civilian employees. The bill would correct a Department of Defense rules that increase the burden of finding affordable lodging while on assignment for individual employees rather than the department or service making the assignment. "Military members and Department of … Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Statement from Senator Mazie Hirono
In consultation with her physician, Senator Mazie Hirono has elected to undergo surgery to implant a lens to improve the vision in her left eye. Because this surgery requires some preparation, Senator Hirono plans to have this procedure during the Congressional recess, which will allow her to get back to work when the Senate is back in session. She looks forward to a speedy recovery. "While I'm disappointed that I won't be able to come home for the current state work period, I'm looking forwar… Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Hirono Statement on U.S. Airstrikes in Syria
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement: "The repeated use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime against his own people is an atrocity and breach of international law, and the international community must hold him accountable. "The Civil War in Syria adds layers of complexity in a country and region where there are no easy answers and opportunities for missteps are great. "In light of this, President Trump must present a coh… Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Hirono Denounces Republican Use of Nuclear Option to Advance Supreme Court Nominee
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement after Senate Republicans used the nuclear option to advance the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the U.S. Supreme Court. "Today, Senate Republicans destroyed a process that has been in place for years to accomplish their goal of confirming a far-right Supreme Court Justice," said Senator Hirono. "Last year, they wouldn't even give President Obama's nominee Merrick Garland a hearing. And today, they changed the rules in order to ram th… Continue Reading
