Press Releases
VIDEO: Hirono Pushes for Congress to Enshrine Gender Equality in the U.S. Constitution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed for Congress to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution by recognizing the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) during a full committee hearing. During the hearing, which included testimony from U.S. Senators, public officials, and legal experts, Senator Hirono highlighted the importance of ERA ratification in prohibiting sex discrimination and fighting for equal right… Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Hirono Joins Hawaii Congressional Delegation in Introducing Resolution to Recognize Hawaiian Language Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) in introducing a resolution recognizing February 2023 as Hawaiian Language Month, or Mahina Olelo Hawaii. "For centuries, people across the Hawaiian Islands spoke Olelo Hawaii, but after being banned from schools and government in 1896, Olelo Hawaii nearly went extinct," said Senator Hirono. "In recent decades we have made progress in revivin… Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Hirono Statement on Nomination of Julie Su to Serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement after President Biden's decision to nominate Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su to serve as the country's next Secretary of Labor: "President Biden made the right choice in nominating Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su to serve as the next Secretary of Labor. Throughout her career, Deputy Secretary Su has been a strong and effective champion for working people, fighting to combat wage theft, create jobs an… Continue Reading
February 23, 2023
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Sen. Hirono, Lt. Gov Luke Host Roundtable with Early Childhood Providers and Experts on Need to Expand Access to Child Care and Pre-K
HONOLULU, HI - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke hosted a roundtable discussion at Kuhio Elementary School with early childhood providers and experts to talk about the critical need to expand access to quality, affordable early childhood programs. Senator Hirono and Lt. Governor Luke heard from stakeholders and discussed their efforts at the state and federal level to expand access to early childhood education. Recently, Lt. Governor Luke launche… Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Hirono Tours General Dynamics HSI-Electric Boat Facility
HONOLULU, HI - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, toured General Dynamics HSI-Electric Boat with HSI-Electric Boat leadership. The company provides installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair services for U.S. Navy ships and nuclear submarines, commercial shipping vessels, wind turbines and conventional power generation operations, refineries, and medical facilities. "For over 75 years, HSI-Electric Boat has played an important role… Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Hirono Meets with WorkHawaii Youth Program Students at the American Job Center
HONOLULU, HI - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) spoke with more than 20 students participating in the WorkHawaii Youth Program (WHYP) at the new American Job Center on Oahu. The program is designed to assist young adults from vulnerable backgrounds achieve their educational and employment goals through job and skills training, and is made possible by funding from multiple federal programs. "The WorkHawaii Youth Program is helping vulnerable young people in Hawaii gain valuable job skills w… Continue Reading
February 18, 2023
Hirono Applauds DOD Guidance on Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded the Department of Defense's (DOD) step to release of directed policies expanding access to reproductive care for servicemembers. The policies extend the timeframe for servicemembers to inform their commanders about a pregnancy, enable servicemembers to request an administrative absence from their duty station to access reproductive care without being charged leave, and authorize trav… Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
VIDEO: Hirono Highlights Importance of Infrastructure Updates, Pacific Allies to U.S. National Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned a panel of experts about the importance of updating military infrastructure and collaborating with Pacific region partners and allies-two of her top priorities as the incoming Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. The Senator asked her questions during a full committee hearing on Global Security Challenges and Strategy. During her line of questioning, … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Hirono Urges Biden Administration to Take New Steps to Protect Reproductive Freedom
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) today joined 11 of her Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging the Biden administration to take new steps to protect reproductive freedom amidst divided control of Congress and increasing efforts to restrict access to abortion. In addition to Senator Hirono, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blume… Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Children’s Online Privacy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with her Judiciary Committee colleagues Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), introduced legislation to strengthen online privacy protections for children when websites collect their personally identifiable information. As the collection of personal information by internet companies is encroaching more and more on the privacy of Americans, the Clean Slate for Kids O… Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Hirono Joins Bipartisan Effort to Help More Veterans Access Breast Cancer Screenings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address the challenges veterans face when seeking mammogram services, key medical examinations that help detect early signs of breast cancer. In the letter, the lawmakers called upon the VA to put more resources toward expanding access to mobile mammography units, improving adva… Continue Reading
February 10, 2023
Hirono Urges Social Security Administration to Reduce Call Hold Times for Hawaii Beneficiaries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) sent a letter to Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), urging her to take action to reduce call hold times for individuals calling from Hawaii. Due to a recent change in how calls to SSA call centers are routed, callers from Hawaii have been experiencing longer hold times, making it harder for them to access Social Security benefits and have their questions answered. "I have heard fro… Continue Reading
February 10, 2023
Hirono Joins Hawaii Delegation in Introducing Bill to Support Macadamia Tree Health
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) in introducing the Macadamia Tree Health Initiative Amendments Act. "This legislation will build on the Hawaii's delegation's work to strengthen research initiatives into threats to our state's macadamia nut production," said Senator Hirono. "Macadamia nuts are an important agricultural product, providing local jobs and bolstering our state's… Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Hirono, Bennet Lead Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Strengthen HIPAA to Protect Patients Seeking Reproductive Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Secure Access for Essential Reproductive (SAFER) Health Act, legislation that would expand patient privacy protections by strengthening the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to prohibit medical providers from disclosing personal health information related to abortion or pregnancy loss without patient consent. The SAFER Health Act, which has been cosponsored by 9 senat… Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Hirono Joins Hawaii Delegation in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Protect and Strengthen Coffee Plant Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined the Hawaii congressional delegation in introducing the Coffee Plant Health Initiative Amendments Act, bipartisan legislation that would broaden current language included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) high priority initiatives in support of the coffee plant industry by improving the tools available for domestic coffee growers to fight pests, diseases, and expand critical research. In addition to Senator Brian Sc… Continue Reading
February 08, 2023
Hirono Appointed Chair of Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness & Management Support
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was named Chair of the Committee's Subcommittee on Readiness & Management Support for the 118th Congress. The Readiness Subcommittee oversees the capabilities and preparedness of U.S. Armed Forces and has jurisdiction over military training, logistics, and maintenance; military construction; base housing construction and privatization; contracting and acquisition policy; business and financ… Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Hirono Statement on President Biden’s SOTU Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address: “Tonight, President Biden highlighted the historic progress Democrats have made for the American people over the past two years. From capping health care costs, to rebuilding our infrastructure, to fighting climate change and much more, Democrats are building a country and economy that puts working families before billionaires and special interests. As the Pre… Continue Reading
February 04, 2023
Hirono Invites Native Hawaiian Trafficking Survivor Leader as Guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) has invited Kalei Grant, a Native Hawaiian trafficking survivor leader who now advocates for other survivors of sex trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence, to be her guest for President Biden's State of the Union Address. Last month, Kalei participated in a roundtable discussion-convened by Senator Hirono-with Native Hawaiian survivors of gender-based violence and organizations that support them. The roundtable followed passage… Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Hirono, Warren, Sanders, and Wyden Question DoD over Reports of Students Forced into JROTC Enrollment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in a letter to the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Education (ED) amid reports of students being forced to join the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. The lawmakers also raised concern about reports that some JROTC instructors are promoting the National Rifle Assoc… Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Following Request from Hirono, U.S. Mint Announces Quarter Honoring Patsy T. Mink
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) applauded the U.S. Mint's announcement that its 2024 American Women Quarters collection will include a quarter honoring Rep. Patsy T. Mink, the first woman to represent Hawaii in the U.S. Congress and the first woman of color to serve in Congress. The announcement follows a letter Senator Hirono sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in 2021 urging the Mint to include the late Congresswoman Mink in the American Women Quarters Program… Continue Reading
