Press Releases
Senator Hirono: Changes to PPP Program will Bring Much Needed Relief to Hawaii Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement after unanimous Senate passage of changes to the Paycheck Protection Program that will provide additional flexibility to Hawaii small businesses: "Earlier today, I had a Zoom call with Hawaii small business owners who, in normal times, would have been in Washington, DC this week to participate in the 7th annual Hawaii on the Hill. On the call, and over the past three months, I've heard about how essential the PPP program … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Senator Hirono Presses VA Secretary on Urgency of Completing ALOHA Project During Veterans’ Affairs Committee Budget and Coronavirus Spending Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, during a Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing, SenatorMazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) pressed Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie on the urgency of completing the Advanced Leeward Outpatient Health Care Access (ALOHA) Project. Secretary Wilkie acknowledged that the ALOHA Project has been beset by unnecessary bureaucratic delays, and pledged to work with the Committee to prevent red tape from slowing construction on other VA health care facilities. … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Hirono to Trump Administration: Create Federal Standards to Protect Air Travelers During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide clear and comprehensive national standards to protect air travelers from coronavirus from the time they enter an airport to start their air travel to their last step at their destination airport. Airports, businesses, and… Continue Reading
May 25, 2020
Hirono Honors Hawaii’s Fallen Service Members and Their Families on Memorial Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement honoring the lives and service of Hawaii's fallen service members in observance of Memorial Day: "On Memorial Day, our nation comes together to honor the lives and sacrifices of the service members who have fallen in service to their country. As a state with strong ties to the military, we recognize that just as we commemorate those we've lost, we must continuously reaffirm our commitment to supporting the fami… Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Hirono, Brown, Colleagues Demand DOL Assist State Unemployment Insurance Agencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and 22 of their colleagues to call for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to work with states to address the alarming delays in processing Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. The CARES Act, the third coronavirus relief package Congress passed, authorized three kinds of benefits: the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Pandemic Emergency Unempl… Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Hirono Introduces Resolution to Honor May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) led 22 of her Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution in honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month this May, noting the significant contributions to our nation made by generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The resolution recognizes noteworthy milestones for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in 2020, including: · The 35th anniversary of… Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Hirono, Klobuchar, Peters, Rosen, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Boost High-Speed Internet Access for College Students Completing Coursework During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced a bill to boost access to high-speed internet for college students as they continue their studies remotely during the coronavirus pandemic. The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act would invest $1 billion for the creation of the Emergency Higher Education Connectivity Fund at the National Telecommunications Information Adm… Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
Hawaii to Receive More Than $5 Million in Funds for Additional Community Response to the Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive more than $5 million in supplemental Community Development Block Grants coronavirus response (CDBG-CV) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. This is the second disbursement of CDBG-CV funds from the CARES Act, the third coronavirus relief package Congress passed. Hawaii County will receive $975,815, Kauai County will receive $261,137, Maui County will receive $698,280, and … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
Hawaii Farmers and Distributors Receive $5.2 Million to Facilitate Food Delivery to Families in Need
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that farmers and distributors in Hawaii will receive $5.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide food to families in need. The funding, distributed under the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, is part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) that Congress established in the second coronavirus relief legislation that passed the Senate in March. "Like so many places across the… Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Hirono Announces City and County of Honolulu to Receive $90.8 Million to Address Coronavirus and Budget Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the City and County of Honolulu $90,815,591 to provide public transit service through TheBus. This funding will ensure that TheBus continues to operate during the pandemic. Funds can be utilized to offset operational expenses due to reduced ridership, improve public health and sanitation efforts for TheBus, purchase personal protective equipment for transit employees, and … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Hirono Joins Bill to Expand National Service Programs like AmeriCorps to Respond to and Recover From Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) cosponsored the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, legislation Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced that would expand national service programs like AmeriCorps as the United States responds to and recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation would provide funding for 750,000 national service positions over a three year period, expanding AmeriCorps and other national service positions from 75,000 … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Hawaii to Receive Over $4 Million in AmeriCorps Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive over $4 million in AmeriCorps funding for the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service programs, including Kupu's Environmental Stewardship programs and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii's Project Kaulike. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that manages AmeriCorps and other national service programs, has awarded a total of $4,215,326 to Hawaii: Kupu w… Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Hirono, Booker, Colleagues Call on DOJ to Proactively Address Coronavirus-related Anti-Asian Discrimination, Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with 14 Senators urged the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division to take concrete steps to address the surge in discrimination and hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals. These steps are similar to those DOJ has taken in the past to address jumps in discrimination and hate crimes against a particular community. The Senators called for the Justice Department's C… Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Hawaii Island to Receive $30 Million in FEMA Funding to Repair Water Systems Damaged by Kilauea Eruption
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $30 million in funding to the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply to repair water systems damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. "These urgently needed repairs to water systems on Hawaii Island will help impacted communities that are still recovering from the devastation caused by the 2018 eruption of Kilauea. I will continue to advocate to ensure the County of Hawaii r… Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
Hirono Joins Bipartisan Call for Economic Relief for Local Newspapers, Rural Broadcasters During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and dozens of their colleagues to call on the Office of Management and Budget to support local television, radio, and newspapers who are struggling as advertising revenue has plummeted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This effort comes as Americans rely more on local and regional news to update them abou… Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Hirono, Colleagues Urge Treasury to Provide Families with Direct Payments as Soon as Possible
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and more than 30 of their colleagues to call for the U.S. Treasury Department (Treasury) and the Social Security Administration to guarantee that families who do not normally file taxes but have dependent children will not have to wait until next year to receive their additional direct payments for those children. On Monday, Tr… Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Hirono, Senate Colleagues: Administration Must Focus on Coronavirus Testing, Contact Tracing Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and eight of their colleagues to demand the Trump Administration provide the American people a comprehensive COVID-19 testing and contact tracing plan, which health experts have identified as vital to safely reopening society. The letter, sent on Monday, asks the Department of Health and Human Services to include in its plan what resources are needed for nationwide testing and con… Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Hirono Statement on Senate Passage of Interim Coronavirus Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement about Senate passage of interim coronavirus relief legislation (COVID 3.5): "Since the passage of the CARES Act in March, I have been focused on making important reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses that need it most, providing additional funding to support our hospitals and health care providers fighting the pandemic, and ensuring that immigrants and other vulnerable communities … Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Hawaii County to Receive $61 Million in Federal Funding to Rebuild Roads Damaged During the 2018 Kilauea Eruption
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the Hawaii County Department of Public Works $61 million to repair roads damaged during the 2018 Kilauea eruption. A portion of the funds will go to repair Highway 137, Pohoiki Road, Leilani Avenue, Hinalo Street, Lauone Street, Honuaula Street, and Lighthouse Road. FEMA and the County of Hawaii are engaged in additional discussions with the community to determine which ot… Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Hirono Encourages Social Security Beneficiaries, Others with Dependent Children to Apply for Direct Cash Payments Before Wednesday Deadline
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that Social Security beneficiaries and others who do not file taxes with qualifying dependent children should apply for their direct cash payments (up to $1,200 per individual) and additional payments for eligible children ($500 per child) before the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Wednesday deadline. Those eligible for additional payments should apply by tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22 at 6 am Hawaii Time to ensure that the a… Continue Reading
