Press Releases
Hirono, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Provide New Investments for Native Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the bipartisan Inspiring Nationally Vibrant Economies Sustaining Tribes Act (INVEST Act), legislation to promote new investments in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities through the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. The INVEST Act would establish a 10 percent set-aside within the NMTC program for Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) and certain … Continue Reading
January 06, 2020
Hirono Introduces Bill to Protect Endangered and Threatened Pacific Island Plants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the Extinction Prevention Act. This bill would provide funds to protect a wide variety of threatened and endangered species throughout the nation, including Pacific Island plants, North American butterflies, Eastern freshwater mussels, and Southwest desert fish. "Hawaii is home to over 350 federally listed threatened and endangered plant specie… Continue Reading
January 03, 2020
Hirono Statement on U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq and the Death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, issued the following statement on the U.S. airstrikes that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. "General Soleimani was a reprehensible figure responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members and thousands of innocent people around the world. "His death in a U.S. airstrike further escalates hostilities and increases the potential for widespread viole… Continue Reading
December 23, 2019
President Signs Hirono-Backed Improvements to Federal Contracting and Research Programs for Hawaii Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, successfully enacted improvements to federal contracting and research programs that will benefit Hawaii small businesses into law. Passed in the Senate as part of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), President Donald Trump signed Senator Hirono's provisions into law on Friday. "Hawaii relies on small businesses to driv… Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Hirono Advances Hawaii Priorities in Senate-Passed Funding Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the United States Senate advanced an eight-bill appropriations package that includes important priorities for Hawaii secured by Senator Mazie K. Hirono. The legislation, which funds and renews a range of domestic and international programs from the national Flood Insurance Program to energy production tax credits and health care programs, passed the Senate in 73-21 vote. "From funding to support our public lands, to programs that combat hunger and homelessness, this b… Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Senator Hirono Pays Tribute to Victims of the Shooting at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Remarks on the Floor of the U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono paid tribute to the victims of the shooting at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard today during remarks on the floor of the United States Senate today. Today marks the two weeks since the tragic events of December 4, 2019. From Senator Hirono's Remarks: "Mr. President, two weeks ago today, the state of Hawaii was in shock as an active shooter took the lives of two workers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and wounded a third worker. "Located on Joint Base… Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Hirono Secures $21 Million for Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in Year End Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono successfully advocated for $21 million in federal funding for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) to build a new field station in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the year end spending package making its way through Congress. The field station is instrumental for HVO to monitor changes and trends at Kilauea and Mauna Loa - both of which are classified as very-high-threat volcanoes under the National Volcano Early Warning Sy… Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Senate Passes Hirono Provision to Strengthen Window Safety Protections for Children Living in Military Housing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate passed legislation authored by Senator Hirono that would require all windows in military housing 42 inches or lower off the floor to be equipped with a fall protection device. Named after seven-year-old Hawaii resident Evan English, the updated provision was included in the Conference Report of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate on an 86-8 vote and now goes to the President for his signature. "We all remember the heartb… Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Senate Passes Hirono Measure to Expand Direct Hire Authority for Childcare Workers on Military Bases
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation authored by Senator Hirono that would significantly reduce the lengthy hiring process for qualified childcare providers on military installations by expanding direct hire authority. This provision was included in the Conference Report of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the Senate on an 86-8 vote. "Every day, we ask our service members to give 100 percent focus to their tasks and the mission of se… Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Senators Hirono, Sullivan, Murkowski Ask CMS to Extend ACA Enrollment Deadline to Accommodate Residents of Hawaii and Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) wrote to Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), requesting that CMS extend the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment deadline for 2020 by two hours to accommodate residents of Hawaii and Alaska. This change would ensure residents in all 50 states are able to enroll in health coverage by CMS's publicly available deadline of December 15th. "… Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Hirono Secures Critical Priorities for Hawaii in NDAA Conference Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, successfully secured important provisions for Hawaii in the Conference Report for the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senator Hirono served as a member of the Conference Committee, which reconciled differences between the House and Senate-passed versions of the NDAA - a bill that sets policy and funding levels for the Department of Defense and the nationa… Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Hirono Statement on the Shooting Incident at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement following the shooting incident at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "While the investigation into this incident continues, my thoughts and aloha are with the victims of the terrible tragedy at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and with their families. I join all of Hawaii in expressing our gratitude to the first responders who rush toward danger every day to keep us safe." ###… Continue Reading
November 25, 2019
Senators Hirono, Gillibrand, Booker Unveil Legislation to Significantly Increase Federal Investment in Programs to Alleviate Homelessness and Housing Poverty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation that lays out a 10-year investment in federal housing and homelessness programs that the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates would effectively end homelessness and housing poverty in the United States. The Pathway to Stable and Affordable Housing for All Act would provide a long-term, dependable level of investment in four federal housing programs that… Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Senator Hirono Secures Commitment from BOP Director to Provide Regular Updates on Efforts to Re-Open a Federal Residential Reentry Center in Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Hirono secured a commitment from Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to provide regular updates about the status of efforts to reopen a federal Residential Reentry Center (RRC) in Hawaii during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today. In response to questioning by Senator Hirono, Director Sawyer affirmed that BOP's timeline to reopen an RRC is within the next several months. The state's only RRC, Mahoney Hale, closed on September … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Senate Energy Committee Clears Hirono-Backed Bills to Permanently Fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Address Deferred Maintenance Backlog in National Parks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee cleared two Hirono-backed bills that would provide permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and create a new fund to address the growing deferred maintenance backlog in the National Parks system. These bills can now be considered by the full Senate. "Over the past 50 years, the LWCF has provided nearly $250 million in funding for Hawaii to protect some of our most cherished public spaces - includ… Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Hirono Statement in Opposition to the Nomination of Chad Wolf to Serve as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement after voting against the nomination of Chad Wolf to serve as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategy, Policy, and Plans. Following his confirmation, Mr. Wolf will serve as the acting Secretary of Homeland Security. "I strongly oppose the nomination of Chad Wolf to be Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, which Donald Trump has turned into a nomination for him to be acting Secretary of Home… Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
Senators Hirono, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Expand Commercial Lending for Veteran Business Owners
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced the Veterans Members Business Loan Act (S. 2834), which would expand commercial lending for veteran business owners and entrepreneurs through local credit unions. Specifically, the bill would exempt credit unions' business loans to veterans from current statutory caps on member business lending. The bill covers loans made to veterans who served on active duty and were discharged or releas… Continue Reading
November 11, 2019
Senator Hirono Statement in Recognition of Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day. "On Veterans Day, we honor the service of millions of Americans who, through their commitment, defended the values and freedoms we cherish. Today, we also renew our commitment to serve our veterans and express our sincere gratitude for the personal sacrifices they have made for us. From the Filipino World War II veteran hoping to reunite with their family in the United States to the young veteran… Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Hirono, Senate Democrats Call for OPR to Investigate Whether Attorney General Barr Initiated a Politically Motivated Investigation Based on Unfounded Conspiracy Theories about the 2016 Election
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and nine Senate Democrats are urging the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to investigate whether Attorney General William Barr is using the power of his office to pursue a politically motivated investigation to undermine the Intelligence Community's conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help elect Donald Trump. In their letter to the OPR's Acting Director and Chief Counsel Jeffrey R… Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Senator Hirono Leads Bipartisan Resolution to Honor Filipino American History Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution in the United States Senate to recognize the month of October as Filipino American History Month. The resolution celebrates the history and culture of Filipino Americans and honors their contributions to the United States. U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and TJ Cox (D-Calif.) introduced a companion resolution, H.Res.621, in the U.S. House of Representatives. "The first contract laborers… Continue Reading
