Press Releases
Hirono Statement on the Death of Staff Sergeant Reymund Transfiguracion
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the death of Staff Sergeant Reymund Transfiguracion: "Staff Sergeant Reymund Transfiguracion served our country and the people of Hawaii honorably in the U.S. Army and as a member of the Hawaii National Guard. My condolences and aloha are with Staff Sergeant Transfiguracion's wife Edelyn, their two daughters, and the Transfiguracion ohana." ###… Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Hirono Continues Advocacy for Use of Native Plants in Visit to Lyon Arboretum
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono continued her advocacy for the use of native plants during a visit to Lyon Arboretum where she toured the Native Hawaiian Garden, met with scientists, and planted native species at the facility. "Scientists at Lyon Arboretum are working to preserve native ecosystems through research, outreach, and propagation of plants native to Hawaii - many of which are endangered and important to our culture," Senator Hirono said. "The scientists I met with provided critica… Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Hirono Statement on Announcement of Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing Dates
HONOLULU- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, released the following statement after Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced dates for Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing: "The Judiciary Committee and the American people should have access to the full range of documents regarding Brett Kavanaugh, just as they did for the nomination of Elena Kagan. Chairman Grassley and Republicans on t… Continue Reading
August 06, 2018
Strong Federal Funding for Hawaii Programs to Continue Under Update of Federal Career & Technical Education Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Last week, the President signed into law the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which will continue strong federal support for career and technical education (CTE) programs in Hawaii. The recently enacted bill will update and reform the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins CTE), and make important changes to federally-supported CTE programs that will help to better prepare Hawaii students for the careers of the future… Continue Reading
August 03, 2018
Hirono Introduces Legislation to Protect Medicare and Medicaid from Partisan Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono and 15 Senate Democrats introduced the Medicare and Medicaid Protect Act, legislation that would protect these cornerstone health care programs from partisan attacks through the budget reconciliation process. "For the past 53 years, Medicare and Medicaid have provided a crucial lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Hawaii residents who rely on these programs to access health care and long-term nursing care," Senator Hirono. "But over the past year and a… Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Hirono Bill to Strengthen Economic Ties Between United States and New Zealand Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Mike Lee's (R-Utah) bill (S. 2245) to extend trade and investor visas to New Zealand citizens was signed into law by the President. The bill, known as the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors (KIWI) Act, was unanimously passed by the House last week. "New Zealand visitors supported over 2,000 Hawaii jobs last year alone and continue to build on our strong cultural and economic ties to the Indo-Pacific region," Senator Hir… Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Hirono Calls for Passage of Bill to Assist Vietnam Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono called for the passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, legislation to ensure that thousands of Navy veterans, known as "Blue Water" veterans, are able to receive the disability compensation and health care they need after exposure to Agent Orange while serving on ships off the Vietnamese coast during the Vietnam War.Under current law, veterans who served in Vietnam on land or in its "Bro… Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Hirono Secures Restoration of Full Per Diem Rates for Service Members & Department of Defense Civilians on Long-Term Assignments
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Service Seapower Subcommittee, secured a full repeal of the Department of Defense's reduced per diem policy for traveling service members and Department of Defense civilians in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA conference report was passed by the Senate 87-10 today, and now goes to the President for his signature. Senator Hirono's full repeal will cancel a Department of Defe… Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Hirono Secures Important Hawaii Priorities in National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, successfully secured important Hawaii priorities in the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate today on an 87-10 vote. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. "This year's National Defense Authorization Act reinforces the central role Hawaii plays in advancing and supporting our country's interests in the Indo-Pacific region," Senator H… Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Congress Passes Hirono Measure to Close Domestic Violence Gun Loophole
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono's Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, which would close a dangerous loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that enables convicted abusers to purchase firearms, was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference committee report that was passed by the Senate 87-10 today. The NDAA was passed by the House last month, and now goes to the President for his signature. "Last November's mass shooting in S… Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Senate Unanimously Confirms Jill Otake to Serve on U.S. District Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Jill Otake to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. "Throughout her confirmation process, Jill Otake demonstrated her respect for the rule of law and the serious thought she's given to how she would approach her work as a judge. She is exactly the type of nominee this president, or any president, should be nominating for every district court vacancy," Senator Hirono… Continue Reading
July 30, 2018
Hirono, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Urging Approval of Law of the Sea Treaty
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, ratified by over 160 nations, sets out the rights and responsibilities of countries related to the world's oceans including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources. Sunday marked 24 years since the U.S. signed UNCLOS on July 29, 1994, but the U.S… Continue Reading
July 27, 2018
Hirono Denounces Grassley Decision to Send Partisan Request for Kavanaugh Records
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, issued the following statement on Chairman Chuck Grassley's (R-Iowa) partisan, Republican-only document request on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination that will not include records from Judge Kavanaugh's service as President George W. Bush's staff secretary: "Chairman Grassley's decision today is a shameful capitulation to Donald Trump's style of doing business. Republicans on the Ju… Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Marking Anniversary of ACA Repeal Defeat, Hirono Calls Attention to Continued Attacks on Health Care System
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to mark the one year anniversary of the defeat of Senate Republicans' attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Senator Hirono also outlined her continued opposition to actions taken by President Trump and Congressional Republicans to sabotage the American health care system by raising health care costs and reducing access for Hawaii families and residents. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Two weeks ago, the President ann… Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Hirono Stands Up to Trump’s Attacks on Federal Workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor to denounce the Trump administration's attacks on the federal workforce and highlight the important role of federal workers in Hawaii. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Over the past year and a half, Donald Trump and his administration have launched a concerted attack on federal workers and the unions that fight on their behalf. There appear to be no lengths to which Donald Trump and the anti-union, moneyed interests who support… Continue Reading
July 23, 2018
Congress Passes Hirono Bill to Strengthen Economic Ties Between United States and New Zealand
WASHINGTON, D.C.- The U.S. House unanimously passed the Knowledgeable Innovators and Worthy Investors (KIWI) Act (S. 2245), a bipartisan bill authored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to extend trade and investor visas to New Zealand citizens to increase international business between the United States and New Zealand. The KIWI Act was passed by the Senate last month, and will now be sent to the President for his consideration. "New Zealand visitors supported over 2,… Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Hirono Introduces Bill to Prioritize Native Plants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced the Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act. The bill encourages federal land management agencies to hire botanists, conduct research on native plant materials, and incorporate native plants in projects on federal land when feasible. "Native plants play a crucial role in conserving and protecting our land, and are an important part of our culture. They recharge our watersheds and are … Continue Reading
July 12, 2018
Hirono Announces $637,000 in Federal Grants to Provide Job Training for Homeless Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced today that Hawaii's U.S.VETS and Catholic Charities will receive a total of $637,258 in 2018 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) to provide on-the-job training, occupational skills training, apprenticeship opportunities, job placement, and follow-up assistance after placement. The program funding currently serves more than 300 homeless veterans in Hawaii. "The staff at U.S.VETS - Ba… Continue Reading
July 11, 2018
Hirono, Senate Democrats Demand Judiciary Committee Hearing on Family Separation
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and eight Senate Democrats urged Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to convene an oversight hearing on family separation and the Trump administration's haphazard plan to reunite immigrant children with their parents. The Senators' letter to Chairman Grassley follows a troubling call last week with Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar in which only three Senators were able to ask questions on HHS' rol… Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
Hirono Named to NDAA Conference Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono was named to the Senate-House Conference Committee for the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today. The conference committee will resolve differences between Senate and House versions of the bill. "The Senate-passed NDAA includes a number of critical Hawaii priorities, and I will fight to ensure that they are preserved in conference," Senator Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee said. "I … Continue Reading
