Press Releases
Hirono: New Report Demonstrates Urgency to Confront “Completely Unacceptable” Culture of Harassment at National Park Service
Nearly 40 Percent of NPS Employees Report Harassment or Discrimination in Past Year Ranking Member of Senate National Parks Subcommittee Commits to Additional Oversight to Address Epidemic of Workplace Harassment HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, called for action to be taken following the release of a National Park Service (NPS) survey, which found that 38% of NPS employees have been harassed or discr… Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Hirono: “We Can’t Be Nice” About Fighting for Support of Native Hawaiian Programs
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued a call to action to attendees of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's Native Hawaiian Convention to continue their work fighting to protect federal Native Hawaiian housing, education, and health care programs. Senator Hirono also highlighted the importance of building strong federal and community partnerships to support native programs and minority communities. "This administration has no regard for minority communities and native peoples, evid… Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Senate Advances Hirono Proposal to Extend Maui County’s HUBZone Status
HONOLULU - The U.S. Senate passed legislation supported by Senator Mazie K. Hirono that would 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 businesses who have benefitted from the HUBZone program are facing uncertainty and currently must make the difficult decision between moving to a HUBZone county or leave the program," said Senator… Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Hirono Marks Completion of Daniel K. Inouye Highway Reconstruction
HILO- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today dedicated a new phase of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, formerly known as Saddle Road. Today's ceremony marked the completion of the Saddle Road Improvement Project. Construction on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway began in 2004, and the project's completion creates the shortest route between East and West Hawaii Island. "This project has been in the making for decades, and it's only through coordination between federal, state, and local governments, and the Hawai… Continue Reading
October 06, 2017
Hirono Secures Federal Funding for Clean Energy Research and Development in Hawaii
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that two Hawaii businesses will receive $1.5 million in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding to develop offshore seaweed as a potential clean energy source. The funding was awarded through DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program. "These grants recognize the innovative work being done in Hawaii to research and develop renewable energy resources," said Senator Hirono, member of the Senate Committee on Energy and… Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Hirono, Menendez, Booker, Warren, Sanders Introduce Legislation to Ban High Capacity Ammunition Clips in Wake of Las Vegas Shooting
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), and 14 colleagues to introduce the Keep Americans Safe Act - a commonsense proposal to ban the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of gun magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. "I urge my colleagues to join us in putting an end to the epidemic of mass shootings in our country," said Senator Hirono. "The … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Hirono Grills Disgraced Equifax CEO on Massive Data Breach
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono questioned former Equifax CEO Richard Smith on actions that Equifax could have taken to prevent the release of 145 million Americans' personal information, including information on 462,195 Hawaii residents, and Equifax's completely inadequate response to the massive data breach. "The Equifax data breach will have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for over 145 million Americans, and Mr. Smith's refusal to recognize that these consumers have a r… Continue Reading
October 02, 2017
Hirono: The Trump Administration is Not Doing Enough So Long as People in Puerto Rico Do Not Have Food, Water, and Electricity
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters to receive an update on the Trump administration's response to helping Puerto Ricans recovering from Hurricane Maria. Senator Hirono heard from FEMA Acting Deputy Administrator Daniel Kaniewski and other top Administration officials on the status of federal disaster relief efforts. "President Trump's consistent and repeated failure to recognize the full scope of the devastation in Puer… Continue Reading
October 02, 2017
Hirono: DeVos’ Decision to Revoke Sexual Assault Guidelines “Shows a Clear Lack of Concern” for Survivors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) slammed Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' decision to revoke guidance that directs schools on how to handle sexual assault investigations. In a letter to Secretary DeVos, 32 Senate Democrats urged her to reverse her decision, which undermined the rights of sexual assault survivors. "Your action…shows a clear lack of concern for the many requests of survivors of sexual assault and members of Congress who have asked y… Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
Hawaii Senators Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Native Hawaiian Housing Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced a bill to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) through 2022. NAHASDA provides federal housing assistance and housing loan guarantees for Native Hawaiians. Additionally, the legislation helps provide safe and affordable housing for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and help… Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
NOAA Awards Nearly $200,000 to Protect Hawaii’s Marine Mammals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that Hawaii conservation programs will receive nearly $200,000 in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding for the recovery and treatment of stranded marine animals. "We were all captivated by the birth of Kaimana the monk seal on the shores of Waikiki this summer. But, marine mammals are threatened by climate change, development, and pollution," said Senator Hirono. "This funding will help two Hawaii organizations… Continue Reading
September 28, 2017
Senate Passes Hirono Measures to Save Critical Federal Programs Serving Hawaii, Filipino Veterans
WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved measures authored by Senator Mazie K. Hirono to continue critical programs that address veterans homelessness, provide nursing home care for disabled Hawaii veterans, and keep open the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) office in Manila. Without Congressional action, these programs would begin to expire on September 30, affecting over 1,000 Hawaii veterans. "Hawaii veterans earned benefits and health care through their service to our count… Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Senator Hirono Leads Call to Support Next Generation of National Park Visitors and Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, convened a hearing today on how to encourage young people to visit our national parks. Witnesses included John Leong, Chief Executive Officer of KUPU, an AmeriCorps program that provides young people with service learning and educational opportunities through maintaining and preserving Hawaii's natural resources. "While America is growing more diverse and urb… Continue Reading
September 26, 2017
Senate Unanimously Passes Hirono, Daines Bill to Cement the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed S. 504, a bill introduced by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) to make permanent the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card Program, which grants Americans and citizens from APEC nations access to fast-track processing lanes at Daniel K. Inouye Honolulu International Airport and airports across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific. Over 200 Hawaii residents are active holders of the APEC Busines… Continue Reading
September 25, 2017
Hirono: Graham-Cassidy Bill “Fundamentally Wrong,” Reflects “Neither Care Nor Compassion”
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono today testified against the latest iteration of Trumpcare at a Senate Finance Committee hearing. In the first and only hearing Republicans would allow on the proposal, Senator Hirono called on her colleagues to show compassion to the millions of Americans who would be hurt by the Graham-Cassidy bill. Senator Hirono was the only Democratic Senator to testify against the bill. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Every day, people come up to me at airports, … Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
Hirono Honors Filipino World War II Veterans Ahead of Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono called on Filipino World War II veterans and their families to register to be recognized as collective awardees of the Congressional Gold Medal, one of Congress' highest civilian honors. Senator Hirono, Representative Colleen Hanabusa, and representatives of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, including Major General (Retired) Tony Taguba, Abbie Shaw, and Ben Acohido, discussed the years-long effort to pass Senator Hirono and Representativ… Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
Hawaii Receives $2.7 Million to Improve Veterans Cemeteries on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Lanai
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that the State of Hawaii will receive over $2.7 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration to improve veterans' cemeteries on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Lanai. "Our veterans' cemeteries honor the commitment we've made to our service members and their eligible loved ones at the end of their lives," said Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. "Hawaii's vet… Continue Reading
September 21, 2017
Hirono Accepting Applications for Military Service Academy Nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono is currently accepting applications from Hawaii students who seek a military service academy nomination. Each year, Senator Hirono nominates Hawaii students to the Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy. Qualified students seeking a Congressional nomination from Senator Hirono must apply by the November 1, 2017 deadline. "Each year, I have the privilege of nominating talented Hawaii students interest… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Hirono Continues Oversight of Naval Collision Investigations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono questioned top Navy officials about the factors that contributed to recent collisions and serious incidents involving ships in the Seventh Fleet. In 2017, four Navy ships were involved in incidents, including two major collisions, resulting in the tragic loss of life of 17 service members. "While we still haven't received the final reports into what caused these tragic incidents, it's clear that prioritizing deployment over safety and training played a… Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Hirono, Senators to Trump: Fill Diplomatic Appointments Key to Addressing North Korea Crisis
WASHNGTON, D.C. -Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) led 10 Senate Democrats in calling on President Trump to fill the vacancies for U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs. These key positions have gone unfilled in the over eight months of the Trump presidency. In the wake of North Korea's actions, Senate-confirmed nomi… Continue Reading
