Press Releases
Over $600,000 Awarded to Restore Kawaihae Watershed, Improve Coral Reef Ecosystem
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $646,886 in grant funding to restore the Kawaihae watershed in West Hawaii. Kawaihae is considered to be one of the state's most degraded watersheds. "Protecting and restoring our forested watersheds is critical for the health and function of Hawaii's ecosystems," said Senator Hirono. "Today's funding will help us repair damage to the Kawaihae watershed in West Hawaii… Continue Reading
August 18, 2017
Senator Hirono Hears from Hawaii Health Care Center Staff, Leads Efforts to Improve ACA
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today met with Kalihi-Palama Health Center leadership and staff to tour the center's new facility and discuss how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has benefited Hawaii's community health centers (CHCs) and their patients. Today's meeting coincides with National Health Center Week, celebrating America's health centers and promoting healthier communities. "Community health centers, like Kalihi-Palama Health Center, provide critical health care services to Hawaii r… Continue Reading
August 18, 2017
Senator Hirono Honors Hawaii’s Wounded Warriors
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono addressed veterans and their family members at the Eighth Annual Na Koa Wounded Warrior Regatta reception. During the reception, the Senator reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that our veterans and their loved ones receive the recognition and benefits they deserve. "Our wounded warriors and their loved ones have given so much to our country, and events like the Na Koa Wounded Warrior Regatta offer a venue for our service members to heal - uniting veterans f… Continue Reading
August 17, 2017
Senator Hirono Continues Support for Programs that Grow Hawaii’s Conservation Workforce
HONOLULU -Senator Mazie K. Hirono today encouraged KUPU interns to continue their good work, serving their communities through conservation. KUPU, an AmeriCorps program, provides young people with service learning and educational opportunities through maintaining and preserving Hawaii's natural resources. "KUPU's work to provide meaningful service opportunities for young people benefits our aina and Hawaii's native plants and animals," said Senator Hirono. "I continue to advocate for AmeriCorps… Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Following Events in Charlottesville, Hirono & Cantwell Renew Call for Federal Response to Hate Crimes
HONOLULU -Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions urging him to create an interagency task force to address the tragic increase in hate crimes that has stricken the United States. The recent outburst of violent racism and domestic terrorist activity by white supremacist organizations and individuals in Charlottesville, Virginia, has made the senators' call for action even more urgent. "President Trump's reluctance to quickly and d… Continue Reading
August 13, 2017
Hirono Leads Efforts to Honor Filipino WWII Veterans, Fights to Protect Hard-Earned Benefits
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono today spoke with Filipino World War II veterans and their spouses, widows and family members at the World War II Filipino-American Veterans, Hawaii Chapter meeting at Hale Halea in Kalihi. Her remarks focused on the sacrifice and commitment of our Filipino World War II veterans and the importance of family reunification for them and their loved ones. "When called to serve, Filipino World War II veterans answered the call and fought and sacrificed to protect th… Continue Reading
August 11, 2017
Hirono Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Hawaii’s Shipyard Workforce
HONOLULU - Senator Mazie K. Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Hawaii's shipyard workforce at today's Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program graduation ceremony. "Given what's going on in the world today, the work you've been training to do is very important," said Senator Hirono. "We need workers like you to maintain, repair, and overhaul the ships and submarines in our fleet. I will continue to wor… Continue Reading
August 10, 2017
Hirono, Boozman Introduce Bill to Protect Programs Helping to End Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and John Boozman (R-Ark.), members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced legislation to renew a number of important federal homeless veteran programs for the next fiscal year. The Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act would renew seven U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Labor programs that provide outreach and services to homeless veterans and their families. These programs be… Continue Reading
August 09, 2017
Hawaii Non-Profits Receive Over $200,000 to Promote Understanding of Native Hawaiian, East Asian History and Culture
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that the Manoa Heritage Center and East-West Center will receive more than $200,000 from the National Endowment of the Humanities to support activities that enhance the understanding of Native Hawaiian and East Asian history and culture. "Programs like the Manoa Heritage Center and East-West Center help expand our knowledge of the histories, languages, and cultures that shape our world view," said Senator Hirono. "I remain … Continue Reading
August 07, 2017
Hawaii Island Receives $1 Million to Encourage SNAP Participants to Purchase Healthy Food
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that programs on Hawaii Island will receive $1 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funding to support the purchasing of fruits and vegetables by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. "Affordable, nutritious food is one of the basic building blocks for healthy families and strong communities," said Senator Hirono. "Today's grant funding will help to expand access to more locally grown pro… Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
University of Hawaii Awarded Over $1 Million to Strengthen Support of STEM Women Faculty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the National Science Foundation has awarded $1,099,959 to the University of Hawaii (UH) to support the advancement of women and minorities in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at its seven community colleges. "Developing a strong, diverse STEM workforce is critical to Hawaii's future economic viability and our nation's long-term competitiveness on the global stage," said Senator Hirono… Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Maui to Receive Over $1.3 Million to Support Early Education for Island’s Youngest Keiki
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that Maui Family Support Services, Inc. will receive $1,317,440.00 in Early Head Start funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase early education services for low-income children and families on Maui. "Access to early, quality education has a direct impact on an individual's future," said Senator Hirono. "By investing in Maui's youngest keiki, this important grant funding will help to ensure t… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve Receives Over $600,000 to Protect Coastal Resources
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that the Heeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (HeNERR) will receive $673,000 in grant funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for research, education, and stewardship activities. "Estuarine reserves serve a vital role in providing researchers and natural resource managers with the knowledge and tools to effectively protect valuable coastal resources for communities in Hawaii and across the… Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Hirono: Trump Immigration Plan Doubles Down on Bigoted Campaign Rhetoric
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the only immigrant serving in the U.S. Senate, released the following statement on the Trump-Cotton-Perdue immigration proposal: "It is shortsighted to think that America became the great nation it is by only letting certain kinds of people into our country. Yet, this is exactly what the Trump-Cotton-Perdue proposal does. Instead of doubling down on the bigotry and irrational fear of immigrants he promoted… Continue Reading
August 01, 2017
Hirono, Klobuchar Lead Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a bill to allow Medicare to negotiate the best possible price of prescription drugs to cut costs for nearly 41 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. Current law bars Medicare from bargaining directly with pharmaceutical companies. "Our kupuna deserve to have access to affordable prescription medication," said Senator Hirono. "This commonsense legislation allows Medicare to negotiate directly with manufactur… Continue Reading
August 01, 2017
Hirono, Lofgren Introduce Bill to Create a Science Laureate of the United States
Washington, D.C. - Earlier today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) introduced the Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2017, bicameral legislation to establish a Science Laureate for the United States. "Our country's scientific achievements contribute to our national economy, while also improving and enhancing our local communities, but American students continue to lag behind their international peers in STEM proficiency," said Senator Hiron… Continue Reading
July 31, 2017
Hawaii Receives More than $200,000 to Invest in Bolstering Cybersecurity Workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced that the University of Hawaii Maui College (UHMC) will receive $299,404 from the National Science Foundation to develop a comprehensive, industry-driven cybersecurity education and workforce development program. "Today's complex cyber threats require an educated workforce trained in preventing, detecting, and investigating potential attacks, system breaches, and other cyber threats," said Senator Hirono. "Building on UHMC's s… Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Hirono Leads Call for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced a resolution today to recognize July 28, 2017, as World Hepatitis Day 2017, and to encourage the elimination of viral hepatitis. "Millions of Americans live with viral hepatitis, including nearly ten percent of all Asian American and Pacific Islanders who live with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and account for more than half of all HBV cases in the United States," said Senator Hirono. "Through increasing access to prevention and treatme… Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Hirono Fights to Protect Hawaii Residents Living with Pre-Existing Conditions
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced a measure to protect Americans living with pre-existing conditions from the devastating effects of Senate Republicans' health care bill. More than 590,000 adults in Hawaii live with pre-existing conditions that could keep them from accessing affordable health care under the Republican bill. "I was fortunate that after my cancer diagnosis, I was able to focus on my course of treatment instead of how I would pay for it. Under Trumpcare, Hawaii … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Hirono Fights to Safeguard Benefits for Filipino Veterans at the Manila VA
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today introduced the Keeping Our Commitment to Overseas Veterans Act to extend an expiring provision under law that allows the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to operate the VA Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic in Manila, Philippines. The introduction of Senator Hirono's bill coincides with the 76th anniversary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's executive order placing Filipino soldiers under U.S. command during World War II. … Continue Reading
