Press Releases
Ahead of Committee Hearing, Hirono Calls on FBI Director Nominee for Clear Commitment to Independence from President
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Nominee Christopher Wray on his commitment to supporting the independent investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 election and fighting hate crimes. Senator Hirono will have further opportunity to question Mr. Wray at his nomination hearing Wednesday. "The unprecedented circumstances surrounding Mr. Wray's nomination require a commitment to t… Continue Reading
July 07, 2017
Senator Hirono Announces Over $1 Million for Hawaii Sea Grant Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced today that the University of Hawaii's Sea Grant College Program (Hawaii Sea Grant) will receive over $1 million in federal funding to support ongoing coastal and marine research, extension, and outreach projects in Hawaii. Administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Sea Grant College Program operates through partnerships between NOAA and university-based systems in 33 coastal states throughout the… Continue Reading
July 07, 2017
Hirono Announces More Than $22 Million for Affordable Housing and Community Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced $22,357,301 million in funding for affordable housing and community development programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding is comprised of allocations from the following programs: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, Emergency Solutions Grants, and Housing Trust Fund. "Federal funding is essen… Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Hirono Leads Effort to Prevent Trump Administration from Discriminating Against Immigrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and six other Senators demanded answers from the Trump Administration today on a new office created to focus on publicizing information about crimes committed by immigrants. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, the Senators asked for answers about the purpose for creating the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office due to concerns the office's activities could lead to misinformation and potentially illeg… Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Hirono, Moran, Tester, Daines introduce bill to extend employment protections to FAA, TSA veteran employees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Veterans' Preference Protection Act to extend equitable federal employment rights to veterans. The bill would close a loophole in current law that leaves over 27,000 veterans employed by the FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) without the same legal mechanisms available to their counterparts in other f… Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Senator Mazie Hirono Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
Washington, D.C.- Yesterday, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans revealed their "mean, ugly" version of Trumpcare. U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered the Weekly Democratic Address, emphasizing that Senate Democrats are going to do "whatever we can" to fight Trumpcare and reiterating that universal health care is a right, not a privilege for those who can afford it. The Weekly Democratic Address is available in both AUDIO AND VIDEO FORMAT. You may download the a… Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Hirono Introduces Legislation to Promote Title IX, Gender Equity in Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono introduced the Patsy T. Mink Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) (S.1421), which provides additional resources for schools, school districts, states, and institutions of higher education to fully implement the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act (commonly referred to as "Title IX"). Senator Hirono's bill marks the 45th anniversary of Title IX, which was signed into law on June 23, 1972. "Since it was enacted in 1972, the Patsy Mink Equal Op… Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Hirono Announces New Treatment in Battle Against Kidney Cancer
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In an exclusive interview with KITV Island News' Paula Akana, Senator Mazie Hirono announced a positive change in her ongoing battle with kidney cancer and discussed the fights ahead in Washington. Because her cancer is less aggressive than originally thought, she will undergo surgery next week to remove the lesion on her seventh rib. A transcript of the interview follows: Paula Akana: Senator Mazie Hirono invited us in to talk about her health issues as she deals with Stage … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Americans Living with Pre-Existing Conditions Speak Out Against Trumpcare
WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Americans living with serious and chronic diseases, survivors, and advocates to highlight how Trumpcare undermines protections for Americans living with pre-existing conditions. Ian Lock, a survivor of Osteosarcoma diagnosed during his sophomore year of high school, Marques Jones, a Virginia resident living with Multiple Sclerosis, and Jill Hale, a parent of a child li… Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Hirono Takes to Senate Floor in Opposition to Secret GOP Health Care Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor today to oppose the version of Trumpcare being written in secret by Senate Republicans. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Right now 13 of our male colleagues are sequestered away somewhere, plotting how to deprive millions of women across our country access to essential health care. Frankly, it's sad that we are having this debate at all. But it isn't surprising. "Before the ACA, insurance companies could discri… Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Hirono Calls for a Balance of Military Needs with Critical Domestic Programs
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, heard from Navy leadership on the Navy's shipbuilding plan and operational needs, including the goal of increasing submarines and major surface combatant force levels from the previously projected need of 308 ships to 355. While investments in our national security are essential, Senator Hirono reminded her colleagues of the need to balance military investments with criti… Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Leads Effort to Restore Health Care Access for FAS Citizens
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard introduced legislation to reinstate Medicaid coverage for Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens living in the United States. The Covering our FAS Allies (COFA) Act would restore Medicaid coverage, known in Hawaii as Med-QUEST, for FAS citizens. The United States entered into the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) with the governments of the Freely Associated States (FAS), which… Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Hirono Presses Interior Secretary on Budget Cuts to Critical Land Conservation Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) questioned U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on the Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts, particularly its devastating 84 percent cut to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a popular bipartisan program that funds land conservation projects in Hawaii and across the country. "You said a number of times in response to our questions that this budget is wha… Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
As Government Watchdog Raises Concerns, Hirono Continues Effort to Uncover Bannon’s Communications with Breitbart
WASINGTON, D.C.- United States Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) today sent a letter to Stefan Passantino, Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) at the White House, requesting clarification on White House senior advisor Steve Bannon's compliance with federal ethics laws. "Earlier this month, we received new information from the Office of Government Ethics indicating that Steven Bannon may have violated… Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Hawaii Businesses Celebrate Success at Hawaii on the Hill
WASINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii celebrated the success of nearly 70 participating Hawaii businesses at the Fourth Annual Taste of Hawaii on Capitol Hill this evening. Attendees were greeted with fresh orchid lei, and learned about an array of Hawaii businesses representing technology, agriculture, and transportation. "Every year, more and more Hawaii businesses come to Hawaii on the Hill because they make connections that are meaningful," said Senato… Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Senator Hirono, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Connect Hawaii Businesses with Congressional Leaders & National Policy Experts
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii today welcomed nearly 75 members of Hawaii's business community to Capitol Hill for the Fourth Annual Hawaii on the Hill Policy Summit. Business leaders representing diverse industries - including manufacturing, health care, transportation, and others - participated in the event. "Given the uncertainties of the current administration, it has become more important than ever that Hawaii's business community knows the D.C… Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Hirono Fights Efforts to Eliminate Federal Native Hawaiian Housing Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee opposing S.1275, which would completely eliminate federal Native Hawaiian housing programs, while preserving federal housing programs for other Native communities. Native Hawaiian community advocates attended the hearing, but were not invited by the Indian Affairs Committee to testify. Senator Hirono joined Senator Brian Schatz, a member of the Indian Affairs Committee, in calling for the bill to include … Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Hirono: Ninth Circuit Ruling Reaffirms Hawaii Judge’s Ruling on Unconstitutional Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling against President Trump's Muslim Ban: "Court after court has seen this Muslim Ban for what it is: an illegal attack on a group of individuals singled out for their religion. Today is a victory not only for Hawaii, but for our shared American values. The decision is a welcome reminder that the federal courts serve an invaluable function in ou… Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Hirono Lauded as Champion for Our Kupuna
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) received a perfect score of 100 percent on the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Congressional Scorecard for the second session of the 114th Congress. The Senator currently maintains a lifetime record of 100 percent. "Now more than ever, it is important that we remain united in our fight to ensure that the hard earned benefits and core health care services promised to our seniors remain intact," said Senator Hirono. "I am honored to be re… Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Hirono Hails 30-Day Stay of Deportation for Andres Magana Ortiz
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono applauded the Department of Homeland Security's decision to grant Andres Magana Ortiz a 30-day stay of deportation. This is a temporary reprieve as the Department of Homeland Security considers Mr. Magana Ortiz's wife's Petition for Alien Relative. "Today's announcement is a positive step, but our work to keep Mr. Magana Ortiz with his family isn't done yet," said Senator Hirono. "I call on the Department of Homeland Security to process the Magana Ortiz… Continue Reading
