Press Releases
Hirono: Bannon Must Stop Communication with Breitbart
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), requesting information about the ethics rules that Stephen Bannon, President Trump's Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor, is required to follow with regards to communications with his former employer, Breitbart News Network. Under federal ethics regulations and President Trump's ethics exe… Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Hirono: Appointment of a Special Counsel Is a Victory for the American People
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate the Russia/Trump matter: "The appointment of a special counsel is a victory for the American people who have demanded the truth about Russia's goal to undermine our democracy and the Trump team's ties to these efforts. As someone who has been calling for a special counsel for months now, I applaud the selection of former FBI Direct… Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Senator Hirono Announces Plans to Undergo Treatment for Kidney Cancer
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement: "During a routine pre-operative physical for my eye surgery, my doctor discovered an abnormality on my chest x-ray. After a series of follow up tests, I have been diagnosed with kidney cancer that is also present in my seventh rib. "My treatment is being overseen by one of the preeminent kidney cancer specialists in the country at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He has designed a comprehensive treatment plan - … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Hirono, Murray, Davis, Scott Introduce Major Legislation to Secure Pell Grant Program and Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students
The Pell Grant Preservation & Expansion Act helps students offset the rising costs of college by permanently indexing Pell Grants to inflation, increasing its purchasing power Bill also makes Pell Grant funding mandatory, providing students with security of stability of program Nearly eight million students currently receive Pell Grants-more than 40 percent of students enrolled in higher education WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Repr… Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Hirono: Republicans of Conscience Should Join Call for Special Prosecutor
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono took to the Senate floor today to continue her call for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump administration's ties to Russia and interference in our democracy. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "Most recently, the Washington Post reported that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein threatened to resign after the White House misrepresented his role in the decision to fire Director Comey. CNN reported that President Trump fired D… Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Hirono: “Mr. President, what do you have to hide?”
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono issued the following statement on President Donald Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey: "The President's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey in this manner, under this pretext, and at this time is a total disservice to the American people. "The country is asking, Mr. President, what do you have to hide? "There is no question that President Trump wants the investigation of Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential election, an… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Hirono Questions Yates, Clapper on Trump Administration’s Ties to Russia
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and General James Clapper on Russian interference in our democracy, including the Trump administration's ties to Russia. Following the hearing, Senator Hirono released the following statement: "In the past weeks, reports have come to light of Trump administration appointees who have either lied or omitted information regarding their contact with foreign g… Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Hirono Writes to FCC Chairman Highlighting Importance of Net Neutrality to Women Across America
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and other women Senators wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to highlight the importance of net neutrality to women across America and urged him to reconsider the proposal he outlined last month to roll back critical online consumer protections by dismantling current net neutrality rules. The letter was also signed by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Ne… Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Hirono Statement on Trumpcare Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the House of Representatives passing Trumpcare: "Today, I'm thinking of the thousands of Hawaii residents I've heard from who are living in fear of losing their insurance and other protections they've received thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Constituents like Kathryn, a teacher and single parent, who is afraid of losing her insurance because of a preexisting condition; and Anne, who gave birth to a healthy baby bo… Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
Hirono Announces Federal Funding to Establish the Kauai Creative Technology Center
Washington, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced $100,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to support the Kauai Economic Development Board's (KEDB's) creation of the Kauai Creative Technology Center. "Creative industries have a critical role to play in helping to ensure that Kauai is able to support the diverse and sustainable job market it needs to compete in today's global economy," said Senator Hirono. "The deve… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Hirono: Budget Deal Stands as Rejection of President’s Proposed Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the bipartisan deal reached Sunday to fund the federal government through September: "On balance, this bipartisan compromise provides funding for Hawaii priorities, and stands as a rejection of the deep cuts the President has proposed to programs that are vital to our state. While this is good news for federal funding through September, I will continue to fight proposed cuts to federal funding that Hawaii depends on … Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Hirono Leads Effort for More Accurate Data on Asian American & Pacific Islanders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and 10 Senate Democrats urged the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to update its standards for the collection of racial and ethnic data to better reflect the nation's growing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Such standards have not been updated since 1997. Today is the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. "A lack of disaggregated data on the AAPI community has led to the 'model mino… Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Budget Deal Includes Hirono Proposal to Reinstate Year-Round Pell Grants
The bipartisan deal reached Sunday to fund the federal government through September includes Senator Mazie K. Hirono's proposal to reinstate Year-Round Pell Grants for college students in Hawaii and across the country. The deal includes provisions from Senator Hirono's Year-Round Pell Grant Restoration Act that would allow low- and moderate-income students to use Pell Grants for three semesters each academic year, rather than the current law's limit of two semesters. "Including my Year-Round Pe… Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Designating May 20 “Kids to Parks Day”
U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), applauded the Senate's passage of their bipartisan resolution to encourage children to get outdoors by designating May 20 National Kids to Parks Day. The seventh annual Kids to Parks Day kicks off a summer-long series of events at local, state, and national parks. Kids to Parks Day began in 2011 with the National Park Trust. More tha… Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Hirono: I Remain Opposed to Lihue Post Office Relocation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono remains opposed to the relocation of retail services from the Lihue Post Office. Following today's announcement that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will restart its regulatory review process and provide an additional public comment period, Senator Hirono issued the following statement: "I appreciate today's announcement by the USPS and concur with their decision to provide a more thorough explanation to the community on the need to relocate retail operations. When my off… Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Hirono, Hanabusa Introduce Legislation to Spur Innovative Research for Coral Reef Conservation
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) today introduced the Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2017. In response to increasing threats to coral reef ecosystems such as climate change, pollution, and direct damage from humans, this legislation directs federal agencies to establish a competitive prize to catalyze creative solutions to mitigate the decline or degradation of coral reefs. "As an island state, Hawaii relies on healthy coral … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Hirono, Ernst Continue Push for VETS Act
Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2017 (VETS Act). This bipartisan legislation seeks to improve health care access - including mental health treatment - for disabled or rural veterans by expanding telehealth services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "Hawaii veterans shouldn't have to fly to Oahu, or even different states, to seek the medical care they have earned," said Senator Hiro… Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Hirono Urges Trump Administration to Continue Program that Reunites Filipino World War II Veterans with Their Families
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) urged the President to continue the implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program (FWVP) program, which reunites Filipino veterans who fought for the United States during World War II with their families. The Senators wrote to the President in response to reports that the Administration is reviewing immigration parole programs. … Continue Reading
April 21, 2017
Hirono Introduces Bill to Support Maui County’s Small Businesses
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced legislation to 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 currently qualifies for the HUBZone program. However, under federal law HUBZone designations are periodically updated based on changes … Continue Reading
April 20, 2017
Hirono: Attorney General’s Comments on Hawaii Are Ignorant & Dangerous
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement in response to Attorney General Jeff Sessions' comments on Judge Derrick Kahala Watson's ruling against the President's Muslim ban: "The suggestion that being from Hawaii somehow disqualifies Judge Watson from performing his Constitutional duty is dangerous, ignorant, and prejudiced. I am frankly dumbfounded that our nation's top lawyer would attack our independent judiciary. But we shouldn't be surprised. This is just the latest in the T… Continue Reading
