Press Releases
Hirono: Supreme Court Vacancy Is About Future of Our Country
The Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off its first day of hearings on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve on the Supreme Court. Judiciary Committee member Senator Mazie K. Hirono raised concerns on Judge Gorsuch's record of siding with corporate interests. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "The Supreme Court does not just interpret our laws. The Supreme Court shapes our society. Will we be just? Will we be fair? Will America be a land of exclusivity for the few - or the land of o… Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Hirono: President’s Budget Will Hurt Hawaii Families
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the President's budget proposal: "The President's budget proposal - his first blueprint for our country's future - is short on real details, but it's clear that supporting strong local economies, building vibrant communities, or protecting the most vulnerable are not among his priorities. "The President would completely eliminate programs that support Hawaii's affordable housing efforts, clean energy investment, and opportunity for ed… Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Statement from Senator Mazie K. Hirono on Hawaii Ruling to Halt Muslim Ban
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on Judge Derrick Kahala Watson's ruling to halt the President's new Muslim ban: "Judge Watson's ruling is yet another blow to the President's unconstitutional Muslim Ban. President Trump during the campaign made clear his intention to impose a Muslim ban. He has done so and no amount of spinning can obfuscate his intent. Every time our country has targeted a minority group for discriminatory treatment, we have been very wrong, and this Ad… Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Hirono Presses Commandant of the Marine Corps for Commitment to Combat Mistreatment of Women Amid Ongoing Explicit Photo Scandal
Senator Mazie K. Hirono today pressed the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller for a commitment to address sexual assault and the mistreatment of women in the Armed Forces, and questioned how it's possible to achieve this goal if the Commander in Chief sets the opposite example. "This has been a longstanding issue, not just in the Marines, but in all of our services," said Senator Hirono. "So how do you even begin to change the culture when, for example, you have a Commander i… Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Hirono: Rep. Steve King’s Bigoted Comments Find Sympathetic Ear in White House
Senator Mazie K. Hirono fought back against bigoted comments from Representative Steve King (R-Iowa) saying that he wants the United States to be "so homogenous." The Senator also urged Americans to continue to call for an independent investigation into the Administration's ties to Russia. From MSNBC: "Steve King has always been on the fringe with his views about immigration and what our country should look like. He's just gotten more overt in his comments because he thinks there's a sympathet… Continue Reading
March 10, 2017
Hirono, Collins to Trump Administration: NOAA Cuts Would Be Devastating for Hawaii, Coastal States
Ahead of next week's release of the first budget from the Trump Administration, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) led a bipartisan letter to the Trump Administration urging reconsideration of proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that would disproportionately hurt Hawaii and other coastal states. The proposed cuts, first reported by the Washington Post, would completely eliminate the Sea Grant College Program at the University … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Hirono Statement on the Passing of Judge James Burns
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the passing of Judge James Burns: "I've known Judge Burns and his wife Emme for decades. We developed a strong friendship over the years and I always enjoyed his dry wit and great sense of humor. Judge Burns dedicated his life to public service and the law, and did so with humility. My thoughts go to Emme and the entire Burns ohana today."… Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Hirono Questions Top Justice Department Nominees’ Independence, Commitment to Upholding Civil Rights Laws
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today pressed Rod Rosenstein, nominee for Deputy Attorney General, and Rachel Brand, nominee for Associate Attorney General, on their commitment to independently investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, defend the right to vote, and uphold civil rights. The Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General are respectively the second and third highest ranking positions at the Department of Justice. From Sena… Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
Hirono: New Executive Order Still a Muslim Ban
Minutes after President Trump issued a new immigration executive order, Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined CNN's Wolf Blitzer to discuss how the Administration continues to target the Muslim community. From the segment: "[The President] made some small changes…but it's still basically a Muslim ban. It's still a ban based on one's religion, and every time our country has targeted a minority group for discriminatory treatment, we have been proven to be very, very wrong, and the President is w… Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Hirono: Sessions Recusal Not Sufficient
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: "The Attorney General made the correct decision to recuse himself, but it is not sufficient. We need an independent investigation into the Trump administration's ties to the Russian government."… Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Hirono, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Expiration of Asia-Pacific Expedited Travel Program
Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the bipartisan APEC Business Travel Card Reauthorization Act to make permanent the APEC Business Travel Card Program, which grants U.S. citizens access to fast-track processing lanes at airports across the Asia-Pacific. Without reauthorization, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot issue cards to U.S. citizens after September 30, 2018. Over 200 Hawaii residents are active holders of the APEC Business Travel Card which save… Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Hirono, Casey, Donnelly Call on President to Commit to Protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and 13 Senate Democrats urged the President to keep a campaign promise to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from drastic cuts and privatization. The Senators' letter called on the President to issue a public statement saying that he would not sign legislation that makes significant changes to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid through the reconciliation process, and to issue official guidance making clear t… Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Hirono Announces Class of 2021 Nominees to U.S. Service Academies
Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced her nomination of 41 students to the U.S. military service academies for the Class of 2021. The students' applications are now being considered by the four academies for final selection. "By applying to our nation's service academies, these 41 young men and women exemplify service above self," said Senator Hirono. "I am certain that each of these candidates will proudly represent the state of Hawaii as they continue the application process." Members of Congres… Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Hirono Leads Resolution Commemorating 75th Anniversary of Japanese American Internment
Senator Mazie K. Hirono led a resolution marking the 75th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. S.Res.70 affirms that policies that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion would repeat the mistakes of the internment. "The President can continue to live in a world of alternative facts, but it's clear that his administration's policies hark… Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Hirono Statement on the President’s Joint Address
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the President's Joint Address to Congress: "With this President, I pay attention to what he does more than what he says because in his first month in office, Donald Trump's actions have not lived up to the clichés he delivered tonight. "He stands by executive orders that have spread fear and chaos throughout the country. Tonight he called for repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with rhetoric. He also clearly c… Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Hirono Opposes Steven Mnuchin’s Nomination for Treasury Secretary
Senator Mazie K. Hirono opposed the nomination of Steven Mnuchin to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. The nominee was confirmed 53-47. Before the vote, Senator Hirono took to the Senate floor to highlight how Steven Mnuchin profited from the 2008 financial crisis, including how his company OneWest foreclosed on Hawaii families. From Senator Hirono's remarks: "It's astounding that President Trump nominated Steve Mnuchin - someone whose business record embodies the worst abuses from the finan… Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Hirono Introduces Bill to Strengthen Volcano Monitoring
Senators Mazie K. Hirono, Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced legislation to improve volcano monitoring and early warning capabilities that help keep communities and travelers safe. "For the past 34 years, we have experienced first-hand the threat of volcanic activity to our daily lives with the ongoing eruption at Kilauea. As recently as 2014, we had evacuations and damage to critical infrastructure and residences. This bipartisan bill is important as it updates … Continue Reading
February 10, 2017
ICYMI: Hirono Reaffirms Hawaii’s Strategic Role in Indo-Asia-Pacific
Following President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's joint press conference, Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined CNN's Wolf Blitzer to discuss the U.S. alliance with Japan and U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. From the segment: "[It's] very clear how important our friendship and alliance is with Japan. Of course, Hawaii has a big role to play with our bases and other resources in the Indo-Asia-Pacific arena. So that was really good news. "[The President] says a lot … Continue Reading
February 10, 2017
Hirono Calls on Secretary of the Navy to Clarify Exemption from Federal Hiring Freeze for Navy Shipyard Workers
Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) called on the Acting Secretary of Navy to clarify the exemption from President Trump's federal hiring freeze for shipyard workers. Recently, the Defense Department announced that employees of Navy shipyards and other employees that directly support the shipyards would be exempt. But the process for requesting exemptions at the shipyards would still leave positions open for weeks, if not longer. In their letter the members urged … Continue Reading
February 09, 2017
Hirono Statement on Ninth Circuit Court Ruling
Senator Mazie K. Hirono released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court's refusal to uphold President Trump's executive order on immigration: "Tonight's ruling is a first step victory for the core values of our democracy and demonstrates why an independent judiciary is so important. For all the chaos created by this executive order, the wiser course would be for President Trump to rescind this unconstitutional order immediately."… Continue Reading
